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The Review: A Journal of Undergraduate Student Research

Volume 6 Article 3

2003

Marlowe's Questionable : The Struggle between Human Sentiment and Nurtured Principles

Michelle Rizzo St. John Fisher College, [email protected]

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Recommended Citation Rizzo, Michelle. "Marlowe's Questionable Racism: The Struggle between Human Sentiment and Nurtured Principles." The Review: A Journal of Undergraduate Student Research 6 (2003): 1-7. Web. [date of access]. .

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Abstract In lieu of an abstract, below is the article's first paragraph.

Written between the years of 1898 and 1899, 's famous novella, , fictionalized the historical reality of an area secretly steeped in colonial rule by the viciously greedy and cruel King Leopold II. Between the years of 1885 and 1908, the Belgian ruler transformed the African Congo into his personal empire by exploiting not only the Congo's natural resources (rubber and ivory), but also the Congolese Africans' slave labor. Joseph Conrad published Heart of Darkness in response to his own experiences while traveling in the Belgian Congo. For decades Heart of Darkness was hailed a literary masterpiece written with a critical attitude towards tl1e colonization of Africans by foreign powers, and especially the denunciation of Belgium's justified ownership of the Congo. However, during the twentieth century critical debates began to arise around the novella's narrator, , and whether or not his view of the Africans is racist, and by extension, whether or not Heart of Darkness is a racist novella altogether that does not deserve the literary credit it has gained in the past.

This article is available in The Review: A Journal of Undergraduate Student Research: https://fisherpub.sjfc.edu/ur/ vol6/iss1/3 Rizzo: Marlowe's Questionable Racism

Marlow's Questionable Racism: The Struggle between Human Sentiment and Nurtured Principles By Michelle Rizzo

Written between the years of 1898 and 1899, sixteenth and seventeenth centuries and became the Joseph Conrad's famous novella, Heart of Darkness, common property of Western European fictionalized the historical reality of an area secretly culture ... These beliefs were not yet racist in the steeped in colonial rule by the viciously greedy and nineteenili century sense of the term because they cruel King Leopold II. Behveen the years of 1885 and were not based on an explicit doctrine of genetic or 1908, the Belgian ruler transformed the African biological inequality; but they could provide an Congo into his personal empire by exploiting not only equivalent basis for considering some categories of the Congo's natural resources (rubber and ivory), but human beings inferior to others in ways that made it also the Congolese Africans' slave labor. Joseph legitimate to treat them differently from Europeans. Conrad published Heart ofDarkness in response to his (7) own experiences while traveling in the Belgian From Fredrick's statement, readers of Heart of Congo. For decades Heart of Darkness was hailed a Darkness can historically situate ilie text and, more literary masterpiece written with a critical attitude importantly, Marlow's racist attitude in the novella's towards tl1e colonization of Africans by foreign opening. This statement, and more specifically the powers, and especiaJJy the denunciation of Belgium's phrase "explicit doctrine of genetic or biological justified ownership of the Congo. However, during inequality," is extremely significant because it directly the hventieth century criticaJ debates began to arise states that between the sixteenth and nineteenth around the novella's narrator, Charles Marlow, and century a radical idea regarding the nature v. nurture whether or not his view of the Afucans is racist, and conflict developed. by extension, whether or not Heart of Darkness is a By the nineteenth century, Europeans felt that racist novella altogether that does not deserve the they were excluded from the concept of "savagery" literary credit it has gained in the past. based primarily on their biological and/or genetic From examining the tension between Marlow's makeup rather than their intellect. According to the innate human nature and his nurtured principles an Australian Psychological Society, "Psychology's answer to tllis discussion can most appropriately be emergence as a new branch of science [in the mid­ developed. However, in order to be familiar with how nineteenth century] was also located within the this conflict applies to Marlow, the reader must first context of the rise of imperial powers such as understand exactly what the terms "human nature" Germany and Britain. Pioneers in the new science of and "nurtured principles" refer to within the context of human measurement. .. contributed much to theories this discussion. The concept of"nature" holds that all which relied on skull measurements as 'proof of the organisms possess distinct characteristics that are not superiority of ilie European (male) brain" (1). created or developed as a result of one's environment Therefore, racism towards others included and but ratller because of one's genetic framework. For demonstrated biological inferiority as well as humans, one's "nature" includes one's instinctive intellectual inadequacies. In fact, Herbert Spencer's emotion and/or behavioral reactions to instances that concept of Social Darwinism spread all throughout occur within one's environment (Macionis 62). Europe in the mid-nineteenth century and heightened Therefore, for this discussion references to Marlow's the Western attitude that society was a "," and "nature" refer to his emotional reactions based on his that Europeans were the "fittest" to survive. genetic code. What is meant by nurtured, or learned, According to Ian Watt, "[Social Darwinism] provided principles are the attitudes towards and an ideology for colonial expansion. Merely by Africans that Marlow possesses due to the influence occupying or controlling most of the globe, it was and teaching of his environment. By the 19th century, assumed, the European nations had demonstrated that most Europeans held many arrogant attitudes they were the fittest to survive; and the accelerating regarding themselves. Europeans defined themselves exportation of their various economic, political and as a technologically and intellectually superior race, religious institutions was therefore a necessary and they used this haughty attitude to justify the evolutionary step towards a higher form of human colonial rule of those less "civilized." According to organization in the rest of the world" (80). George Fredrickson, Therefore, Marlow's attitude towards imperialism Whatever their practical intentions or purposes, the in Heart of Darkness' opening centers around tlle invaders did not confront the native peoples without nurtured principle that Europeans nobly brought certain preconceptions about their nature that helped "civilization" to the world's "savages" specifically for shape the way they pursued their goals. the latter's spiritual and/or intellectual benefit. As a Conceptions of 'savagery' [developed] in the result of this line of reasoning, the harsh treatment of

Published by Fisher Digital Publications, 2003 1 The Review: A Journal of Undergraduate Student Research, Vol. 6 [2003], Art. 3 the Africans as well as the conquest of the earth (more depersonalizes a portion of the human race, can appropriately referred to as "the ") be called a great work of art. My answer is: No, was JUStified. it cannot. (12) Based on the language in the opening of Although Marlow becomes extremely judgmental of Marlow's narrative, one can unquestionably state that the moral breakdown of Kurtz and attributes it to the Marlow does indeed depict the Africans in a negative influence of the barbarous African jungle, Achebe's manner and supports the European's so-called argument that Marlow is racist is rather tenuous. humanitarian explanation of imperialism. Marlow's Marlow's direct experiences in the Congo do nurtured principles chiefly govern his inner self by challenge his previously racist conceptions of the suppressing his human sentiments, and so his racist Africans, so even if Marlow cannot positively be references towards the Africans are appropriate for labeled racist or not racist, one can certainly prove that portraying 19th century attitudes of European racism. the "fostered attitude" that Achebe speaks of does in However, after specific incidents where Marlow fact diminish. For instance, one example emerges in interacts with these supposedly "savage" natives, the Part II when Marlow journeys up the river toward the emergence of his intrinsic emotions begins to Inner Station and obtains glimpses of African villages influence his previously prejudice views and demean along the riverbartk. The following statement Europe's attempted justification of imperialism. highlights Marlow's internal confusion of the Therefore, in order for one to argue that Marlow is or experience as a result of his human sentiment is not unquestionably a racist, one would have to beginning to influence his prejudice attitudes: prove that either his human sentiments or his learned It was unearthly, and the men were--No, they principles solely dominate his consciousness. were not inhuman. Well, you know, that was the However, the purpose of this discussion, through the worst of it- the suspicion of their not being analysis of the language in key passages, is to show inhuman. It would come slowly to one. They that the struggle between Marlow's emotional reaction howled and leaped, and spun, and made horrid to situations (his nature) and his European attitudes faces; but what thrilled you was just the thought (his nurture) is never solved. Even at the novel's of their humanity- like yours-the thought of closing, human sentiment and nurtured reasoning are your remote kinship with this wild and passionate treated as mutually exclusive components of Marlow's uproar. Ugly. Ycs, it was ugly enough; but if you inner self that constantly conflict with one another. were man enough you would admit to yourself Because the result of Marlow's experiences is mainly tJ1at there was in you just the faintest trace of a a feeling of ambiguity, one cannot argue with response to the terrible frankness of that noise, a complete certainty whether or not Marlow is racist, dim suspicion of there being a meaning in it but one can prove that the authenticity of Marlow's which you- you so remote from the night of first indoctrinated principles are beginning to weaken due ages- could comprehend. And why not? (62-63) to the recognition and acceptance of his inherent In this description, the reader understands that Marlow emotions. does indeed recognize the "humanness" of the For instance, African writer and critic Chinua Africans to at least a ce1iain extent because he says Achebe argues in his article ": directly, "No, they were not inhuman." The tone of Racism in Conrad's Heart of Darkness" that Marlow, the first sentence, the double-negative syntax, as well and by extension Conrad, is mostly concerned with as the use of a dash, suggests that Marlow internalizes the negative effects imperialism has on the reputation and interprets his emotional reaction while also and portrayal of the privileged Europeans rather than outwardly narrating the incident. This observation the horrific acts cornrnitted against the natives. He indicates that Marlow's instinctive reaction to the states, incident immediately, and maybe even unconsciously, Students of Heart of Darkness will often tell you causes him to have reservations about his previous that Conrad is concerned not so much with Africa beliefs. According to Fredrickson, "accounts of as with the deterioration of one European mind creatures who seemed more animal than human must caused by solitude and sickness. They will point have raised doubts in the minds of many Europeans as out to you that Conrad is, if anything, Jess to whether they really shared 'one blood' and a charitable to the Europeans in the story than he is common ancestry with many of the types of men to the natives, that the point of the story is to being brought to their attention by the explorers and ridicule Europe's civilizing m1ss1on in travelers of the late " (I 1). Granted, the Africa ...The real question is the dehumanization tone of Marlow's voice indicates that he does not of Africa and Africans which this age-Jong equate the Africans with himself, but the mere attitude has fostered and continues to foster in this recognition of the African's "humanness" suggests world. And the question is whether a novel that the Western principle that Fredrickson refers to is which celebrates this dehumanization, which weakening. The phrase "you know, that was the worst

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of it" indicates that Marlow is attracted to and weakening of previously unchallenged European engaged in the sounds of the drums, chants, and stereotypes. The foUo\ving passage highlights his rituals, but the experience also troubles him because it observations of the cannibals and occurs during the suggests that a "kinship" or connection exists between journey down to the Inner Station when the cannibals himself and the supposedly "inhuman" Africans. The are suffering from starvation. "kinship" that Marlow refers to can very allude to the Why in the name of all gnawing devils of hunger Darwinian argument that all human races have a [the cannibals] didn't go for us ... amazes me now conunon ancestor, or the religious notion that "God when I think of it. . .I saw that something hath made of one blood all the nations of the earth" restraining, one of those human secrets that baffle (The New American Bible, Acts 17:26). With either probability had come into play there. I looked at reference, the use of the word "kinship" basically has them with a swift quickening of interest-not an affiliating connotation, and what makes the idea because it occurred to me I might be eaten by more bothersome for Marlow is that this word must them before very Jong, though I own to you that reflect his "gut reaction" because it contradicts all just then I perceived-in a new light, as it were-­ ideas of British superiority. One may see this how unwholesome the pilgrims looked ....Yes; I viewpoint and Marlow's troublesome reaction as looked at [the cannibals] as you would on any racist, which Achebe argues, but the reader must human being, with a curiosity of their impulses, remember that Marlow represents the product of a motives, capacities, weaknesses, when brought to society that ingrains these misconceptions into the test of an inexorable necessity. Restraint! individuals, and so his reaction is suitable for What possible restraint? Was is superstition, authentically representing his society. However, the disgust, patience, fear--or some kind of primitive word "thrilled" reflects Marlow's natural emotion and honor? ... Don't you know the devilry oflingering adds to the idea of "kinship" a feeling of excitement, starvation, its exasperating torment, its black almost as if Marlow had previous doubts concerning thoughts, its somber and brooding ferocity? Well, the legality of African savagery. On the other hand, I do. It takes a man all his inborn strength to fight the reader sees Marlow's nurtured attitude dominate hunger properly. (70-71) his internal struggle with the phrase, "Ugly. Yes, it The phrase "amazes me" in the first sentence was ugly enough," which is so blatant that it needs no emphasizes Marlow's astonishment regarding the self­ explanation. However, the unresolved battle controI of these cannibals and reflects the emotional continues with the word "but," which represents his side of his inner self. However, the reader also sees sentiments. The sentence "if you were man enough from the first sentence that the European stereotypes you would admit to yourself that there was in you ... a of cannibals focus on their animal-like and ravenous dim suspicion of there being a meaning in it which appetite, which Marlow keeps in mind while be you-you so remote from the night of first ages­ internalizes and tries to reconcile this shocking could comprehend" expands on the argument that experience with his learned attitudes. These cannibals Marlow's human nature influences his indoctrinated are supposed to behave like uncontrolled beasts beliefs. Marlow's statement "if you were man according to the principles that Europe has taught enough" suggests that by acknowledging the Marlow. So when Marlow's experience with these emotionally triggered idea that a kinship between the cannibals develops quite differently from his Africans and Europeans exists, "you" (the Europeans) expectation, it honestly leaves him emotionally will achieve an elevated or matured state of mind. baffled. The phrase "swift quickening of interest" The "man" is the person who can admit, accept, and and/or the word "curiosity" emphasizes Marlow's deal with these previously suppressed truths. The inquisitiveness and interest regarding the exploration phrase "first ages" does racially separate the Africans of his newly discovered response to the situation, from the Europeans, but the words "could which he feels uncomfortable with because it is comprehend" suggests an acceptance and unfamiliar territory for him to regard Africans as a understanding of the basic, yet significant, connection self-controlled people. However, the mere phrase between their existences regardless of the more "swift quickening of interest" reflects the same type of advanced state of the Europeans. This statement not excitement produced >vith the word "thrilled" used in only proves that the internal conflict between these the previous passage. Even with the cannibal dichotomous elements keep Marlow's racism from situation, the feeling of enthusiasm or even being definitely established, it also shows that if anticipation possibly suggests that Marlow always nothing else, Marlow recognizes the limits of his doubted the learned attitude that African's behavior previous awareness and perception. reflected a bestial existence. The language of the Marlow's experience with the cannibals on his image "I perceived-in a new light" pJays on the steamer is another example that supports his internal theme of lightness v. darkness displayed throughout confusion regarding his experiences as well as the the work. Throughout Heart of Darkness, the image

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of"light" usually refers to awareness or the reversal of to the cannibals who have admirable internal strength prevjous ignorance. The image can be connected to and self-control. Therefore, from this passage the the symbolic painting Kurtz created of the blindfolded "gnawing devils of hunger" almost serve as a catalyst woman carrying a torch light through a dark and or test for the cannibals to prove their manhood, which somber atmosphere. The blindfolded woman can they pass. Because of this success, Marlow has no represent the disillusioned company that believes they choice but to alter his prejudiced stereotypes in order are bringing knowledge and civilization (the light) to to admit, accept, and deal with these new observances an ignorant and benighted society. However, in this as well as remain true to his own definition of situation the European (Marlow) represents the "manhood." ignorant and oblivious party that becomes enlightened Conrad could have borrowed this idea of the by a new experience. The "new light" that Marlow "self-controlled cannibal" from Michel de "perceives" can be attributed to the surfacing of his Montaigne's 1850 essay, "On Cannibals," in order to previously subdued human sentiments. Therefore, support Marlow's reaction to the cannibals. In "On Marlow's action of "look[ing]" at the cannibals Cannibals," Montaigne favors the cannibalistic Native projects a new consciousness where his innate human Americans over the Europeans because the Native emotions, stripped from the influence of his Americans live in a state of "original naivete" that environmental upbringing, plays a significant role in gives rise to their noble morality (2). This observation his interpretation of his interactions with the natives. led to the paradoxical idea of the "noble savage" Tmly the key word in this passage is "restraint" image, which admired the Native Americans' natural Marlow's learned philosophy embraces the idea that existence "equivalent to that of Eden before the fall" self-control and constraint against primitive pleasures (Fredrickson 11). While writing about Marlow's raises the human being to a higher level of prestige, experiences with the cannibals, Conrad could have intelligence, and worth. In fact, one of Marlow's, and kept this statement in mind from Montaigne's essay: by extension Conrad's, major criticisms (based on "I am not so concerned that we should remark on the Marlow's reaction to Kurtz) is that once one removes barbaric horror of such a deed, but that, while we quite oneself from the protective veil of behavioral rightly judge their faults, we are blind to our own. I constraints, one will eventually revert back to a think it is more barbaric to eat a man alive than to eat primitive consciousness. However, the situation with him dead, to tear apart through torture and pain a the cannibals challenges this established European living body which can still feel, or to burn it alive by social attitude. Instead of inside the white pilgrims, bits, to let it be gnawed and chewed by dogs or innate restraint exists inside the cannibals. One could pigs ... and-what is worse-under the pretext of piety suggest that the pilgrims' blinded sense of their own and religion. Better to roast and eat him after he is infinite superiority, inadvertently causes them to dead" (3). From this passage, and the rest of succumb to flabbiness and inefficiency (McClure qt. Montaigne's essay, one can see that Montaigne in Adelman 64). The phrase "It takes a man all his believes that the cannibals have an inherent goodness. inborn strength to fight hunger properly" expands on They certainly obey certain "natural laws" even the idea of "humanness" described in the previous though they do not follow European standards of passage to include Marlow's idea of "manhood," or acceptable behavior. efficiency. Unlike one's "humanness," Marlow does 's is another not define manhood as an inherent trait but rather a work that deals with similar attitudes in Heart of reward gained through one's efficiency at a given Darkness regarding the cannibals. Many critics task. This idea of efficiency is an extremely integral comprehend the relationship between and concept behind Marlow's attitudes. Even though , especially Prospero's treatment of Caliban, as Heart of Darkness ' overall attitude towards the Shakespeare's commentary on European . morality of imperialism is questionable, one can Caliban, whose name is a play on "cannibal," is often certainly claim that, if nothing else, Conrad is described as a "slave," "savage," "brute," "hagseed," extremely critical of the Belgian's unsystematic, and even "earth," which all negatively connote him as immoral, and selfish method of rule in the Congo. a physical and even evil incarnation of ''Nature." According to Pericles Lewis, "Marlow is careful to According to Prospero, Caliban is "A devil, a born distinguish the efficient and humane English, who rule devil, on whose nature I Nurture can never stick," by law and get 'some real work' done in their which suggests that even European influence cannot possessions from other European imperialists, who elevate or totally erase Caliban's bestial state of plunder their dependencies purely for their own existence (IV. i. 188-189). However, despite all these material advantage while treating the natives horrible connotations, the reader regards Caliban with indiscriminately as 'enemies' and 'criminals"' (2). a degree of sympathy. Caliban's speeches about his Unlike the equally ravenous pilgrims or greedy home contain very beautiful inrnges that serve Belgians, Marlow assigns the rewarding title of "man" to remind the reader that Caliban did occupy the

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island before Prospero's arrival, and so Caliban's rationalization of the attitude Marlow should exercise enslavement is severely unjust Also, Shakespeare due to bis European attitudes. Even though this endows Caliban with an intelligent and adequate African should be regarded as insignificant as a "grain defense of his evil "nature:" "You taught me of sand," Marlow cannot help feeling sorrow language, and my profit on't I Is I know how to curse. intrinsically for his death. According to Sung Ryol The red plague rid you I For learning me your Kim, "Marlow's realization entails precisely a language" (I. ii. 437-439). This statement is a recognition of his crewman's humanity and momentary for Caliban that suggests his evil individuality. He is moved by the loss of an individual demeanor is not the result of his own "nature," but human life ... And it is not in his functional role as rather of the European's "nurture," and so the helmsman that Marlow misses his crewman" (10). In Europeans are the true source of villainy. some sense, this feeling of bereavement equalizes the Furthermore, Prospero's statement, "this thing of helmsman and Marlow because Marlow grieves for darkness I I Acknowledge mine" could read as his fellow man and shipmate to the same degree he Prospero's acknowledgment of a distant bond with would mourn the death of a pilgrim, if not more. Caliban and mirrors many of Marlow's statements However, through the language of the next sentence, already described (V. i. 275-276). However, because the reader sees that Marlow tries to justify his Caliban attempts to rape , the reader may also sentiments with nurtured reasoning. The phrase "he argue that just like Conrad, Shakespeare bestows had steered; for months I had him at my back" once limitations on the idea of complete equality between more displays Marlow's recognition of"efficiency'' at Europeans and the natives. The result of these mixed a given task. Because the helmsman completes the views is the same feeling of ambiguity that Conrad job required of him, Marlow's ideals of "efficiency," adopts for his own text. According to Paul Brown, respect, duty, and even leadership responsibilities The Tempest, then, declares no all-embracing require him to recompense the helmsman with at least triumph for colonialism. Rather it serves as a acknowledgment of a "job well done." However, the limited text in which the characteristic operations words "it was kind of a partnership" once again turns of colonialist discourse may be discerned-as an the tone of the passage towards sentiment rather than instrument of exploitation, a register of reason. The concept of "partnership" takes the beleaguerment and a site of radical ambivalence. previous idea of"kinship" one step further because the These operations produce strategies and word connotes an equalizing gesture. stereotypes which seek to impose and effect The relationship between the helmsman and colonialist power; in this text they are also driven Marlow becomes even more genuine when Marlow into contradiction and disruption. ( 151) admits, "I worried about his deficiencies, and thus a The last situation that clearly shows Marlow's subtle bond had been created." One may argue that growing realization towards the humanness of the this statement is racist because the helmsman's natives is the scene with the African helmsman. After "deficiencies" portray him negatively and inferior to reflecting on the meaning of the helmsman's death Marlow, but this phrase more appropriately connotes Marlow states, the relationship between that of a caretaker and I missed him even while his body was still lying dependant, or perhaps even a parent and a child. The in the pilot-house. Perhaps you will think it affection displayed with the words "I worried" passing strange this regret for a savage who was suggests the same feelings of anxiety a parent no more account than a grain of sand in the black possesses towards the child, and even the earlier Sahara. Well, don't you see, he had done phrase, "for months I had him at my back," indicates something, he had steered; for months I had him that at times the helmsman adopts the role of the at my back-a help--an instrument. It was a caretaker by protecting Marlow from harm. kind of partnership. He steered for me-I had to Therefore, from this relationship the reader look after him, I worried about his deficiencies, comprehends an equal exchange of human and thus a subtle bond had been created, of which compassion and reverence for one another. The I only became aware when it was suddenly phrases "bond created" and "intimate profundity" also broken. And the intimate profundity of that look connote an internally sentimentaJ connection based on he gave me when he received his hurt remains to mutual respect that unites the helmsman and Marlow. this day in my memory- like a claim of distant The idea that this bond is described as a revelation kinship affirmed in a supreme moment. (84-85) "affirmed in a supreme moment" indicates that the The earliest set of conflicting words is "missed" and fallibility of Marlow's previous conceptions are "think" displayed in the first two sentences. The word revealed to him suddenly and unexpectedly without "missed" alludes to an emotion and an uncontrollable giving him the to adequately comprehend his reaction to the helmsman's death, whereas the phrase newly found sentiments. However, as time goes on "you will think it passing strange" suggests the logical and Marlow becomes more inclined to see the truth

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behind the atrocities of imperialism (such as when be within it. Furthermore, the description of the "glow witnesses the decapitated heads that decorate Kurtz's [bringing] out the haze" produces an image of a misty house), the reader sees Marlow's attempt to graduaJly and dull source of illumination, not a powerful decipher his true feelings regarding Europe's political enlightenment. Therefore, these images along with control over Africa. This idea of gradual realization the statement, "we knew we were fated ...to hear about also emerged in the first passage with the phrase, one of Marlow's inconclusive experiences," indicate "(The suspicion of their not being human) would from the very beginning of the text that Marlow is a come slowly to one," and reinforces the argument that faulted narrator and one should question his ethical even though Marlow cannot unquestionably be labeled perspectives (21, emphasis added). According to unprejudiced, each of Marlow's experiences is a baby Sung Ryol Kim, "[Marlow's) failure to grasp the full step towards the idealistic, but highly impractical, end implications of his African experience is part of a of Belgium's "absolute power comipting absolutely." larger human inadequacy ... [Marlow] is susceptible to Based on this conflicting dichotomy and the biases and contradictions in thinking and in feeling, emergence of his human sentiment, this passage also whose acts do not at times correspond with his strongly suggests that Marlow's prejudiced attitudes statements and observations" (2). A logical become lessened through his emotional reactions to explanation for Marlow's fallible narration directly situations experienced in the Congo, but they can correlates with his relationship to Conrad: Heart of never be totally rationalized by his British principles, Darkness should not be read as Conrad's flawlessly and so the reader still cannot define Marlow as a racist argued political platform. It is more appropriately the narrator. channeled public exposure of Conrad's personal Whether or not Marlow is considered a racist is feelings regarding his own attempts to reconcile the significant for arguing that the novel depicts the confusion experienced with h.is previously justified "dehumanization of Africans and the African race" ideals of imperialism after witnessing the reality but not so much for defining Marlow's purpose as a behind Leopold's rule. Peter Brooks argues that, character (Achebe 12). First of all, if Marlow were If we ask what a meaning that is outside rather depicted as a role model or heroic example, then than within the narrative might be, what status it Marlow's alleged racism is clearly a problem. might have, we are forced to the conclusion that However, Conrad's purpose regarding Marlow is not such meaning must reside in the relation between to portray him as the unorthodox and nonconforming the tale's telling and its listening, in its reception, hero, but rather to create a fictionalized figure through its transaction, in the interiocutionary relation. which he can express his own very real and conflicted The truth value of Marlow's narrative must be in feelings regarding his experiences in the Congo. Gary what his listeners can do with it. Perhaps the Adelman agrees with this arg11ment when he states, most important dramatization of interlocution "Through the subjective impressions of an comes at the moment when Marlow appeals to his intermediary struggling with hard truths, Conrad was listeners to "see." (122) able to explore his own feelings without exposing This statement shows that Conrad calls readers to them. Marlow was Conrad's way of evading direct decipher their own views towards imperialism rather confrontation with his neuroses" (24, emphasis than to adopt his narrator's attitude, obviously because added). Even Achebe admits that Conrad does not Marlow and/or Conrad cannot provide the reader with create enough distance between himself and Marlow: a clear interpretation. In fact, throughout the "if Conrad's intention is to draw a cordon sanitaire narration, Marlow must appeal to his audience's between himself and the moral and psychological senses because he cannot solely rely on language to malaise of his narrator, his care seems to me totally communicate his experiences. Therefore, because of wasted" (IO). Based on these ideas, one can view the novel's ambiguity that results from Conrad's own Marlow's ambiguity not only as a reflection of confusion, much of Heart of Darkness' didactic Conrad's weakened ideals but also as a sign of his message is left to personal interpretation based on fallibility as an ethical narrator. According to the one's own perceptions. frame narrator of Heart ofDarkness, "to [Marlow) the Because neither Marlow's human sentiment or his meaning of an episode was not inside like a kernel but nurtured principles dominate his inner self at the outside, enveloping the tale which brought it out only novel's end, the reader sees that Marlow cannot as a glow brings out a haze ... " (18). The image of a undoubtedly be labeled a racist. However, based on "kernel" (the protected part of a nut or fruit that lies Marlow's purpose as character the reader sees that within the shell) as well as the verb "enveloping," Marlow's internal conflict between human nature suggests that the "meaning" of Marlow's experiences versus nurtured principles is appropriate, and if do not contain any type of central, clear, and/or nothing else, eventually leads to the weakening of the concrete significance; the meaning of Marlow's legitimacy of British prejudices towards the Africans realization surrounds the tale rather than comes from as well as the justification of imperialism. Once again,

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through Heart of Darkness Conrad puts many Brooks, Peter. "An Unreadable Report: Conrad's perspectives of imperialism and racism right on the Heart ofDarkness." Jn Modem Critical table but allows the reader to develop his/her own Interpretations: Heart o(Darkness. Harold opinions. Consequently, Conrad's writing was never Bloom, ed. New York: Chelsea House hailed to be without imperfections, and even V.S. Publishers, 1987. 105-129. Naipaul, a great admirer of Conrad, admits this fact: Brown, Paul. "'This Thing of Darkness I "There was something unbalanced, even unfinished, Acknowledge Mine': The Tempest and the about Conrad ...And I found Conrad ...Not as a man Discourse of Colonialism." In Modern Critical with a cause, but a man [that offered] ...sixty or Interpretations: William Shakespeare's The seventy years ago a [meditation] on my world, a world Tempest. , ed. New York: Chelsea I recognize today" (212, 219, emphasis added). House Publishers, 1988. 131-152. Because Naipaul uses the story line of Heart of Conrad, Joseph. Heart ofDarkness. New York: Darkness in at least three of his major works, Penguin Books, 1995. including An Area of Darkness, , Fredrickson, George M. "Settlement and Subjugation, and "In a Free State," readers can conclude that 1600-1840." In White Supremacy: A Conrad's work exposes certain truths regarding the Comparative Study in American and South chaotic atmosphere of post-colonial states worth African History. New York: Oxford University examining even though the novella's holistic view of Press, 1981. 3-53. imperialism is rather ambiguous and racist statements Kim, Sung Ryol. "Witness to Death: Marlow in the undoubtedly exist. Naipaul provides an appropriate Heart of Darkness." Conradiana 33 (2001). resolution to Achebe's reading of Heart of Darkness 59-79. Retrieved March 7, 2002 from the World as an unquestionably racist piece of literature when he Wide Web: http:web3.infotrac. says, "we read at different times for different things. galegroup.com We take to novels our own ideas of what the novel Lewis, Pericles. "His Sympathies Were in the Right should be; and those ideas are made by our needs, our Place: Heart ofDarkness and the Discourse of education, our background or perhaps our ideas of National Character." M·neteenth-Century our background' (213, emphasis added). Therefore, Literature 53 (1998). 211. Retrieved February modem day readers of Heart of Darkness must not 28, 2002 from the World Wide Web: forget that one's nurtured principles based on the http://web3.infotrac.galegroup.com values of one's society may also have an effect on Macionis, John J. Society: The Basics. 5lh Ed. Saddle his/her attitude regarding the text. It is up to the River: Prentice Hall, 2000. reader to maintain an appropriate balance between Montaigne, Michel de. "On Cannibals" ( 1850). human sentiment and nurtured principles in order to Retrieved March 15, 2002 from the assign Marlow's character and narration a fair World Wide Web: http://www.wsu.edu:8080 judgment. /-wldciv/world civ reader/ world_civ _reader_ 2/montaigne.html Naipaul, V.S. "Conrad's Darkness." In The Return of Works Cited Eva Peron. New York: Alfred A. Knoff Inc, 1980. 205-228. Achebe, Chinua. "Racism in Conrad's Heart of The New American Bible. Iowa Falls: World Bible Darkness." In . New Publishers, 1991. York: Doubleday, 1989. 1-20. Shakespeare, William. The Tempest. New York: Adelman, Gary. Heart o(Darkness: Search for the Washington Square Press, 1994. Unconsciousness. Boston: Twayne Publishers, Watt, Ian. "Heart ofDarkness and Nineteenth­ 1987. Century Thought." In Modern Critical Australian Psychological Society. "Constructions of Interpretations: Heart o(Darkness. Harold Race, Racism, and Prejudice." Retrieved March Bloom, ed. New York: Chelsea 18, 2002 from the World Wide Web: House Publishers, 1987. 77-90. http://www.aps.psychsociety.com.au/member/raci sm/sec2html

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