Heart of Darkness

Heart of Darkness by Joseph Conrad Heart of Darkness Shmoop Literature Guide About this Learning Guide Shmoop Will Make You a Better Lover* *of Literature, History, Poetry, Life... Our lively learning guides are written by experts and educators who want to show your brain a good time. Shmoop writers come primarily from Ph.D. programs at top universities, including Stanford, Harvard, and UC Berkeley. Want more Shmoop? We cover literature, poetry, bestsellers, music, US history, civics, biographies (and the list keeps growing). Drop by our website to see the latest. ©2010 Shmoop University, Inc. All Rights Reserved. Talk to the Labradoodle... She's in Charge. ©2010 Shmoop University, Inc. Heart of Darkness Shmoop Literature Guide Table of Contents Introduction .......................................................... 3 Why Should I Care ..................................................... 4 Summary ............................................................ 5 Brief Summary ....................................................... 5 Chapter 1 ........................................................... 6 Chapter 2 ........................................................... 9 Chapter 3 .......................................................... 12 Themes ............................................................ 15 Good vs. Evil ........................................................ 15 Man and the Natural World .............................................. 16 Race ............................................................. 17 Identity ............................................................ 18 Power ............................................................ 19 Women and Femininity ................................................. 20 Exploration ......................................................... 21 Madness .......................................................... 22 Language and Communication ............................................ 23 Fear ............................................................. 24 Fate and Free Will .................................................... 25 Time ............................................................. 26 Quotes ............................................................. 27 Good vs. Evil Quotes .................................................. 27 Man and the Natural World Quotes ......................................... 55 Race Quotes ........................................................ 67 Identity Quotes ...................................................... 76 Power Quotes ....................................................... 84 Women and Femininity Quotes ............................................ 91 Exploration Quotes .................................................... 98 Madness Quotes .................................................... 103 Language and Communication Quotes ..................................... 116 Fear Quotes ....................................................... 129 Fate and Free Will Quotes .............................................. 135 Time Quotes ....................................................... 142 Characters ......................................................... 149 Character Roles (Protagonist, Antagonist...) .................................. 149 Tools of Characterization ............................................... 153 Charlie Marlow ..................................................... 155 Mr. Kurtz ......................................................... 162 The Manager ...................................................... 165 The Brickmaker ..................................................... 167 ©2010 Shmoop University, Inc. I Heart of Darkness Shmoop Literature Guide The Harlequin ...................................................... 168 The Intended ....................................................... 169 Plot Analysis ....................................................... 171 Plot Analysis ....................................................... 171 Booker's Seven Basic Plots Analysis: Voyage and Return ......................... 172 Three Act Plot Analysis ................................................ 174 Study Questions .................................................... 176 Literary Devices .................................................... 177 Symbolism, Imagery, Allegory ........................................... 177 Setting ........................................................... 179 Narrator Point of View ................................................. 180 Genre ........................................................... 181 Tone ............................................................ 181 Writing Style ....................................................... 181 What's Up With the Title? .............................................. 182 Did You Know ...................................................... 183 Trivia ............................................................ 183 Allusions ......................................................... 183 Steaminess Rating ................................................... 184 ©2010 Shmoop University, Inc. II Heart of Darkness Shmoop Literature Guide Introduction Published in 1902, Heart of Darkness has become one of the most celebrated and effective novels to combine a psychological journey with a horrifyingly stark account of imperialism, or specifically of European colonies in Africa. Based on Joseph Conrad’s own experience traveling up the Congo River into the African interior, Heart of Darkness follows the disturbing journey of English ivory-trading agent Marlow into the jungles of Africa in search of a mysterious man named Kurtz. The novel sparked controversy in 1975 when famed Nigerian writer Chinua Achebe condemned it, accusing it of dehumanizing Africans and reducing them to extensions of the hostile and primal jungle environment. Since then, writers have heatedly debated this topic. Scholars can’t quite seem to conclude whether the novel is racist or anti-racist. ©2010 Shmoop University, Inc. 5 Heart of Darkness Shmoop Literature Guide Why Should I Care Let’s just get it out here. We didn’t want to be the first ones to say it, but it’s kind of the elephant in the room at this point: Heart of Darkness is the original Star Wars. No, seriously – you’ve got the light side and the dark side, the delicate balance between the two, and best of all, the commingling of those who are good with those who are evil. Friendly, upstanding Marlow realizing that he’s not so unlike heads-on-sticks Kurtz is the "Luke, I am your Father" moment of the novel. To any of you who have ever rooted for the bad guy, picked on someone smaller than you in elementary school, or wanted that annoying kid behind you in home economics to get destroyed in dodge ball, you know what it’s like to encounter your own heart of darkness – it’s scary. People can be pretty horrible. The human race has been guilty of murder, brutality, torture, rape, and mass exterminations of its own kind. Now that we’ve lured you into a Marlow-esque feeling of safety, everyone take a look at that finger you’re pointing and turn it 180 degrees. Yes, you. Heart of Darkness makes the point that we may all be a shrunken head away from becoming our own worst enemies. But before giving up on humanity, consider the ending to Heart of Darkness. What do you think about its message? Is it hopeful in the end? ©2010 Shmoop University, Inc. 6 Heart of Darkness Shmoop Literature Guide Summary Brief Summary Heart of Darkness follows one man’s nightmarish journey into the interior of Africa. Aboard a British ship called the Nellie, three men listen to a man named Marlow recount his journey into Africa as an agent for the Company, an ivory trading firm. Along the way, he witnesses brutality and hate between colonizers and the native African people, becomes entangled in a power struggle within the Company, and finally learns the truth about the mysterious Kurtz, a mad agent who has become both a god and a prisoner of the "native Africans." After "rescuing" Kurtz from the native African people, Marlow watches in horror as Kurtz succumbs to madness, disease, and finally death. Marlow’s decision to support Kurtz over his company leaves readers wondering about his moral integrity, and possibly asking the question: "He did WHAT?!" The novel closes with Marlow’s guilt-ridden visit to Kurtz’s fiancée to return the man’s personal letters. ©2010 Shmoop University, Inc. 7 Heart of Darkness Shmoop Literature Guide Chapter 1 During a flood on the river Thames (that’s in England, by the way), the Nellie, a British ship, anchors near London and waits for the flood to recede. On board are four seamen – the unnamed narrator, a lawyer, an accountant, and Marlow. Notice how only one is named. That's important. The environment and mood are serene, though there are constant references to an ominous gloom in the west. (Ominous gloom = darkness. Hmm…) The narrator, pondering the river, thinks of its illustrious history – playing host to countless British heroes who went forth to bring trade and civilization to less fortunate nations. The sun sets and Marlow begins talking. He starts with a seemingly unrelated hypothetical situation about an ancient Roman seaman first coming to Britain. He imagines this Roman encountering horror upon horror in this unfamiliar and savage land. He speaks of them conquering the "natives." Then Marlow begins to recount his story as a "fresh-water sailor" and the three listeners

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