Heart of Darkness

Note: This novel is like an impressionistic painting: if you get too close, you lose the picture totally and have to step back from it to really see it. And, like impressionism, it is all about light and shadow and “capturing a moment.” Painters know the details blend to create an overall atmosphere. Conrad will use a symbol and then build on associating images until the major theme emerges. For example: tomb—bones—whiteness—ivory—Kurtz—self-knowledge—death. Look for these patterns as you read.

Try grass

Socks

Work

“the voice”

Lies

Time

Bones

Ivory

1. What is the general mood as it opens?

2. What is the significance of “waiting for the turn of the tide?” Where else do we find transitions in this section?

3. Why the reference to Roman times?

4. What might the implicit theme be based on this portion of the novel?

5. Marlow is presented as “an idol” and as the Buddha. What does this imply about him?

6. Marlow has no delusions about what he is doing; What does his Aunt believe?

7. Conrad introduces the metaphor of “the white sepulcher.” How is this symbolic, and of what?

8. Find the motifs of grass and write the page numbers here.

8. What does Marlow believe about women based on his aunt? Based on the women knitting wool?

Heart of Darkness

First readings

List some of the foreshadowing you’ve seen so far

Symbolic:

Characters who warn by action or word:

Misconceptions and misunderstandings:

Marlow himself:

Look carefully at the Accountant

1. In what way is he representative of the Company as a whole?

2. How has he “tamed the jungle” and for what purpose?

3. The fact that the woman has a “distaste” for the work is telling. What does it suggest?

4. Explore starch as a metaphor.

5. How is Marlow “typically British” in his praise of the chief accountant?

6. characterize the accountant’s description of Kurtz. How is Kurtz measure?

7. How is this “measurement” contrasted or similar to his attitude toward the dying man?

8. What might the message sent to Kurtz through Marlow mean?

9. Based on what the message is, why do you think the accountant is afraid to send it in writing?

Heart of Darkness

1. What do we learn about Kurtz from the conversation between the Manager and his Uncle?

2. What makes Marlow see Kurtz for the first time?

3. What language demonstrates that the uncle and the Manager are sub-human?

4. When the Uncle says “trust to this” when referencing the jungle, Marlow freaks out a bit. Why? (Signet: 104)

5. How does Marlow insult his listeners? (106)

6. List the reasons Marlow is thankful to the cannibals:

7. What is meant by the passage, “ . . . this suspicion of their not being inhuman” and the next few sentences. What is Marlow saying? (108)

8. Why doesn’t Marlow dance with the Black men of the jungle? (109)

9. Explain how the boiler-man has been trained to keep the boiler going:

10. How is the book found in the cabin a symbol of the terrible isolation felt by Marlow?

11. Explain, in chronological order, the things that happen to them once they are 8 miles from the Inner station. (112)

12. Marlow explains about the cannibals and “restraint” which becomes a theme for us. He goes on for pages about it. What happens after the fog lifts?

13. When the river narrows they are attacked. How are they trapped? How is this an excellent place to attack?

14. Why is the helmsman killed? (121)

15. Why does Marlow fling his shoes overboard? (123)

16. What is he afraid he has lost forever?

17. He stops the story to ask for some tobacco? Why is he overcome? (124)

18. What does he mention on 125 that he hasn’t mentioned before?

19. Tell me about the pamphlet Kurtz has written.

20. Why does Marlow send the helmsman overboard – why doesn’t he give him to the cannibals?

21. What does the Russian tell Marlow to do to scare the natives?

22. Why do the natives resist the Manager and Marlow? What don’t they want?

Some new motifs seen here:

Fog = blindness and staying still

Shoes = ?

Restraint

Lies

Voice

“Enlarging the mind”

The river

The jungle

Heart of Darkness – conclusion

Assignment: Prepare for discussion on the problem of the LIE.

Lecture-discussion:

1. Describe Kurtz as you first see him. Why is this ironic? What is important about his bald head? His voice? His power over the natives? How does he achieve this power?

2. How does the female savage fit Marlow’s view of women? Civilization? The jungle? Restraint?

3. Why is Marlow willing to support Kurtz against the manager? Does he believe in what Kurtz stands for? What are the objects which surround his hut? The midnight revels? Can we be certain?

4. What truth had Kurtz learned when he “kicked himself loose of the earth”? How does this apply to restraint?

5. Marlow continues to feel that Kurtz is a remarkable man, worth defending. Perhaps it is because he has known “the horror.” What exactly is “the horror” for Kurtz? How does it relate to his soliloquy on the rightness of motive?

6. How does Marlow feel about people when he returns to the sepulchral city? How does he handle the people asking for Kurtz’s effects?

7. How does Marlow handle the question of justice for Kurtz with the intended? Why the darkened room? What is ironic in the intended’s statements?

8. For Marlow, what is the great virtue that the Intended and all women possess? Why must it be protected? Against whom/what?

9. If this is a journey of self knowledge, what has Marlow learned about himself?

What is the heart of darkness for him?

10. If Marlow needed to protect the ideal from the truth, what is the role of the artist? Who must be protected? What is the task of those who know the truth?

11. Kurtz was all about the voice, the teller of truths, the speaker. In what way has Marlow become Kurtz? In what way will he never become like Kurtz?