Heart of Darkness
Author: Joseph Conrad
In Joseph Conrad’s, Heart of Darkness the main character Marlow’s observations of how others view him is as stem of one of the major themes throughout the novel, darkness. It becomes clear to the reader right from the beginning of the novel that Marlow is different compared to the other men on the ship. His differences stay with him as he continues on his journey as others continue to look at him in strange ways and Marlow stays very aware of what is going on. This constant obsession of how people view you is not uncommon for I struggle with it constantly.
At the beginning of the novel Marlow already struggles to fit in with his crew mates whom he tells the story of his journey to the Congo River. They show little respect to him and appear to judge him for his appearance and because Marlow comes off as an intelligent man. “His remark did not seem at all surprising. It was just like Marlow. It was accepted in silence. No one took the trouble to grunt even; and presently he said, very slow.” This quote also shows how the narrator shows little respect for Marlow along with the other men on the boat. As Marlow continues his story he tells of his experience in the company office which he describes as a dark, negative atmosphere. Marlow observes and can also feel the people in the office staring at him. It also appears that people don’t know what to think of Marlow because why is this bright intelligent man traveling to the Congo River? The people around him don’t know that’s why they continue to look at him with these blank stares as Marlow received when he arrived in the Congo. Marlow’s observation of these stares comes after his description of the dark and desolate African shores.
Although Marlow is continuously judged and questioned he does some judging of his own. When he first arrives in the Congo he speaks of the black men working as the other white man had. This is hypocritical of Marlow in the fact that he is constantly being judged by people of his own race, and then follows in their footsteps by acting in the same manner towards the men working. For example, “They passed me within six inches without a glance with the complete deathlike indifference of unhappy savages.” This quote shows what Marlow thought of the men working and how he gave them the blank stare as he had received many times before. Marlow’s constant observation of people and how they view him is also something that I struggle with.
Although people are constantly telling one another to not care what people think of you, I find it hard not to. If someone gives me a weird look, I find myself wondering why that person just did that and it will often stay with me for the rest of the day. This leads me to believe that our society has become paranoid of others perceptions of us and we are constantly trying to better our appearances or lifestyles. In Marlow’s case, after being judged he finds himself judging others himself. The constant awkward stares and conversations that Marlow encountered were all followed or started by the description of a dark or gloomy place that Marlow was in. These events lead to Conrad’s theme of darkness throughout the novel.
1 comment:
I like the question implicit in your thesis: how is the way others (including the narrator) view Marlow yet another example of darkness in the novel?
So, when you write "the narrator shows little respect" to Marlow, I'm not sure that's quite right. It seems more the case--in keeping with your thesis--that the narrator and others know that "Marlow is different" (as you say earlier in the essay). So his strange remark does not surprise them because they expect him to be strange.
They are not surprised by what he says ("His remark did not seem at all surprising") but they (the narrator included) also do not quite understand what he is saying, especially as Marlow's tale progresses.
This lack of understanding is a form of darkness just as Marlow's lack of understanding of his experiences, of his own nature, of the native Africans, of Kurtz is darkness. *And* whatever he glimpses in his nature, in Kurtz's, in the natives, and even in London is dark (the horror, the horror).
Melanie, you get back to this idea when you write: "It also appears that people don’t know what to think of Marlow." This lack of understanding is a form of darkness. You develop this slightly but I think the relationship between Marlow's story, his audience (including the narrator), and the reader (who lurks outside it all) is one of the great mysteries and interesting aspects of the story.
You quote the following passage: “They passed me within six inches without a glance with the complete deathlike indifference of unhappy savages” and misread it as saying Marlow looked with indifference on the native workers. It is the workers--in Marlow's words "the unhappy savages"--who look at him with "indifference".
It could be argued that this "deathlike indifference" is another form of darkness--a darkness that is the direct result of imperialism.
Then you write about yourself observing and being observed. You mention paranoia. Is this another form of darkness?
Finally, you make a very important observation: "The constant awkward stares and conversations that Marlow encountered were all followed or started by the description of a dark or gloomy place." True. So what do you make of this? How is this significant? What is the author trying to say about experience, storytelling, human relationships, and darkness?
Some good observations and interpretive moments (as well as some misinterpretation) but you need to stay with an idea a bit longer to develop it convincingly.
Score: 5
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