"...seemed to lead into the heart of an immense darkness" (Conrad, 72).
The last word in the book is darkness, and the word is also in the title. The word has been sprinkled throughout the text and is used to describe almost everything. Conrad obviously believes that darkness is evil, and symbolizes the evils of man kind.
Tuesday, August 26, 2008
Love
"Don't you understand I loved him- I loved him- I loved him" (Conrad, 71).
Earlier in the novel, Marlow said that he and Kurtz talked of love. Even now, as she talks, the room grows darker and darker. Conrad is symbolizing that love is also darkness.
Earlier in the novel, Marlow said that he and Kurtz talked of love. Even now, as she talks, the room grows darker and darker. Conrad is symbolizing that love is also darkness.
Kurtz
"The shade of the original Kurtz frequented the bedside of the hollow sham" (Conrad, 63).
This hints that Kurtz was never an innocent man, but always tainted by the evils of man kind. He also symbolizes the poisons of mankind, and has brought only darkness to everything around him.
This hints that Kurtz was never an innocent man, but always tainted by the evils of man kind. He also symbolizes the poisons of mankind, and has brought only darkness to everything around him.
Brown Current
"The brown current ran swiftly out of the heart of darkness" (Conrad, 62).
The heart of darkness is the forest in which this story took place. Even the river is brown, telling the reader that it has also been tainted by man kind. The entire story has been talking about how man kind ruins everything around it.
The heart of darkness is the forest in which this story took place. Even the river is brown, telling the reader that it has also been tainted by man kind. The entire story has been talking about how man kind ruins everything around it.
feathers
"...they shook towards the fierce river-demon a bunch of black feathers" (Conrad, 62).
At the beginning of Marlow's travel down the river it was only hinted that nature was turning dark. After his struggles with Kurtz, everything has an evil and corrupted feel to it. His expedition ruined everything it touched.
At the beginning of Marlow's travel down the river it was only hinted that nature was turning dark. After his struggles with Kurtz, everything has an evil and corrupted feel to it. His expedition ruined everything it touched.
Murky
"and the stretch of the river abreast of the clearing glittering in a still and dazzling splendor, with a murky and overshadowed bend above and below" (Conrad, 54).
The allusion to darkness forebodes that the immediate future may not be what it seems. Conrad is once again using darkness to poison its surroundings, and to spread almost as if it were a disease.
The allusion to darkness forebodes that the immediate future may not be what it seems. Conrad is once again using darkness to poison its surroundings, and to spread almost as if it were a disease.
Ivory
"Well, I had a small lot of Ivory" (Conrad, 51).
Ivory has been a symbol of power and destruction for centuries. Wherever ivory was harvested, destruction soon followed. This is a glimpse into Kurtz's true personality. He is just another man who craves power and riches, no matter what the cost.
Ivory has been a symbol of power and destruction for centuries. Wherever ivory was harvested, destruction soon followed. This is a glimpse into Kurtz's true personality. He is just another man who craves power and riches, no matter what the cost.
Townson Inquiry
" I gave him Townson's book. He made as though he would kiss me" (Conrad, 49).
John Townson was a army officer and settler in the early nineteenth century. (Edit) Conrad is using him as an allusion because he symbolises the invasive nature of human kind. We constant need to conquer and expand ourselves, which means nature and natural laws are forgotten.
John Townson was a army officer and settler in the early nineteenth century. (Edit) Conrad is using him as an allusion because he symbolises the invasive nature of human kind. We constant need to conquer and expand ourselves, which means nature and natural laws are forgotten.
Beginnings
"Going up that river was like traveling back to the earliest beginnings of the world" (Conrad, 30).
Marlow seems to be viewing this journey as a new beginning. It is almost as if he is discovering the world for the very first time, and it is completely untouched by the world that he left.
Marlow seems to be viewing this journey as a new beginning. It is almost as if he is discovering the world for the very first time, and it is completely untouched by the world that he left.
Black figures
"Black figures strolled about listlessly" (Conrad, 22).
Conrad is using the color black to add a negative feel to everything around Marlow. It is almost as if everything has been unnaturally tainted with the color. It is also showing that Marlow has very little trust in everything around him, human or nature.
Conrad is using the color black to add a negative feel to everything around Marlow. It is almost as if everything has been unnaturally tainted with the color. It is also showing that Marlow has very little trust in everything around him, human or nature.
Colossal Jungle
" The edge of a colossal jungle, so dark-green as to be almost black" (Conrad, 10).
This is not the first time Conrad described something as being the color black. It is almost as though he is trying to warn the reader that not all is well. Black is a color usually associated with negative experiences and feeling.
This is not the first time Conrad described something as being the color black. It is almost as though he is trying to warn the reader that not all is well. Black is a color usually associated with negative experiences and feeling.
Air of whispering
"There it is before you... an air of whispering" (Conrad, 10).
Joseph Conrad is using personification to describe the Jungle on the shore. Using personification helps readers to not only see the setting, but also to feel the emotions that the characters are feeling.
Joseph Conrad is using personification to describe the Jungle on the shore. Using personification helps readers to not only see the setting, but also to feel the emotions that the characters are feeling.
Fleet Street
" I went along Fleet Street" (Conrad, 6).
Fleet Street is a street in London named after River Fleet. River Fleet is London's largest subterranean river. It is known for its importance in British printing because it was the home of the British press until 1980's.
links:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/River_Fleet
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fleet_Street
Fleet Street is a street in London named after River Fleet. River Fleet is London's largest subterranean river. It is known for its importance in British printing because it was the home of the British press until 1980's.
links:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/River_Fleet
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fleet_Street
Ravenna
" ...on a chance of promotion to the fleet at Ravenna" (Conrad , 4)
Ravenna is a City located in Italy. Although it is inland, it is connected to the ocean by a canal, making it possible to reach by boat. It is a very important city in Italy, and has been since the Roman empire.
Ravenna is a City located in Italy. Although it is inland, it is connected to the ocean by a canal, making it possible to reach by boat. It is a very important city in Italy, and has been since the Roman empire.
Falerian Wine
" No Falernian wine here, no going ashore" (Conrad, 4).
Falernian wine is a famous wine from the ancient Romans. It is called the wine of emperors because only the nobel Romans drank it. It is a symbol of civilization, which the ship is leaving as it heads out into the open ocean.
Links:
http://penelope.uchicago.edu/~grout/encyclopaedia_romana/wine/wine.html
Falernian wine is a famous wine from the ancient Romans. It is called the wine of emperors because only the nobel Romans drank it. It is a symbol of civilization, which the ship is leaving as it heads out into the open ocean.
Links:
http://penelope.uchicago.edu/~grout/encyclopaedia_romana/wine/wine.html
The Chapman Lighthouse
"The Chapman Lighthouse, a three-legged thing erect on a mud flat, shone strongly" (Conrad, 3).
The Chapman Lighthouse was a lighthouse located at the end of the Thames River. It was one of the last things that could be seen before leaving the Thames estuary. It was demolished in 1957 after it began to fall apart. (Edit) This is an actual place that on would see sailing out of the Thames River, which increases a readers attachment to the novel.
Links:
The Gauls
" ...run overland across the Gauls in a hurry" (Conrad, 3).
The Gauls is the region of Western Europe that was under control of the Celts during the Roman empire. It was feared by the Romans because, although the Celts were viewed as barbarians, they were a formidable enemy.
Links:
http://freehomepages.com/creenaught/gaulhis.htm
The Gauls is the region of Western Europe that was under control of the Celts during the Roman empire. It was feared by the Romans because, although the Celts were viewed as barbarians, they were a formidable enemy.
Links:
http://freehomepages.com/creenaught/gaulhis.htm
trireme
"...trireme in the Mediterranean" (Conrad, 3).
A trireme is a word meaning a Greek or Roman ship. These ships were used in ancient times to fight. They were our equivalent of a warship.
Adventurers
"They had sailed from Deptford, from Greenwich, from Erith- the adventurers and the settlers" (Conrad, 2).
Deptford, Greenwich, and Erith are all towns in England. By the text, it is clear that these where common towns to depart from before going on a voyage over seas. Once again, Joseph Conrad is alluding to places that you would pass right before reaching the ocean.
Deptford, Greenwich, and Erith are all towns in England. By the text, it is clear that these where common towns to depart from before going on a voyage over seas. Once again, Joseph Conrad is alluding to places that you would pass right before reaching the ocean.
Terror
"...to the Erebus and Terror, bound on other conquests" (Conrad, 2).
The Terror was the other vessel used to voyage to Antarctica and the arctic with the Erebus. It shared the same fate as the Erebus and also vanished during its second voyage to the arctic, under the command of Sir John Franklin.
Links:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/HMS_Erebus_(1826)
The Terror was the other vessel used to voyage to Antarctica and the arctic with the Erebus. It shared the same fate as the Erebus and also vanished during its second voyage to the arctic, under the command of Sir John Franklin.
Links:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/HMS_Erebus_(1826)
Erebus
"...to the Erebus... on other conquests" (Conrad, 2).
The Erebus was a ship used on a voyage to Antarctica and to the arctic. In Greek mythology, the Erebus is " the embodiment of primordial darkness, the son of chaos". The ship vanished in a voyage to the arctic, lead by Sir John Franklin.
Links:
http://www.pantheon.org/articles/e/erebus.html
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/HMS_Erebus_(1826)
The Erebus was a ship used on a voyage to Antarctica and to the arctic. In Greek mythology, the Erebus is " the embodiment of primordial darkness, the son of chaos". The ship vanished in a voyage to the arctic, lead by Sir John Franklin.
Links:
http://www.pantheon.org/articles/e/erebus.html
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/HMS_Erebus_(1826)
Golden Hind
"...from the Golden Hind returning with her round flanks full of treasure" (Conrad, 2).
The Golden Hind was the ship used in Sir Francis Drake's expedition. It is famous because not only did it successfully complete a voyage around the world, but it also came back with treasures from all around the world. For sailors, it was a symbol for good luck.
Links:
http://www.mcn.org/2/oseeler/drake.htm
The Golden Hind was the ship used in Sir Francis Drake's expedition. It is famous because not only did it successfully complete a voyage around the world, but it also came back with treasures from all around the world. For sailors, it was a symbol for good luck.
Links:
http://www.mcn.org/2/oseeler/drake.htm
Sir John Franklin
" It had known and served... Sir John Franklin" (Conrad, 2).
Sir Franklin was a navigator during the Elizabethan reign. He and most of his 129 member crew died during his last voyage. (Edit) Conrad once again has used an allusion that talks about watery journeys. This means that there is some hidden meaning in these allusions.
Links:
Sir Francis Drake
" It had known and served ... Sir Francis Drake" (Conrad, 2).
Sir Francis Drake was a knight in fifteen hundreds. He is known for his voyage, on the Golden Hind, around the world during the reign of Queen Elizabeth. (Edit) This allusion is used because the characters in this novel are on a boat that has just journeyed a far distance.
Links:http://www.mcn.org/2/oseeler/drake.htm
Essex Marshes
" ...the very mist on the Essex marshes" (Conrad, 2).The Essex marshes are salt marshes that line the banks of the Thames River near the Ocean. This is another site that the ship must have seen right before they headed out into the Atlantic Ocean. (Edit) Conrad is not only using real places to enhance his setting but to add a sense of reality to the novel.
Links:
Gravesend
" The air was dark above Gravesend... brooding motionless over the biggest, and the greatest, town on earth" (Conrad, 1)Gravesend is a town located on the Thames in the United Kingdom. Gravesend is at the very end of the river, leading into the Atlantic Ocean. The "biggest, and the greatest, town on earth" is in fact the ocean that the river is feeding into. (Edit) Conrad is using actual places to strengthen his setting.
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