What does Marlow think of Africa?
Though Joseph Conrad’s plot and characters in The Heart of Darkness critiques European imperialism in Africa, his prose itself belies an inappropriate view of Africa and its people as mysterious, barbaric, and obscure: Marlow thinks of Africa as “a blank space of delightful mystery” or as “a place of darkness” (Conrad …
What is the narrator’s point of view in the heart of darkness?
Heart of Darkness takes place entirely in first person. What’s particularly interesting about this novel, though, is that there are two different first person narrators. The first is the narrator that opens the novel and describes the scene on the Thames River.
What does the African woman symbolize in Heart of Darkness?
Despite these striking differences, the African mistress and the Intended share a prominent function in the novel. Both exist primarily to symbolize Kurtz’s status and wealth. The mistress’s regal posture, beauty, and excessive jewelry declare to all her countrymen the fact of Kurtz’s brilliance and power.
Is Heart of Darkness set in Africa?
Most of the action happens in Africa, but Heart of Darkness begins and ends in a boat on the River Thames, just outside of London.
How does Marlow change in Heart of Darkness?
How does Marlow change? Marlow changes his position in relationship to imperialism, developing a more critical stance. In Heart Of Darkness, Marlow changes in the sense that he moves towards self,whilst moving towards the centre of earth, taking on a whole new perspective as he does so.
Why is Africa called The Heart of Darkness?
Joseph Conrad’s most read novella Heart of Darkness has double meaning in its title. One dictionary meaning is that the title refers to the interior of the Africa called Congo. Another hidden meaning is, the title stands for the darkness or the primitiveness that every person possesses in his or her mind and heart.
At what point does Marlow begin the story of his journey to Africa in Heart of Darkness?
Marlow’s story begins in what he calls the “sepulchral city,” somewhere in Europe. There “the Company”—an unnamed organization running a colonial enterprise in the Belgian Congo—appoints him captain of a river steamer. He sets out for Africa optimistic of what he will find. But his expectations are quickly soured.
Why is Marlow an unreliable narrator?
In this sense Marlow is not to be depicted ironically, and criticism accusing Marlow of offensiveness as a character seems to overlook these elements. It is because Marlow is what is called an unreliable narrator with probable self-deceit whose words cannot be entirely trusted that he is to be looked at ironically.
What do the natives represent in Heart of Darkness?
The native population in Heart of Darkness are represented as savages who are criminals and enemies. The natives described as cannibals are poorly treated and only fed hippopotamus meat, refused food by the Europeans.
Why is Congo significant in Heart of Darkness?
The River. The Congo River is the key to Africa for Europeans. It allows them access to the center of the continent without having to physically cross it; in other words, it allows the white man to remain always separate or outside.
What is the darkness in Heart of Darkness?
In one context, Marlow the protagonist of Heart of Darkness uses the word “darkness” when reminiscing about his boyhood dreams of exploring undiscovered places on the map. Marlow referred to the places on the map that were uncharted and unexplored as dark. Darkness represents a mystery or an adventure yet to happen.