Heart of Heart of DarknessDarkness

A Brief Look at Conrad’s Life A Brief Look at Conrad’s Life and and Heart of DarknessHeart of Darkness

Joseph Conrad’s LifeJoseph Conrad’s Life Born Josef Teodore Konrad Nalecz Born Josef Teodore Konrad Nalecz

Korzeniowski, in Podolia, Ukraine, in Korzeniowski, in Podolia, Ukraine, in 1857. 1857.

His father Apollo Korzeniowski was a His father Apollo Korzeniowski was a poet and translator of English and poet and translator of English and French literature.French literature.

His father and mother, Apollo and Eva, His father and mother, Apollo and Eva, were political activists. They were were political activists. They were imprisoned 7 months and eventually imprisoned 7 months and eventually deported to Vologdadeported to Vologda

Conrad’s mother died of pneumonia in Conrad’s mother died of pneumonia in 1865.1865.

Joseph Conrad’s LifeJoseph Conrad’s Life Apollo tried to educate his son himself, he Apollo tried to educate his son himself, he

introduced him to the work of Dickens, introduced him to the work of Dickens, Fenimore Cooper and Captain Marryat in Fenimore Cooper and Captain Marryat in either Polish or French translations. either Polish or French translations.

His father died of tuberculosis and his His father died of tuberculosis and his funeral was attended by a thousand funeral was attended by a thousand admirersadmirers

Conrad was raised by his uncle; attended Conrad was raised by his uncle; attended school (he was disobedient)school (he was disobedient)

In 1874, Conrad went to Marseilles France In 1874, Conrad went to Marseilles France and joined the Merchant Navyand joined the Merchant Navy

Gun running for the Spanish and a love Gun running for the Spanish and a love affair led to a suicide attempt.affair led to a suicide attempt.

Joseph Conrad’s LifeJoseph Conrad’s Life Conrad eventually became a Conrad eventually became a

British merchant sailor and British merchant sailor and eventually a master mariner eventually a master mariner and citizen in 1886.and citizen in 1886.

He traveled widely in the east.He traveled widely in the east. He took on a stint as a steamer He took on a stint as a steamer

captain (1890) in the Congo, captain (1890) in the Congo, but became ill within three but became ill within three months and had to leave.months and had to leave.

In 1896, he married Jessie In 1896, he married Jessie George a typist from Peckham.George a typist from Peckham.

Conrad retired from sailing Conrad retired from sailing and took up writing full time.and took up writing full time.

Writing took a physical and Writing took a physical and emotional toll on Conrad. The emotional toll on Conrad. The experience was drainingexperience was draining

Joseph Conrad’s LifeJoseph Conrad’s Life

Conrad was offered a knighthood by Conrad was offered a knighthood by the British governmentthe British government declined the offerdeclined the offer

Also declined honorary degrees from Also declined honorary degrees from five universities.five universities.

Lived without national honor but Lived without national honor but with literary honor instead.with literary honor instead.

Joseph Conrad’s Other Joseph Conrad’s Other WorksWorks

Amayer’s FollyAmayer’s Folly (1895)(1895)

Lord JimLord Jim (1900) (1900) Heart of Darkness Heart of Darkness

(1902)(1902) Nostromo Nostromo (1904)(1904) Under Western Under Western

EyesEyes (1910) (1910) ChanceChance (1914) (1914)

Heart of DarknessHeart of Darkness BackgroundBackground

After a long stint in the east had come to After a long stint in the east had come to an end, he was having trouble finding a an end, he was having trouble finding a new position. new position.

With the help of a relative in Brussels he With the help of a relative in Brussels he got the position as captain of a steamer got the position as captain of a steamer for a Belgian trading company.for a Belgian trading company.

Conrad had always dreamed of sailing Conrad had always dreamed of sailing the Congothe Congo

Had to leave early for the job, the Had to leave early for the job, the previous captain was killed in a trivial previous captain was killed in a trivial quarrelquarrel

Heart of DarknessHeart of Darkness BackgroundBackground

While traveling from Boma (at the mouth) to the While traveling from Boma (at the mouth) to the company station at Matadi he met Roger Casement who company station at Matadi he met Roger Casement who told Conrad stories of the harsh treatment of Africanstold Conrad stories of the harsh treatment of Africans

Conrad saw some of the most shocking and depraved Conrad saw some of the most shocking and depraved examples of human corruption he’d ever witnessed. He examples of human corruption he’d ever witnessed. He was disgusted by the ill treatment of the natives, the was disgusted by the ill treatment of the natives, the scrabble for loot, the terrible heat and the lack of scrabble for loot, the terrible heat and the lack of water. water.

He saw human skeletons of bodies left to rot - many He saw human skeletons of bodies left to rot - many were bodies of men from the chain gangs building the were bodies of men from the chain gangs building the railroads. railroads.

He found his ship was damaged.He found his ship was damaged. Dysentary was rampant as was malaria; Conrad had to Dysentary was rampant as was malaria; Conrad had to

terminate his contract due to illness and never fully terminate his contract due to illness and never fully recoveredrecovered

Heart of DarknessHeart of Darkness Narrative StructureNarrative Structure

Framed NarrativeFramed Narrative Narrator beginsNarrator begins Marlow takes overMarlow takes over Narrator breaks in occasionallyNarrator breaks in occasionally

Marlow is Conrad’s alter-ego, he shows up Marlow is Conrad’s alter-ego, he shows up in some of Conrad’s other works including in some of Conrad’s other works including “Youth: A Narrative” and “Youth: A Narrative” and Lord JimLord Jim

Marlow recounts his tale while he is on a Marlow recounts his tale while he is on a small vessel on the Thames with some small vessel on the Thames with some drinking buddies who are ex-merchant drinking buddies who are ex-merchant seamen. As he recounts his story the group seamen. As he recounts his story the group sits in an all-encompassing darkness and sits in an all-encompassing darkness and pass around the bottle. pass around the bottle.

Varied InterpretationsVaried Interpretations Many different interpretations have been put on Many different interpretations have been put on

this book:this book: Some see it as an attack on colonialism and a Some see it as an attack on colonialism and a

criticism of racial exploitation criticism of racial exploitation Some see Kurtz as the embodiment of all the evil Some see Kurtz as the embodiment of all the evil

and horror of the capitalist society. and horror of the capitalist society. Others view it as a portrayal of one man’s Others view it as a portrayal of one man’s

journey into the primitive unconscious where the journey into the primitive unconscious where the only means of escaping the blandness of only means of escaping the blandness of everyday life is by self degradation. everyday life is by self degradation.

Heart of DarknessHeart of Darkness Themes Themes & Motifs& Motifs

DarknessDarkness Primitive Impulses (Kurtz, previous captain, Primitive Impulses (Kurtz, previous captain,

etc.)etc.) Cruelty of Man (Kurtz and Company)Cruelty of Man (Kurtz and Company) Immorality/Amorality (Kurtz)Immorality/Amorality (Kurtz)

Lies/Hypocrisy (Marlow chooses Kurtz evil Lies/Hypocrisy (Marlow chooses Kurtz evil versus Company’s hypocritical evil)versus Company’s hypocritical evil)

Imperialization/Colonization (Belgian Company)Imperialization/Colonization (Belgian Company) Cruelty of ManCruelty of Man GreedGreed Exploitation of PeopleExploitation of People

Heart of DarknessHeart of Darkness Themes Themes & Motifs& Motifs

Role of WomenRole of Women Civilization exploitive of Civilization exploitive of

womenwomen Civilization as a binding and Civilization as a binding and

self-perpetuating forceself-perpetuating force Physical connected to Physical connected to

PsychologicalPsychological Barriers (fog, thick forest, Barriers (fog, thick forest,

etc.)etc.) Rivers (connection to past, Rivers (connection to past,

parallels time and journey)parallels time and journey)

Review of CriticismReview of Criticism

James Guetti complains that Marlow James Guetti complains that Marlow "never gets below the surface," and "never gets below the surface," and is "denied the final self-knowledge is "denied the final self-knowledge that Kurtz had." that Kurtz had."

Review of CriticismReview of Criticism Conrad, writing in 1922, responds to similar criticism: Conrad, writing in 1922, responds to similar criticism:

"Explicitness, my dear fellow, is fatal to the glamour of all "Explicitness, my dear fellow, is fatal to the glamour of all artistic work, robbing it of all suggestiveness, destroying artistic work, robbing it of all suggestiveness, destroying all illusion. You seem to believe in literalness and all illusion. You seem to believe in literalness and explicitness, in facts and in expression. Yet nothing is more explicitness, in facts and in expression. Yet nothing is more clear than the utter insignificance of explicit statement and clear than the utter insignificance of explicit statement and also its power to call attention away from things that also its power to call attention away from things that matter in the region of art." matter in the region of art."

Marlowe, the narrator, describes how difficult conveying a Marlowe, the narrator, describes how difficult conveying a story is: "Do you see the story? Do you see anything? It story is: "Do you see the story? Do you see anything? It seems to me I am trying to tell you a dream--making a vain seems to me I am trying to tell you a dream--making a vain attempt, because no relation of a dream can convey the attempt, because no relation of a dream can convey the dream-sensation, that commingling of absurdity, surprise, dream-sensation, that commingling of absurdity, surprise, and bewilderment in a tremor of struggling revolt, that and bewilderment in a tremor of struggling revolt, that notion of being captured by the incredible, which is the notion of being captured by the incredible, which is the very essence of dream . . .No, it is impossible; it is very essence of dream . . .No, it is impossible; it is impossible to convey the life-sensation of any given epoch impossible to convey the life-sensation of any given epoch of one's existence--that which makes its truth, its meaning-- of one's existence--that which makes its truth, its meaning-- its subtle and penetrating essence. It is impossible. We its subtle and penetrating essence. It is impossible. We live, as we dream--alone . . ." live, as we dream--alone . . ."

Review of CriticismReview of Criticism Marxist: You can see Marxist: You can see Heart of DarknessHeart of Darkness as a as a

depiction of, and an attack upon, colonialism in depiction of, and an attack upon, colonialism in general, and, more specifically, the particularly general, and, more specifically, the particularly brutal form colonialism took in the Belgian brutal form colonialism took in the Belgian Congo. Congo. the mistreatment of the Africans the mistreatment of the Africans the greed of the so-called "pilgrims" the greed of the so-called "pilgrims" the broken idealism of Kurtzthe broken idealism of Kurtz the French man-of-war lobbing shells into the jungle the French man-of-war lobbing shells into the jungle the grove of death which Marlow stumbles uponthe grove of death which Marlow stumbles upon the little note that Kurtz appends to his noble-minded the little note that Kurtz appends to his noble-minded

essay on The Suppression of Savage Customsessay on The Suppression of Savage Customs the importance of ivory to the economics of the system. the importance of ivory to the economics of the system.

Review of CriticismReview of Criticism Sociological/Cultural (Archetypal-ish): Conrad Sociological/Cultural (Archetypal-ish): Conrad

was also apparently interested in a more was also apparently interested in a more general sociological investigation of those who general sociological investigation of those who conquer and those who are conquered, and the conquer and those who are conquered, and the complicated interplay between them. complicated interplay between them. Marlow's invocation of the Roman conquest of Marlow's invocation of the Roman conquest of

Britain Britain cultural ambiguity of those Africans who have taken cultural ambiguity of those Africans who have taken

on some of the ways of their Europeans on some of the ways of their Europeans the ways in which the wilderness tends to strip away the ways in which the wilderness tends to strip away

the civility of the Europeans and brutalize them the civility of the Europeans and brutalize them Conrad is not impartial and scientifically detached Conrad is not impartial and scientifically detached

from these things, and he even has a bit of fun with from these things, and he even has a bit of fun with such impartiality in his depiction the doctor who such impartiality in his depiction the doctor who tells Marlow that people who go out to Africa tells Marlow that people who go out to Africa become "scientifically interesting." become "scientifically interesting."

Review of CriticismReview of Criticism Psychological/Psychoanalytical: Conrad goes out of his Psychological/Psychoanalytical: Conrad goes out of his

way to suggest that in some sense Marlow's journey is way to suggest that in some sense Marlow's journey is like a dream or a return to our primitive past--an like a dream or a return to our primitive past--an exploration of the dark recesses of the human mind. exploration of the dark recesses of the human mind. Apparent similarities to the psychological theories of Apparent similarities to the psychological theories of

Sigmund Freud in its suggestion that dreams are a Sigmund Freud in its suggestion that dreams are a clue to hidden areas of the mindclue to hidden areas of the mind

we are all primitive brutes and savages, capable of we are all primitive brutes and savages, capable of the most appalling wishes and the most horrifying the most appalling wishes and the most horrifying impulses (the Id)impulses (the Id)

we can make sense of the urge Marlow feels to leave we can make sense of the urge Marlow feels to leave his boat and join the natives for a savage whoop and his boat and join the natives for a savage whoop and holler holler

notice that Marlow keeps insisting that Kurtz is a notice that Marlow keeps insisting that Kurtz is a voice--a voice who seems to speak to him out of the voice--a voice who seems to speak to him out of the heart of the immense darkness heart of the immense darkness

Review of CriticismReview of Criticism

Feminist TheoryFeminist Theory feminist approach to colonizing can feminist approach to colonizing can

interrogate its complex interrelation of interrogate its complex interrelation of patriarchal and imperialist ideologies patriarchal and imperialist ideologies

Marlow's narrative aims too "colonize" Marlow's narrative aims too "colonize" and "pacify" both savage darkness and and "pacify" both savage darkness and women women

Mistress vs. The Intended= which one Mistress vs. The Intended= which one is the ideal woman?is the ideal woman?

Review of CriticismReview of Criticism

Post- ColonialismPost- Colonialism Cultural identity-Cultural identity-

How does Marlow identify himself as a How does Marlow identify himself as a European?European?

How does Marlow stereotype against the How does Marlow stereotype against the natives? How is he racist?natives? How is he racist?

Review of CriticismReview of Criticism

Religious: Religious: Heart of DarknessHeart of Darkness as an as an examination of various aspects of examination of various aspects of religion and religious practices.religion and religious practices. examine the way Conrad plays with the examine the way Conrad plays with the

concept of pilgrims and pilgrimages concept of pilgrims and pilgrimages the role of Christian missionary concepts the role of Christian missionary concepts

in the justifications of the colonialistsin the justifications of the colonialists the dark way in which Kurtz fulfills his the dark way in which Kurtz fulfills his

own messianic ambitions by setting own messianic ambitions by setting himself up as one of the local gods himself up as one of the local gods

Review of CriticismReview of Criticism

New Criticism: New Criticism: Threes: There are three parts to the story, Threes: There are three parts to the story,

three breaks in the story (1 in pt. 1 and 2 three breaks in the story (1 in pt. 1 and 2 in pt. 2), and three central characters: the in pt. 2), and three central characters: the outside narrator, Marlow and Kurtzoutside narrator, Marlow and Kurtz

Contrasting images (dark and light, open Contrasting images (dark and light, open and closed)and closed)

Center to periphery: Kurtz->Marlow-Center to periphery: Kurtz->Marlow->Outside Narrator->the reader>Outside Narrator->the reader

Are the answers to be found in the center Are the answers to be found in the center or on the periphery?or on the periphery?

ModernismModernism Heart of DarknessHeart of Darkness was published in the Late Victorian- was published in the Late Victorian-

Early Modern Era but exhibits mostly modern traits:Early Modern Era but exhibits mostly modern traits: a distrust of abstractions as a way of delineating truth a distrust of abstractions as a way of delineating truth an interest in an exploration of the psychological an interest in an exploration of the psychological a belief in art as a separate and somewhat privileged a belief in art as a separate and somewhat privileged

kind of human experience kind of human experience a desire for transcendence mingled with a feeling that a desire for transcendence mingled with a feeling that

transcendence cannot be achieved transcendence cannot be achieved an awareness of primitiveness and savagery as the an awareness of primitiveness and savagery as the

condition upon which civilization is built, and therefore condition upon which civilization is built, and therefore an interest in the experience and expressions of non-an interest in the experience and expressions of non-European peoples European peoples

a skepticism that emerges from the notion that human a skepticism that emerges from the notion that human ideas about the world seldom fit the complexity of the ideas about the world seldom fit the complexity of the world itself, and thus a sense that multiplicity, world itself, and thus a sense that multiplicity, ambiguity, and irony--in life and in art--are the necessary ambiguity, and irony--in life and in art--are the necessary responses of the intelligent mind to the human condition. responses of the intelligent mind to the human condition.