Heart of Darkness
Nothing is black or white but an odd shade of gray that seems to change every time you look at it. Everything in life is driven by something that is inherent in most people, greed. But greed being one of the seven sins can only be counterbalanced by something else. Spreading the word of religion. This has been true for many centuries and Heart of Darkness is a striking example of this. Since the dawn of time and the creation of belief systems people have always felt the need to spread their ideas to their neighbors in peaceful and not so peaceful manners; ironically, since the dawn of time and the creation of belief systems people have always felt the need to take from those they were ministering to, most of the time not so peacefully. Missionaries, adventurers, thrill-seekers, and those in search of fame, glory, and money have always set their heart on going to the unknown and "discovering" it. As if it was lost. But most missions do their job very successfully. Not only do they steal but they manage to destroy cultures in the surrounding areas in the name of faith. I see King Leopold II's point when he said: Europe's aim was to "open [the Congo] to civilization the only part of our globe where
Christianity has not yet penetrated and to pierce the darkness which envelopes the entire population." But it's the motives behind that penetration and piercing that is wrong. Europe wasn't in the Congo for converting them to Christians, but they were there for the same reasons they were in China and the Americas, for the booty. Heart of Darkness confirms this twist to the quote. "The conquest of the earth, which mostly means the taking it way from those who have a different complexion or slightly flatter noses than ourselves, is not a pretty thing when you look at it too much."(p.10) This is the twist to Europe's aim in King Leopold II's quote. Europe's aim was to open the Congo to civilization. Conrad shows that they were opening it to civilization only for conquest which is what Marlow's story proves. If you take the word darkness out of the story and replace it with savagery I doubt it would have little effect on the novella. In fact, it might make it easier to read. In the King's quote if it is replaced: "open to civilization the only part of our globe where Christianity has not yet penetrated and to pierce the savagery which envelopes the entire population." He is affirming the fact that Europe isn't there to civilize the Congo but only to conquer it and "Suppression of Savage Customs"(p.127) which in the story is a pamphlet written by Kurtz again illustrating that Europe only wanted suppression. What is interesting is that when the company-Europe-receives this they don't want it. They want to know where the Ivory in the Congo is. Again Conrad making another point on what was most important in the rape of the Congo; after all look at the words of King Leopold "penetrate and pierce" and the metaphors it draws on. Not a very pleasant thought but the truth. "[The Congo] like evil or truth, waiting patiently for the passing away of this fantastic invasion."(p.38) Heart of Darkness totally confirms the quote but if the King meant that Europe's aim was noble, Conrad would laugh. Kurtz and the Russian are the only people that have developed characters in the novella besides Marlow. Kurtz is hinted at being there only for money so that he could marry his Intended. Ironically once in the heart of darkness he seems to forget that and instead is overwhelmed by the horror he has seen and endured. The horror that he has committed by coming to the Congo to pillage. Kurtz is a very central char
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Approximate Word count = 1636
Approximate Pages = 7 (250 words per page double spaced)
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