Heart of Darkness10
Throughout the story, Heart of Darkness, there is a thin line between what is seen as reality and what is illusion. The main character soon realizes that he has different interpretations of events and physical things than that of the Europeans. Charlie Marlow first realizes how many things, events and even people, in Africa, seemed misnamed by the Europeans, distorting them from what they truly are. Consequently he is wary of labeling something in case he might misname it and as a result devalue it. In the end, Kurtz, who has already reached enlightenment, will be the one to teach Marlow, though not directly, the significance of a name. Charlie Marlow is the only one to be referred to by his name because through his journey to the inner station and consequent enlightenment, he alone, with Kurtz, have realized the importance of a name and therefore deserve to have one attached to them, as they are really the only people of actual importance and meaning.As soon as Marlow reaches the coast of Africa, he realizes a difference in the perception of certain events by him and his comrades on the boat. As Marlow's boat pulls up to the Outer Station, he sees a man-of-war shelling the continent, which is quickly clarified, by a pilgrim,
not do. Acquisitions, clothes, pretty rags - rags that would fly off at the first good Principles, which we often receive from others, have no real value to us since we did not have to work and suffer to realize them. Therefore names will not have any value or meaning to us, they will be just a name. That is why the Europeans cannot reach enlightenment and see their inner subconscious, since they only use principles that they have acquired from before and they really do not think for themselves; they are just hollow papier-mache, which Marlow can almost poke his finger through and find "nothing but a little loose dirt, maybe" (Conrad 93). Likewise, that is why Kurtz can reach enlightenment, to the extreme, and be able to truly name things, because he completely disregards moral rules and society's "code of conduct" and has as a result become a savage who is unscrupulous and barbarous. This is however, the opposite extreme from the disillusioned Europeans, who live shallow and pointless lives that do not amount to anything significant. The way in which Kurtz taught Marlow about truth and inner strength was through his last words, which was his "judgement upon the adventures of his soul on this earth" (148). Marlow describes how Kurtz seemed to want to "swallow all the air, all the earth, all the men before him"; he takes everything in, his entire life, all the events and judged it in two words, "The horror"; even if it was not the ideal life. When Marlow explains the importance of inner strength, he says, "for good or evil mine is the speech that cannot be silenced!" (106) The strength of the matter comes from not turning away from the judgement if it is evil but facing up to it. That is why Marlow admires Kurtz; even though his life was evil and immoral, he faced and judged it; not trying to hide it under lies and excuses; it is realizing who and what you are. And in order to find out who you are Marlow sees work as an excellent method. "I don't like work - no man does - but I like what is in the work - the chance to fin
Some common words found in the essay are:
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Approximate Word count = 1376
Approximate Pages = 6 (250 words per page double spaced)
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