Conrad's "Heart of Darkness"

3/23/2013

In part I of this novella, darkness has many different meanings at various points in the story.

For this discussion, find a quotation in part I that mentions darkness. In your post, discuss this reference to darkness by considering the following questions:

What does the darkness represent?
How does it link to the journey through Africa?
How does it link to Marlow?
How does it link to human nature?
What insight into the meaning of the story does this reference to darkness give us?

Make sure to include the whole quotation in your post.

When you have finished, respond to one of your classmates' posts.

38 Comments

Hannah Cox link

3/24/2013 10:30:16 am

"Often far away there I thought of these two, guarding the door of Darkness, knitting black wool as for a warm pall, one introducing, introducing continuously to the unknown, the other scrutinizing the cheery and foolish faces with unconcerned old eyes."

In this particular quote, darkness is capitalized, suggesting importance as well as symbolism. Darkness here represents the company for which Marlow is now working, which has been exploiting Africa's ivory. It may also represent Africa in general, or the ideas associated with Africa. These are indicated when Marlow says that the two women guarded the "door of Darkness," which is where the "great man" of the company is. It may be interpreted that darkness is actually behind the door, or that the door eventually leads to darkness. The latter links to Marlow's journey through Africa, foreshadowing both the physical and internal darkness that Marlow will find there. Since Marlow was looking back on this experience, his observation is made in the light of what is to come. He sees this "door of Darkness" as a kind of turning point in his life, where his view of the world began to change and his way of life shifted dramatically to accomodate new locations. The "door of Darkness"'s connection to Marlow is described further earlier in the same passage, where Marlow observes, "It was just as though I had been let into some conspiracy -- I don't know -- something not quite right; and I was glad to get out." This feeling of Marlow's also serves to bring human nature into the picture. Marlow's uncertainty and feeling of wrong help to emphasize the dark activities of the company, which it is doing in order to make profit.
Ultimately, this "door of Darkness" is one of the first images used in the story that begins to establish Conrad's view on colonialism. To describe the door to the head of the company as leading into darkness, and on top of that for Marlow to communicate an uneasiness about the proceedings, bad connotations emerge. This helps lead into Conrad's clear criticism of the doings of companies in Africa.

Mary Sine

3/24/2013 01:06:17 pm

I like your interpretation of the quote, and agree that the darkness is probably foreshadowing the darkness that Marlow encounters in Africa. The quote also creates a rather sinister image of the Company which could also in itself foreshadow the dark activities of the company that you mention.

Mary Sine

3/24/2013 12:56:22 pm

Quotation: “It had ceased to be a blank space of delightful mystery --- a white patch for a boy to dream gloriously over. It had become a place of darkness.”(pg. 169)

In this quote, Marlow is talking about a world map, and more specifically the continent of Africa. When he was young, Africa and other places were simply blank, but now these places have been explored and mapped, but Africa is now a place of darkness. The darkness in this quote seems to represent the remaining mystery in Africa and also the European imperialism and exploitation in Africa. This darkness could also be foreshadowing both the physical darkness and the darkness in individuals that Marlow encounters in the Congo. This darkness in the map, and the snake-like river in it are what causes Marlow to seek a job with the Company trading on the river. This darkness can also represent the darkness in the European countries and men that “colonize” Africa, and exploit its resources for economic gain, like the Company in the story trading in ivory. This darkness and its connections to the imperialism of the Europeans also links to human nature through the need of some people to rule, or the greed that is inherent. This darkness and the different things it represents, from imperialism and greed to the darkness in an individual, give insight into the meaning of the story as a whole by foreshadowing what type of commentary Conrad will have on the imperialism of the Europeans in Africa.

Mackenzie Cyr

3/24/2013 03:28:56 pm

I did not consider the idea of the world map and how other places had already been ventured to while Africa was one of the only "dark" places left. I also like and agree with the thoughts on greed and it's connection to human nature.

Sam Farmer

3/29/2013 08:33:45 am

I love when you said "..this quote seems to represent the remaining mystery in Africa and also the European imperialism.." Your response created imagery in my head that helped me dissect the text more! Thanks Mary :)

Mackenzie Cyr

3/24/2013 03:24:44 pm

"True, by this time it was not a blank space any more. It had got filled since my childhood with rivers and lakes and names. It had ceased to be a blank space of delightful mystery-a white patch for a boy to dream gloriously over. It had become a place of darkness."

The darkness in this passage represents mystery and something to explore. Specifically to explore Africa. Marlow is the one thinking about the darkness that fills his brain about Africa and how much that darkness has encouraged him to embark on this exploration. His ambition to know about something that is so extrememly foreign to him, that inner human nature to want to explore and learn, is what gets Marlow started on this journey. I believe he also references it as "darkness" because we will later see in the story that a lot of scary, "dark" things are going on there.

Jacob Jones

3/24/2013 05:10:35 pm

I agree that the darkness represents mystery, and that the darkness encouraged him to want to explore.

Jonathon D.

3/25/2013 01:40:48 am

I agree how you said that mystery is a type of darkness. I also like how you said that Marlow's brain is full of darkness too.

Tristan

3/28/2013 03:02:26 pm

I like how you linked the darkness with the curiosity and then brought the "dark things" into it. Perhaps it being called a place of darkness could also be foreshadowing.

Jacob Jones

3/24/2013 05:11:01 pm

“True, by this time it was not a blank space any more. It had got filled since my boyhood with rivers and lakes and names. It had ceased to be a blank space of delightful mystery – a white patch for a boy to dream gloriously over. It had become a place of darkness.”
The darkness represents how the white patch on the map, that had been dreamed over to be explored had become a place that no longer represented such an ideal place to visit. It represents the unknown because it was a blank space on a map but then it slowly was filled with “rivers and lakes and names” but there is much that they are still learning about the place. It links to the journey through Africa by how it was explored and by how humans try to get all that they can by money and power. The darkness links to Marlow, because during his boyhood he dreamed of exploring the blank space on the map, but as he grew up “It had become a place of darkness.”

Megan Wall

3/25/2013 05:40:36 am

I like your insight that the darkness links to Marlow because it was the place he dreamed of going and it is dark itself.

Jonathon D.

3/25/2013 01:40:05 am

"I went along Fleet Street, but could not shake off the idea. The snake had charmed me." The Snake that Marlow is talking about actually the Congo river and how it is so tempting to him. Referring back to the bible, in the time of Adam and Eve, the snake was a symbol of temptation and overall evil. This is also the case with Marlow. Marlow gets sucked into the lifestyle on the Congo river because the boat he was on ended up crashing there on the river. Most of the time human nature is to give into temptation because most of the time temptation looks pretty worthwhile but it really isn't.

Kendall

3/27/2013 02:37:17 pm

I really liked you interpretation of this passage. I can really see how it relates back to the Adam and Eve time when Eve takes the fruit from the tree. Temptation blinds you from reality and blocks you from your morals.

Megan Wall

3/25/2013 05:38:15 am

"They grabbed what they could get for the sake of what was to be got. It was just robbery with violence, aggravated murder on a great scale, and men going at it blind-as is very proper for those who tackle darkness."

In these profound statements darkness represents the realm of Africa and the injustice that was going on there, and it also represents the European’s folly in their greed for money, which is found in ivory. The reference to darkness clearly links to the journey through Africa by noting the bloodshed and violence that was overtaking the continent for the sake of finding and selling ivory. Though Marlow constantly describes the Europeans as being foolish and numb-skulled, this quote relates to him as well. It may foreshadow what will become of him and that he will somehow be blind in the end of his expedition by his own greed, possibly. This quote does not only address Marlow, but also confronts mankind pointing out our craving for greed; greed of money, glory, fame, or power. Often times when humans become greedy it takes over their life to the point of obsession and blindness. They can no longer see how their choices affect others or the world around them in the long run, or right away, and they frankly do not care about the consequences. Greed causes people to crave something that they will stop at no cost to possess what they desire. These statements give insight into not only the desperation of the Europeans that are there for ivory, but also the desperation the Africans must feel to protect themselves and their land.

Mika

3/25/2013 04:22:11 pm

I like how you not only thought of the European's economic gain and Marlow's part in it, but also of the African's suffering.

Mika

3/25/2013 04:18:49 pm

Celeste

3/25/2013 06:20:17 pm

Mika I like how you brought greed into it. I think that you are right how it shows Marlow's journey into darkness. I also hadn't really thought of it showing Europe's greed and exploration but I like how you saw that.

Trevor

3/28/2013 01:22:57 pm

Great quote. I love how he says the door of darkness, implying that you can choose to open it or leave it closed. I also like how you describe "the path of darkness."

Hannah H

3/28/2013 02:42:33 pm

Oooh! I agree, I really like this quote and like Trevor I love the image of "the door of darkness" and the choice that is implied whether to enter or leave. Nice Job picking your quote!

Emily

4/15/2013 02:13:39 am

I agreed with your interpretation of the quote. I liked how you brought up greed as the dark side of human nature too.

Celeste Yahr

3/25/2013 06:16:26 pm

“There was a pause of profound stillness, then a match flared, and Marlow's lean face appeared, worn, hollow, with downward folds and dropped eyelids, with an aspect of concentrated attention; and as he took vigorous draws at his pipe, it seemed to retreat and advance out of the night in the regular flicker of tiny flame. The match went out.” (pg 202)

This quote comes right after Marlow finds out in the story he may not be able to talk to Kurtz. It is a pause in the story so he can light his pipe. Though the quote doesn’t actually say darkness it is implies it. When Marlow lights the match it illuminates his face. The darkness represents his mask. To his crew who he tells the story to he has become the man in the story. When the match flares it gives them a glimpse of who he is again. They see the Marlow from the story and the one he has become. This links to the journey through Africa because it shows how Marlow has aged through his trek of a journey. We see this with his wrinkles and drooped eyelids. It links to human nature because when it says “retreat and advance out of the night” it is like our lives. Many times in our lives we “test” the water we go out and retreat when we see that it didn’t work. Human nature is to retreat when the going gets tough, but there is a spark in us that keeps us going. In Marlow it was the thought that Kurtz was still alive. I think that insight is it gives us a glimpse of the how Marlow has changed because the outward differences could be a reflection of the inward changes.

Kelti Lorence

3/27/2013 07:24:44 am

This is an interesting twist on what the symbolism of darkness could be. It makes sense though, as the light (fire, passion, energy) that keeps us going is dimmed often when we are faces with challenges. Though at that moment the darkness is more obvious, due to our weakened "light", it does not always completely penetrate us and our ambitions.

Kendall Maslen

3/26/2013 03:42:42 pm

"Often far away there I thought of these two, guarding the door of Darkness, knitting black wool as for a warm pall, one introducing, introducing continuously to the unknown, the other scrutinising the cheery and foolish faces with unconcerned old eyes." (pg. 171)

The darkness in this quote represents the yellow blotch on the map of Africa, "Dead in the center". He is describing the center of Africa and the journey he will take up the Congo as a place unknown to the world. It is "dark" because it is uncivilized by white society therefore little is known about this area and it journey. The reference of the two women "guarding the door of darkness" may link to Marlow's journey through Africa with the idea that the farther and farther up the Congo Marlow gets the more guarded, demented and foreign the people and area gets. The quote is foreshadowing what Marlow will face on his journey. "Introducing continuously to the unknown," Its almost a warning for Marlow not to be oblivious to the natives and to see more then what is right in front of him. This reference to darkness helps the reader start to understand a deeper meaning of the story. I think this meaning is that of a more spiritual explanation of what happens to people that stay in the Congo for a long period of time. They go into the Congo with purpose but fail to return due to the mental state they are trapped in. "With unconcerned old eyes" refers to the idea of the people stuck in the Congo and unable to escape the their new reality. They become unconcerned and unaware of their surroundings.

Brady

3/27/2013 03:57:54 pm

I agree with the idea of this dark misunderstood place. People don't dislike the unfamiliar and this is about as unfamiliar as it gets. It makes sense that being in a place so foreign will change a person.

Kelti Lorence

3/27/2013 07:17:59 am

"And farther west on the upper reaches the place of the monstrous town was still marked ominously on the sky, a brooding gloom in sunshine, a lurid glare under the stars. "And this also," said Marlow suddenly,"has been one of the dark places on the earth."

Though this could be literally Africa is dark as the sun sets and there are no streetlights to see the way, or perhaps even darkness is a reference to the native's skin color, I believe this is mainly a reference to the ignorance of the people: those who live there, and the Europeans who visit. As Marlow and his group travels through Africa, the darkness is constantly being slowly refreshed as their eyes are opened to the culture and they begin to understand the "why" and "how" of the Africaans every day lives and behavior. Marlow is especially guilty of the typical European mindset. He sometimes sounds sympathetic and wanting to help the people, but always with an air of "I am better than you". His trip up the Congo is an enlightening experience to this mindset. Human nature is of the same faults. When others do things differently than you, you tend to find yourself judging them or thinking you are better than them. We are always in darkness, often due to lack of world experience or our rebellious nature to keep an open mind. I find this story a reminder to all who read it to keep an open mind of others cultures and habits. Just because they are different, does not mean we are better. Being willing to learn and experience another lifestyle can make you appreciative of the life you have now, and help develop your character in positive ways.

Brady

3/27/2013 03:55:44 pm

"I was thinking of very old times, when the Romans first came here, nineteen hundred years ago - the other day... Light came out of this river since - you say Knights? Yes; but it is like a running blaze on a plain, like a flash of lightning in the clouds. We live in the flicker - may it last as long as the old earth keeps rolling! But darkness was here yesterday." (Pg. 167)
This darkness he refers to our lack of understanding about nature. He says we live in "the flicker" meaning that we think we understand, and do understand some, but in the grand scheme of things, we know very little. "Light came out of this river"; this is saying that this is where the true understanding is. By saying "Darkness was here yesterday" means that you will never truly know nature, and that as soon as you think you do, it becomes dark again. The journey through Africa is represented with the river. The farther down you go, the more light there is. This relates to Marlow because he has seen this understanding but the river still looks dark to him. This provides insight that this will be a journey of understanding and the changing of ones perspective on nature.

Hannah Cox link

3/28/2013 03:04:03 pm

I didn't interpret this quote the same way, but I liked the different perspective you gave. I think that that the darkness in this quote could also refer to ignorance in general. The historical reference, for instance, refers to the fact that darkness (ignorance) was in Europe's past. The allusion to lightning could suggest that darkness (ignorance) quickly returns.

Carley

3/29/2013 03:45:33 am

I like your interpretation of that passage. What do you think that the darkness that he refers to really means? Perhaps he uses the Romans and their history to allude to how little we really we know about nature?

Trevor

3/28/2013 01:18:39 pm

“The word ‘ivory’ rang in the air, was whispered, was sighed. You would think they were praying to it. A taint of imbecile rapacity blew through it all, like a whiff from some corpse.” In this quote, Marlow says that these people are not here to civilize the wild African people like the women back home think. Their sole purpose is to extract ivory, and Marlow thinks it is disgusting. He compares it to the smell of a dead body. The dead body is a symbol for darkness. He sees this greed for ivory as a dark spot in the human soul. It almost foreshadows the evil that Marlow will witness in Kurtz. This quote also helps the reader to see that Marlow is really not making this trip to make money through ivory or by exploiting any other resource.

Hannah H

3/28/2013 02:38:31 pm

"True, by this time it was not a blank space any more. It had got filled since my childhood with rivers and lakes and names. pg. 169
It had ceased to be a blank space of delightful mystery-a white patch for a boy to dream gloriously over. It had become a place of darkness." pg. 169
I believe the "darkness" in this passage refers to the European Imperialism and exploration of Africa. Marlow states "it had It had ceased to be a blank space of delightful mystery-a white patch for a boy to dream gloriously over." This refers to the innocence of the content, which becomes dark after being invaded by European Imperialism.
I feel this passage is a foreshadow of what Marlow will later tell us he discovered in Africa.
This passage, gives us insight into Marlow's childhood and his dreams of exploration and adventure and mystery. It also shares his disappointment in the invasion of Africa.
We see in this excerpt a glimpse of human nature. Indirectly Marlow is criticizing European Imperialism, for exploring Africa, while he himself expresses desires of the same adventure.

Tristan Rude

3/28/2013 02:59:41 pm

Quote: The brown current ran swiftly out of the heart of darkness, bearing us down towards the sea with twice the speed of our upward progress; and Kurtz’s life was running swiftly, too, ebbing, ebbing out of his heart into the sea of inexorable time. . . . I saw the time approaching when I would be left alone of the party of ‘unsound method.’""

The darkness mentioned in this quote, "the heart of darkness," represents Africa or more specifically the Congo. It is the very place in Africa that Marlow journeyed to, it is the place that changed him as it changed other men. It also is the darkness that unearthed humanity's true nature as greedy and selfish. Finally, it gives us some valuable insight into the story's meaning. It gives an imaginable shape/presence to the corruption and "deamons" of British Imperialism by naming it as darkness. The "heart of darkness" gives the image of the center of it all, which happens to be where the majority of the ivory (which inspires the greed) comes from.

Ariana

4/8/2013 03:20:45 am

I really liked how you linked the darkness and how it changed him and other men; it adds another layer of depth that i never thought of until you brought it up. Good job!

Carley Crow

3/29/2013 03:34:13 am

“And this also,” said Marlow suddenly, “has been one of the dark places of the earth.” (pg 167) Although this simple comment from Marlow might not seem like much, it holds much significance to the rest of the story. As the sun sets on the River Thames, Marlow makes this remark and while it was “accepted in silence”, it presents many new things to the reader. The darkness could represent a variety of things, however, since Marlow is referring to the Thames River and European Imperialism as a whole, the darkness is most likely representing Europe’s ignorance to nature and their strive to civilize the world while making a profit any way they can. It is interesting to see that Thames itself means darkness when translated in Celtic, Latin, and modern Welsh, so perhaps Conrad used this knowledge to help signify just how dark Europe was. This comment of Marlow’s is also hugely foreshadowing his journey through the Congo which resulted in how he felt about both Africa and Europe and what the darkness really is to him.

Sam Farmer

3/29/2013 08:29:14 am

The quotation I chose from the novella that mentions darkness reads: "Often far away there I thought of these two, guarding the door of Darkness, knitting black wool as for a warm pall, one introducing, introducing continuously to the unknown, the other scrutinizing the cheery and foolish faces with unconcerned old eyes." (pg 171)
In this specific quote, darkness represents a place foreign to Marlow—the depths of Africa. This quote links to his journey through Africa and the “unknown” could mean geography as well as human nature. Human beings have an evil side as seen through Kurtz. The quote is gloomy and helps readers understand the dangers of the Congo. Marlow should be alert and aware during his travels.

Ariana Dougall

4/8/2013 03:15:46 am

Lacayah

4/11/2013 04:53:26 pm

Marlow begins his story with "And this also [...] has been one of the dark places of the earth." Here he refers to the connection between the current location of The Nellie and his past location in the Congo. When he refers to the Congo, he often refers to its "darkness." He does this to show how ignorant he believes their people to be. Many people believed the mission for the expodition in the cong was to enlighten and educate the people, or to industrialize and force them into labor to make a profit. Regardless of the mission, they still saw the people as "in the dark" about the many knowledges of the world simply because they weren't modernized. It is true that they knew nothing about the urban world. However, they were a developed people with their set values, government, and unique education. Yet they chose to see them as neanderthals in a lightless cave because they were afraid to acknowledge the fact that they were simmilar to them. It is part of human nature to shy away from the things that we don't know about or understand and that was what society had done. They chose to pretend that a different society was in the dark so that they didn't have to deal with it.

Emily

4/15/2013 02:11:45 am

"Often far away there I thought of these two, guarding the door of Darkness, knitting black wool as for a warm pall, one introducing, introducing continuously to the unknown, the other scrutinising the cheery and foolish faces with unconcerned old eyes. Ave! Old knitter of black wool. Morituri te salutant. Not many of those she looked at ever saw her again – not half, by a long way."

The darkness represents the unknown part of Africa that they are about to explore, and that's also how it connects to their trip through Africa. Marlow is worried about it because he feels like the woman knows that people are going to die but just isn't saying anything. It links to human nature because people are always afraid of the unknown, because its just darkness in their minds because they can't picture it.

Lacayah

4/15/2013 03:48:24 am

I like how you said it's dark because they can't picture it.

Conrad's "Heart of Darkness"

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