What happens in the book Heart of Darkness?
What happens in the book Heart of Darkness?
Heart of Darkness centers around Marlow, an introspective sailor, and his journey up the Congo River to meet Kurtz, reputed to be an idealistic man of great abilities. Marlow takes a job as a riverboat captain with the Company, a Belgian concern organized to trade in the Congo.
What does the book symbolize in Heart of Darkness?
Heart of Darkness | The Title: Title of the novel is highly symbolic. Direct meaning of “Heart of Darkness” is that it is the journey of a person named Marlowe but its symbols give it a new definition. He tells his own story and explains his circumstances. Joseph Conrad also uses it for the same person.
What is the main theme of Heart of Darkness?
One of the major themes of Heart of Darkness is imperialism. Imperialism is actually European colonization of countries from Asian and African continents for resources. However, it was hidden in the slogan of spreading civilization. Marlow accepts taking African’s land from the people is not right.
How does Kurtz get so much ivory?
He returns more ivory than all the other stations put together, and does so through the use of absolute force.
What is Conrad message in Heart of Darkness?
Central to Conrad’s work is the idea that there is little difference between “civilised people” and “savages.” Heart of Darkness implicitly comments on imperialism and racism. The novella’s setting provides the frame for Marlow’s story of his obsession with the successful ivory trader Kurtz.
How does the heart of darkness end?
Kurtz dies on the journey back up the river but not before revealing to Marlow the terrifying glimpse of human evil he’d been exposed to. “The horror! The horror!” he tells Marlow before dying. Marlow almost dies as well, but he makes it back to the sepulchral city to recuperate.
Why Congo is called the Heart of Darkness?
The dense forest of the “Democratic republic of Congo” is called as the heart of darkness because the vegetation of democratic republic of Congo is dense. Explanation: The vegetation on the inner forest is too dense for any kind of quick travel, so the river helps the characters physically move more regularly.
How does Conrad use imagery in Heart of Darkness?
Imagery: Fog Conrad makes good use of fog in Heart of Darkness. He uses it to create a feeling of dread, an uncertainty of possible dangers ahead. ”When the sun rose there was a white fog, very warm and clammy, and more blinding than the night. And this is the feeling Conrad is going for.
What is the evil in Heart of Darkness?
The primary antagonist in Heart of Darkness is Kurtz, whose descent into madness makes him the clearest embodiment of corruption and evil in the novella, and ultimately the character that fully disillusions Marlow in regard to European conquests.
Why does Kurtz say the horror?
Kurtz’s last words—“The horror! These final words could also broadly symbolize the horror of Belgian (and European) colonialism. For Marlow’s part, he interprets the exclamation as Kurtz’s response to his impending death.
Why is Kurtz bad?
The primary antagonist in Heart of Darkness is Kurtz, whose descent into madness makes him the clearest embodiment of corruption and evil in the novella, and ultimately the character that fully disillusions Marlow in regard to European conquests. Marlow learns more about Kurtz the further he travels.
What does Kurtz symbolize in Heart of Darkness?
Kurtz, one of the leading characters, the other being Marlow, the narrator of the soty, represents many symbols in the novel. Firstly, he symbolizes the greed and the commercial mentality of the white people of the western countries. Secondly, he symbolizes the white man’s love of power.
What is the summary of heart of Darkness?
Heart of Darkness Summary. The Narrator describes a night spent on a ship in the mouth of the Thames River in England. Marlow, one of the men on board, tells of his time spent as a riverboat pilot in the Belgian Congo. With the help of his well-connected aunt, Marlow gets a job as pilot on a steamship on the Congo River in Africa…
How many parts are in the heart of Darkness?
The Heart Of Darkness summary will be divided into three parts as detailed in the book. Here’s the plot summary and also the Heart Of Darkness chapter summary. This section will start with the Heart Of Darkness chapter 1 summary.
What are the symbols in the book Heart of Darkness?
Symbols in the heart of darkness include the decapitated heads of native men displayed on the fence posts, the fog, the river, the whited sepulcher, and the women. There are also many Heart Of Darkness important quotes in the book that depict the book’s central theme and symbols.
Who is Kurtz in heart of Darkness?
While at the Company’s Outer Station, Marlow meets the Company’s Chief Accountant. He mentions a remarkable man named Kurtz, who runs the Company’s Inner Station deep in the jungle. Get the entire Heart of Darkness LitChart as a printable PDF.