Maryann Sayers
Mrs. Adria Butcher
AP English VI
1 December 2015
New Log: Heart of Darkness by Joseph Conrad
Main Characters
Marlow
Serves as the narrator for most of the story
Lacks any particularly unique, outstanding, or extraordinary qualities
Much like Nick Carraway in The Great Gatsby, Marlow is a quiet man who analysis others, only to keep his findings to himself
Mr. Kurtz
His reputation, of the most well-known and well-respected man in the ivory trade, precedes him
Spoken of as if he were a god rather than a man
When Marlow finally meets him, he is old, frail and ill
Setting
African Congo
Archetypal Jungle
Most primitive instincts/behavior
Native people, selfish behavior
“Heart of Darkness,”
The deeper into the Jungle Marlow goes, the more dangerous …show more content…
The horror!”(86)
Symbols and Meanings
Native “Criminal” People
Primitive nature
Man without developed intellect/judgement
Light vs. Darkness
Things are black or white, good or evil, dead or alive
Gives a concrete dividing line
Shows how things can abruptly change to be something completely different
Fog
Uncertainty, lack of knowledge and experience
Archetypes
River
Natural progression
When Marlow goes against the river, it’s almost as if nature is telling him to turn back, rather than pursuing Kurtz further
At the end of the river, or where Kurtz is rather, Marlow finds the man at the final stage in his life
Jungle
Primitive/savage nature
The congo shows nature’s evil side as it represents the world’s “darkness”
Joseph Conrad’s “Heart of darkness” is a raw illustration of how mortal any man is, regardless of his accomplishments, acquired respect, or earned wealth. Through the voice of Marlow, the reader hears of the extraordinary man that Kurtz is. He seems to reach a level superior to a mortal man as people dote on him. When Marlow finally meets this man, he is on the end of death. The anticipated god-like figure is nothing more than a sick man who is afraid of the unknown, like anyone
Mrs. Adria Butcher
AP English VI
1 December 2015
New Log: Heart of Darkness by Joseph Conrad
Main Characters
Marlow
Serves as the narrator for most of the story
Lacks any particularly unique, outstanding, or extraordinary qualities
Much like Nick Carraway in The Great Gatsby, Marlow is a quiet man who analysis others, only to keep his findings to himself
Mr. Kurtz
His reputation, of the most well-known and well-respected man in the ivory trade, precedes him
Spoken of as if he were a god rather than a man
When Marlow finally meets him, he is old, frail and ill
Setting
African Congo
Archetypal Jungle
Most primitive instincts/behavior
Native people, selfish behavior
“Heart of Darkness,”
The deeper into the Jungle Marlow goes, the more dangerous …show more content…
The horror!”(86)
Symbols and Meanings
Native “Criminal” People
Primitive nature
Man without developed intellect/judgement
Light vs. Darkness
Things are black or white, good or evil, dead or alive
Gives a concrete dividing line
Shows how things can abruptly change to be something completely different
Fog
Uncertainty, lack of knowledge and experience
Archetypes
River
Natural progression
When Marlow goes against the river, it’s almost as if nature is telling him to turn back, rather than pursuing Kurtz further
At the end of the river, or where Kurtz is rather, Marlow finds the man at the final stage in his life
Jungle
Primitive/savage nature
The congo shows nature’s evil side as it represents the world’s “darkness”
Joseph Conrad’s “Heart of darkness” is a raw illustration of how mortal any man is, regardless of his accomplishments, acquired respect, or earned wealth. Through the voice of Marlow, the reader hears of the extraordinary man that Kurtz is. He seems to reach a level superior to a mortal man as people dote on him. When Marlow finally meets this man, he is on the end of death. The anticipated god-like figure is nothing more than a sick man who is afraid of the unknown, like anyone