Immoral and Degrading Face of Imperialism in Heart of the Darkness - Essay Example

Heart of Darkness Joseph Conrad’s ability to reach into exotic lives and landscapes, has no parallels in world literature, it becomes most evident inhis short novel ‘Heart of the Darkness’. Through this work, he tries to portray the disparagingly immoral and degrading face of the imperialism. Further more, it is a staunch commentary on white man’s imperialistic attitude and insensitiveness against the spiritual advancement of the neglected and the trampled. He holds the view that European imperialists are oppressors with an arrogant outlook and are inhumane in their treatment of the natives. . There is an element of darkness in every person’s heart. Heart of darkness illustrates how Marlow conquers the darkness in his heart and attains self knowledge; but the darkness with in him consumes Kurtz who falls prey to its wrath. The oblique narrative structure of Heart of Darkness serves to pull the reader to the depth of the novel. Further more, its interwoven style suits well to unfold history, myth, and legend with a special focus being laid on the characters. The story flows with a steady onward rush that brings several characters along with it and the loose ends laid on the way are linked seamlessly in the progress, rendering soundness to the logical precision. The unavoidable presence of the primary narrator is a matter of great interest as he introduces the main character Marlow and the scenic description in the initial part of his voice. Like chorus in drama, this non-descript character surfaces in the novel when clarity is needed and facilitates smooth flow by supplying supporting passages on Marlow. Interestingly enough, the storyline is narrated from the point view of the main character, Marlow. Thus the writer is double distanced from the novel eluding his subjectivity The protagonist, Marlow looms large in the novel as he is the main character as well as the narrator of the story .While Marlow meanders down the memory lane, the readers are offered a panoramic view of an exotic landscape, lush with the entangling greenery, contrasted against the lurched lives of the natives; manipulated and exploited by the interference of the English men. Marlow stands out from the rest of the characters with his unique wisdom, analytical qualities, and judgments on every situation. The primary narrator presents Marlow as sitting cross-legged, resembling an idol with his straight back and stretched hands and attributes to him a sense of ascetic charisma. Soon the counter of a meditating Buddha begins to take shape as he is evidently reflects on times past .These comparisons by the primary narrator are partly ironic and partly straight. Since Marlowe, on the one hand, is the possessor of knowledge i.e., the knowledge of ‘heart of darkness’ rather than the transcendental enlightenment, he is not presented as a seaman of the ordinary kind but portrayed as a wanderer who cannot be judged by ordinary standards. This is so because while most of the seafarers may have their homes on mind while exploring into unknown territories, Marlow severs all ties that man will extent to the known orders at home. In stark contrast to the rest of the seamen, who after the rigorous hours of work, would end up in a spree of orgy that land has in store for them, the readers see Marlow’s inquisitiveness about the conditions of the local people and their tragic plight. Subsequently, as the primary narrator puts it for such people all secrets and mystery are inside like a nut has Kernel to be cracked and taken out. But Marlowe is atypical and to him the meaning lies outside, hence the yearning for exploration is within him To piece together the personality of Marlow, the reader must listen to whatever he speaks, however insignificant the topic may appear on a surface level .His personality is a conglomeration of his experiences, responses to human situations, emotions and thoughts that place him on such an elevated plateau so different from the rest. Such intensity of purpose and motivation becomes inaccessible to the rest of the characters with the sole exception of Kurtz, that too on a different level. The story’s intrigues uncoil as his mind begins to retreat to the past but Conrad makes sure that journey doesn’t shrink to a monotonous narration, relating his eventful past alone but embraces the profundity and poignance of Marlow’s thoughts and perceptives. This enables the readers to embark on pilgrimage kind of tour and gain penetration into his insight t of whatever happens around him. Subsequently, they emerge with the most intimate interpretation of Marlow’s feelings and ideals that form the essential core of his existence. His words are fraught with philosophy that is obviously accessible to any ordinary mortal, and hence everything that flows from his tongue is note worthy and suggestive of his character. As they wait for the ebb to turn, Marlowe begins his plunge into the recesses of memories associated with his stint at strange lands, but he is conscious not to submit his audience to a bland narration of his life; instead he goes back to when he was only a child with a strong passion for maps to conduct imaginary for journey to exotic areas without place names. Ironically enough, later on, such blank spaces become dark places and adventures as he explores in to uncharted areas. In the context of Africa this transition from blank to dark is significant. The thirst for novelty has been transforming him in to a different person. In his lyrical utterances, Marlow exposes his analytical prowess as well when he compares river in the map of Congo as a snake uncoiling. Marlowe possesses remarkable knowledge of the human mind that makes him different from all others. It is well pronounced in the perspective of how Freslevelen, the captain of the steam boat, was killed over the quarrel for a hen with the natives of Congo and Marlow is due to get his position. Contrary to what people said about this man, Marlowe judges that the man may have felt an urge to assert his personality as he usually appears amiable and wants to break the custom. This analysis may sound strange but it underlines his unique faculty in seeing things from an altogether different angle, contrary to general notions. With a disquieting sense of concreteness, Marlowe says he has got into captains shoe and found his ribs being shrouded by grass. He makes no bones about calling his officer as a sepulcher, and the expression has much deeper level of connotations as it coalesces the story of the dead captain and unpleasant general situation that exists there. (24). Parallel to vivid descriptions about the exotic geographical features, there starts another journey of the intellectual content spiced up with the elements of myth, legend and biblical references. This ability in Marlow underscores how deeply his thoughts are flowing; and this ability is absent in all the other characters. One such instance that is most opportune to mention here is his reference to his meeting with two women in the shipping company office. They are knitting black wool, which will remind us of the three sisters of a fate in Greek legends, the first Clotho and Lachesis, who spins the thread of each man’s life only to be cut by Atropo, who decides the fate of man. While he speaks, the history of places he traveled to unfolds, with precision that provides the reader the emotion of the occasion, not the bland details alone. To know him closely one must dissect his words to take the kernel lying inside hence everything is a pointer to his personality. While the appointment process is underway the ominous knitting by the wraith like women was in progress that speaks of his relation with the land has just begun. .His eye for detail that is reaching to supreme quality when it comes to tell anything on nature that can be seen spread all along in the torrent of his words: “the sun was fierce…..their background”(29).This is a major feature in him that obviously distinguishes him from the rest of the people. While speaking about the surf along the coast, which is known to be a watery grave yard for many, Marlow associates it with the masculine vitality of the black men. This is an altogether new interpretation, a unique way of relating things. When observing the emaciated black people working on the shore, his mind swells with sympathy for them and with a passionate resolution he verbalizes what he thought about them: , “these man could by no stretch of imagination be called enemies” (33) while his fellow Englishmen treats them as enemies. He admits that he has seen the most unpleasant state of human situation in the form of, “the devil of violence, and the devil of greed and devil of hot desire”. But the present sight of men being subjugated to inhuman toil, according to him, exemplifies how Englishmen slowly submitting the land to a drastic change. Then readers begin to perceive the thought process in Marlow take a new dimension that has nothing to do with rest of his fellow men. Earlier, there are several occasions, when he dwells a lot on long stretch of sentences to describe the serenity of the nature. But changes are appearing as he explores deep into scene, and there emerges pictures of imported goods laid out as part of settlement purpose and the black people sweating too much for the establishment of railway line. Marlow used the occasion to record the rising mortality rate among black people. Marlow’s words at this point are highly critical of what is otherwise known as ‘civilizing the people of Congo’ as only a huge pretence. He refers to the number of people who have been driven which is a shocking reality as opposed to the theory of civilizing the savages. Marlow is not swept away by what the authority says; his eyes are pierces through the façade of all pretensions, exploring the grotesque truth that lays buried within the walls of propaganda. So, to him, these black people are shadows of disease and starvation; pawns in the hands of white men who use and abuse them to serve their purpose. More clearly, they appeared to him as caricatures existing in a moribund state of affairs. His eye for analysis becomes more pronounced when he faces the wraith -like figure, who because of fatigue leaned on a trunk of a tree, hardly able to force his eyes open. A merciful Marlow offers biscuits he has in his pockets and the pathetic figure gripped it. Then only Marlow notices a worsted thing (a kind of woolen cloth), around the figure’s neck a curious Marlow begins to ponder; “why? Where did he get it? Was it a badge; - an ornament - a charm – a propitiatory act?” (35) The woolen cloth, in stark contrast with the black neck, is a bit of thread of not matching with what the rest of natives usually wear. The effect of civilizing has its most unpleasant results littered on the land clutters of people transformed into languid figures as good as dead. Crippled with over work, poor food and living conditions, they have been pushed into misery. Marlow provides an eye-opening comparison by bringing a white man to the context, as he makes his way towards the station. The Whiteman comes up with elegant looks, marked by a high starched collar, white cuffs and snowy trousers. He is just for an outing to avoid the weariness of work at the desk, to get a breath of fresh air. The meticulous description of the ground realities does not escape the other side of the much hyped civilizing. Another striking image is the stream of manufactured goods like rubbishy cottons, beads, brass-wire which Marlow metaphorically describes as “that moved in to the depth of darkness”. The darkness gains a new dimension of being subjugated not illuminated. (37) Marlow’s conversation with the accountant at the office desk reveals how condescending and supercilious the white men are. “The accountant is irritated that a bed station for a dying man has been set up in his office.” He is unable tolerate even the groan of a sick lying on the ground because the noise would distract his concentration. By the portrayal of this character Marlow sarcastically takes the overbearing Englishman to the dock. Interestingly enough, while a man is grappling for life, the accountant requested Marlow to acknowledge to Mr. Kurtz, who is at present in charge of a trading post, that everything was satisfactory. Marlow, without going for much detail, makes the imperceptible vivid by the subtle use of irony. Similar qualities in Marlow can be seen surfacing over and again and flash on the readers’ conscience. A fine example of this can be seen in the narration about his first interview with the manager. His analytical eyes are capable of capturing even the most subtle demeanor like the faint slithered smile appearing on his face. Further more, his judgement on the nature of the careless manager who left the station in a deplorable state, is summed up in a cryptic sentence that he is neither civil nor uncivil. It is needless to mention that Marlow can easily perceive in which way the English are treating one another and he knows well that the bond of relation among them is virtually nonexistent. His observation and analytical skills are so keen and sharp that scarcely has he reached there, when he perceived that there is such a strong discord among the settlers for getting the key posts that will afford them an to get an edge over others in their ivory trade. Backbiting and conniving against one another have almost become coveted a tenor in them. His analytical skills are at its acme when it comes to speaking on people and their characteristic features. He can easily analyze and judge the man who befriended him when the house was on fire; the spy tried everything to elicit something from Marlowe about Europe. Knowing this well, Marlow develops a curiosity in understanding how that man will use his skill to tap information from him. When he is so sure that his efforts are of no use on Marlow, the man is evidently is seething with anger, but he is unable to vent it. Marlow can perceive in his stifled yawn an expression of it. The spy is not a likeable character, very cunning and contemptible too. On reaching the island, the first few hours Marlow begins to decipher characteristics of both man and nature around him. It becomes so evident that the manager has no concern whatsoever for civilizing the people and with disdain he describes Kurtz, “the chief of the inner station as an emissary of pity, and science, and progress, and devil knows what else”. (49) It is apparent that he is not motivated by the elegant ideas that are meant to civilize the people. He is a greedy, corrupt, uncaring and arrogant person. He is the symbol of the British imperialism. His main aim is to surpass Kurtz who is his main rival in ivory trade. To Marlow, work does not mean to be enslaved to anything which cannot appeal to one’s soul but it is a tool for finding oneself. The context in which he speaks this has avarice as its stimuli because most of his fellowmen are at the midst of work, which plausibly stands for plunder. . He is unable to reconcile with the blind passion that many exhibit here for money. He concludes that, “to tear treasure out of the bowels of the land was their desire.”(55) and this constitutes a distinctive picture of the English men’s hunt for ivory. When the manager and his uncle are in conversation, Marlow is resting on the steam boat; the manager and uncle are taking about Kurtz. They harbor such a strong hatred for Kurtz and are ready even to murder him. This sordid picture shows the grimness of the situation of the Englishman’s relation with one another. Like a wanderer with an eye for the natural beauty, Marlow enumerates sights which he has seen on the journey deeper in to the land as he picks his way to meet Kurtz. His description of the sensory details on the cultural scape of the land is absolutely not in tandem with others’ motivations, and hence it is a source for measuring Marlow’s aesthetic sense. He is when it comes to listening drums of the natives behind the walled trees. Their music is hovering above the trees with a distinctiveness that is appealing to Marlow alone, while the rest of white people as described earlier, fail to comprehend what actually these savages want to convey; “war peace or prayer” (62). While propelling forth along the coast, Marlow receives the rare opportunity to listen to the clumsy cries of the people that belong to early days of the human culture. He has the strong conviction that one can decipher what it means because his mind is capable of understanding anything. His approach towards the potential of the human mind has the clarity and conviction of a philosopher because he underscores that everything is in the mind; the past as well as the future. Thus, equipped with this mobility, Marlow can decipher what is otherwise called the exotic ways of the islanders. This faculty in him constitutes a stark contrast with Kurtz and the rest of the white men. In the early parts of the novel, Marlow appears as meditating over times past and this projects the image of the idol of Buddha. This reflective nature is strikingly absent in the rest of the multitude, who are blindly involved in go-getting, busy with the routine of their business, driven by the hunger for money. This, in fact, draws the reader to differentiate between wisdom and intelligence. While most of the characters are cut out for the mission of turning the host community into a money spinner, Marlow approaches them with his penetrating wisdom. He can perceive the order of things and his attempts at unraveling the mystery of darkness rather accounts for the unique vision in him. It is conspicuous in the episode when he is immersed in reading the book, “An inquiry into Some Points of Seamanship” that he has found at the dilapidated hut. While the manager and his people are involved in getting the pile of wood removed, Marlow has to leave reading as he is called by them. He chronicles the event as equivalent to ‘tearing himself from the shelter of a solid friendship.’ No ordinary man can connect to a book in this manner, but it takes the wisdom gleaned from life’s experience and knowledge from learning its intricacies. While they are cruising down the river towards Kurtz place, they are besieged by the howling cannibals. This occasion provides an opportunity to know the people more closely. Everyone expect Marlow is preoccupied by the thoughts of safety, as fear grips them to the point of teeth chattering but Marlow appears as composed and resigned , reflecting why the savages want to eat them. Clear sighted as he is, Marlow can understand the appalling lack of food in that part of the river that makes them embark upon such savagery. The reflective judge in him can recognize the root of the problem that haunts the cannibals, who alone among the natives verbalize their remonstrance against the injustices. Hence, to Marlow, there is meaning in their ‘hallabaloo’. Others on board begin to air cries like, “will they attack” and most of them have their nostrils quivering with fear. While still being thus faced by danger, Marlow’s eye for observation is not cowed down, instead it begins to explore all the more vigorously into the physical features and the hard-pressed lives of the violent mob. He is looking at them as one will on any human being, with a mix of curiosity for their impulses, motives, capacities, weakness and, at the same time, he is aware of the unwholesome activities of his fellow Englishmen. Looking into their wretched existence, the man of wisdom in Marlow begins to speak on the topic of hunger from a universal perspective, “no patience can wear it out, disguised does not exit where hunger is; and as to superstition, beliefs and what you may call principles they are less than chaff in a breeze” (71). Marlow knows for sure that cannibals have no earthily reasons for scruple and thus they won’t hesitate to perpetrate violence. When the apprehension about the imminent attack looms large in the air, Marlow dismisses all such possibilities saying that there is nothing in their cries to indicate so, save the strain of sorrow that is so palpable. This episode establishes with strong conviction that Marlow is different from the rest of his fellowmen who are incapable of any such intellectual probing or apprehension of human condition. Later on, against his own calculations, Marlow and his crew are rained by a barrage of arrows. Marlow immediately swings in to action and unfortunately one of his crew members gets killed Consternation and dismay takes hold of him while others heave sighs of relief for being safe. This is a salient distinction that separates Marlow from other people. Marlow, for the most part, cannot acquiesce to the ways of Englishmen on the land who plunder for ivory and a man like Kurtz himself is consumed by its lure. Marlow has the strong feeling that the entire wilderness will burst in to a peal of laughter, if Kurtz claims that ivory, river and station belong to him because he himself is actually belong to the dark force around him. The blind thirst for plundering has almost constituted a rhythm of life in Congo that had no precedence there until the so called civilizing movement has come. His encounter with the Russian unravels the layers of reality lying buried under the landscape. The Russian, a school drop out, shares a common ground with Marlow as he is largely motivated by the glamour of adventure that lands him in strange locations. His unwavering support to Kurtz illustrates him as a well-meaning, humble personality. He does not harbor any ill feelings for Kurtz despite the fact that the latter almost murdered him for possessing ivory. But the non-descript Russian has such a deep veneration for Kurtz’s domineering personality. However, he is one among the few people in the story who nurtures humane qualities. His obsessive urge for adventure gets him entangled in Africa without fully understanding what he is doing there. His youthful enthusiasm has an immediate appeal on Marlow and he admires him. From him we know much of Kurtz’s activities in Africa and he does not like Marlow referring to Kurtz as mad. The humane qualities in him are verbalized evidently in his devotion to Kurtz when he is down with physical ailments. Though in terms of the motivation for adventure, the Russian can compete with Marlow, but he is nowhere near the wisdom and analytical prowess of the latter. Kurtz, as reported by the Russian wanderer, has travelled mostly alone into the depth of land discovering villages and lakes. For the most part of his life in the early days he remained untouched by avarice. But his raids into the dark areas have begun to be tainted with the prospect of ivory trade. A man with a mission to civilize the people of Congo, Kurtz, has eventually been lost in the mesh of greed and began plundering the land. The heaps of skeletons scattered around speaks volumes of it. “He is the unique victim of colonization; the wilderness captures him and he turns his back on all people and customs that were a part of him”. Contrary to the high ideals harbored by the international society for suppression, there has emerged a different person in Kurtz. The early days of his mission, Kurtz has written several articles articulating the dogged life of people in Congo. This Volte-face in Kurtz is further emphasized in his mad pursuit for ivory despite his weak health condition. There is a sea of difference between Marlow and Kurtz in their approach to the land and the people. The violent heroism and the personal charm work well with the natives who rally behind Kurtz to assist his ivory hunt. His activities in Congo have earned him enemies from the fellow Englishmen who, like him, are equally motivated by the lure of the ivory. Marlow can not make great head way in attracting the natives as Kurtz has done. The ignorant natives, informed about his true intentions, almost prostrate before him. For his influence over them is so strong that even Marlow himself is virtually astounded to see it when an ailing Kurtz is surrounded by the natives. Kurtz, however has all drawbacks, has transformed in to the state of a phenomena being flanked by hordes of jabbering natives. Both Marlow and Kurtz appear as the two diverging streams in the novel but a deep study will underline fact that the journey undertaken by Marlow has the sole aim of reaching out to Kurtz. Though, his whole being is agrounded in the marsh of the money spinning, Kurtz can arouse such as a strong curiosity in Marlow that prompt him to brave all the odd conditions of the land to meet Kurtz. The former possesses self-restraints and wisdom to check his ways while the latter is reckless and unmindful of the pitfalls in his pursuit of wealth. Kurtz is more or less comparable to the river which courses to its aim, unconcerned about the ways. The strong personality of Kurtz is all the more evidenced in the laments of his non-descript fiancé who even one year after his death is in deep mourning. His terminal illness represents the eventual death of imperialism due to its inability to adapt and respect the culture and peoples of the invaded country. Even the death of Kurtz is particularly note worthy for his passing word horror” and it sums up his existence in the land. It appears that there was a deep sense of hollowness within him that he never allowed to surface for others to take notice. From the cardinal vision of civilizing he has sunk in the abysmal of in human desires that has made him in to a burnt –out- case. Often he has emerged from the chaos only to take the next plunge, deeper into its murky vortex. Works Cited Conrad, Joseph. Heart of Darkness (1995, 2000). Penguin Books: London. Colonialism, Imperialism, Symbolism, and Materialism in Heart of Darkness: Accessed on 9 December 2006. Grade Saver: Classic Note: Heart of Darkness Study Guide Accessed on 9 December 2006. The Darkness in Heart of Darkness: Accessed on 10 December 2006. Read More