Friday, April 9, 2010
NRJ #1: Exploration
One o f the themes that stood out to me in Heart of Darkness was exploration. I believe that the author is trying to say that exploration has many meanings and levels. Marlow for example is characterized by exploration because of his curiosity for Africa and good versus evil (pertaining to the human psyche). This theme has two different avenues for exploration, but they are both classified under exploration. Marlow’s passion for exploration is realized when the author uses imagery and Marlow states, “Watching a coast as it slips by the ship is like thinking about an enigma. There it is before you-smiling, frowning, inviting, grand, mean, insipid, or savage, and always mute with an air of whispering ‘come and find out.’” (1.13) The author also uses imagery when making a point about good versus evil. “But Marlow was not typical (if his propensity to spin yarns be excepted), and to him the meaning of an episode was not inside like a kernel but outside, enveloping the tale which brought it out only as a glow brings out a haze, in the likeness of one of these misty halos that sometimes are made visible by the spectral illumination of moonshine.” (1.5) The author is trying to say that metaphorically, we would not recognize light (goodness) without darkness (evil). Clearly there are different meanings of exploration. One can explore land and seas like Marlow did or one can explore the nature of good and evil. Weather one is exploring the good or bad parts of a country/civilization or the good and evil natures of mankind, we could not tell the difference unless we had both.
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Really insightful. This choice of theme was really interesting. I think you are right in recognizing that "evil" and "goodness" could not really exist, so to speak. without each other.
ReplyDeleteOne of the characteristics that stands out about the "pilgrims" seems to be that they lack the recognition of the good or evil of their actions. Only Marlow, the explorer, and handful of other characters seem to notice that the Empire's actions may be thought of as good or evil.
ReplyDeleteReally good post, I think you bring something new to light (no pun intended) with your description of no good withought evil. I think Kurtz also realizes this himself, having traveled the furthest into the Darkness, however he has consciously chosen the outright evil, in contrast to The Company, who pretends to cover up their evil with light.
ReplyDeleteI agree with your exploration theme in contrast with good and evil. Unfortunaly, Mr. Kurtz had no choice but to get drawn into the evil side through isolation in order to survive.
ReplyDeleteI agree with the part about exploration. To me, exploration really stood out when Marlow is describing himself looking at a map as a young child, and marveling at all the blank spaces.
ReplyDeleteVery good choice of topic, Marlow's free-spirited character and willingness for exploration also made him realized his own faults, and made him look introspectively into his own beliefs and explore his own thoughts as to what was going on around him.
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