What is Heart of darkness?
Heart of Darkness is a definitive novella. The title connotes a lack of love and the centre of darkness. Conrad uses binary opposition to show the contrast between the two destinations. London is full of light, religion and is civilisation whereas the other side is full os savages and needs the light from london (civilisation).
Marlow goes on a physical and metaphorical journey where he learns about humanity. Conrad uses a number of literary techniques to foreshadow the themes of his novella.
Marlow goes on a physical and metaphorical journey where he learns about humanity. Conrad uses a number of literary techniques to foreshadow the themes of his novella.
Imagery
Conrad uses metaphors to describe the Congo as a 'snake uncoiling'. This suggests how large the river is. The connotations that describe the river as a snake, are being portrayed as evil and dangerous. 'Its tail lost in the depths of the land'. This suggests that is is dark towards the end of the river, almost as if you can not see it. This could also relate to the fact that people from the start of the river are ignorant towards the lack of light and civilisation in the Congo, they are blind to it. Conrad uses the lexical field to connote darkness as he describes the event of Freslevens death. He uses words such as 'panic' and 'terror'. He uses these adjectives to create an image in the readers mine of something terrible. He uses imagery to help the readers understand the theme of darkness.it.
Darkness is a metaphorical concept with many different meanings in Heart of Darkness. How does Conrad use language to show the different elements of darkness in his novella?
Conrad beautifully describes the river that they are floating above. "The sea-reach of the Thames stretched before us like the beginning of an interminable waterway. In the offing, the sea and the sky were welded together without a joint". Conrad uses imagery to form an alluring picture in the readers head of the river Thames that they are calmly floating upon. Conrad uses Marlow's passion for London to describe London to be the place of light, knowledge and religion. On the other hand, the other end of the Thames is described to be 'One of the darkest places on earth', The African Congo.
The fact that you can barley see the end of the river could suggest that people from the start of the river are ignorant towards the lack of light and civilisation in the Congo, they are blind to it. In the beginning, Conrad explains how different the two ends of the rivers are by using a negative lexical field to describe the Congo. For example, Marlow describes the event of his predecessor's death. He uses a lexical field of negativity, 'Brooding Gloom, Ominous, Death'. These words all connote darkness, which is the main theme of this novella. Conrad uses the adjective 'panic' to portray the event. He also uses the adjective 'terror' to create a sense of empathy towards the Africans, portraying how they must have felt about Freslevens death. The noun 'bones' connotes death and destruction which helps the reader feel more involved with the novella as these words create an eerie feeling.
The use of using a corruptive Lexis portrays the shenanigans and the corrupted minds of people and events that occurred in Africa around 1899, which was when the novella was set, lets the readers endure the actions of the Belgians of this particular era. Conrad foreshadows what his journey will be like by describing The Congo to be the 'Heart of darkness'. Conrad uses the phrase to reveal the change in people once they have reached the Congo. One example is where he describes Fresleven as being the most gentlest and caring man that could be, ends up to be dead after a scuffle over two black hens. He describes aftermath of the 'grass being tall enough to grow through is ribs, almost hiding them'.
Conrad refers to 'Heart of Darkness' not just metaphorically, but also means it literally as Africa was uncharted, where no one had explored into the depths of the lands. As Marlow excavates deeper into the forest, he starts to realise just how devastating the Congo is. He describes how the Africans are chained by the neck, one behind the other walking up a steep hill, How he can hear the cries of the Africans as they fall to the ground, dying of trauma and starvation. Marlow's description could portray how 'darkness' is used in different meanings and how uncivilised and neglected the people of the Congo were.
The fact that you can barley see the end of the river could suggest that people from the start of the river are ignorant towards the lack of light and civilisation in the Congo, they are blind to it. In the beginning, Conrad explains how different the two ends of the rivers are by using a negative lexical field to describe the Congo. For example, Marlow describes the event of his predecessor's death. He uses a lexical field of negativity, 'Brooding Gloom, Ominous, Death'. These words all connote darkness, which is the main theme of this novella. Conrad uses the adjective 'panic' to portray the event. He also uses the adjective 'terror' to create a sense of empathy towards the Africans, portraying how they must have felt about Freslevens death. The noun 'bones' connotes death and destruction which helps the reader feel more involved with the novella as these words create an eerie feeling.
The use of using a corruptive Lexis portrays the shenanigans and the corrupted minds of people and events that occurred in Africa around 1899, which was when the novella was set, lets the readers endure the actions of the Belgians of this particular era. Conrad foreshadows what his journey will be like by describing The Congo to be the 'Heart of darkness'. Conrad uses the phrase to reveal the change in people once they have reached the Congo. One example is where he describes Fresleven as being the most gentlest and caring man that could be, ends up to be dead after a scuffle over two black hens. He describes aftermath of the 'grass being tall enough to grow through is ribs, almost hiding them'.
Conrad refers to 'Heart of Darkness' not just metaphorically, but also means it literally as Africa was uncharted, where no one had explored into the depths of the lands. As Marlow excavates deeper into the forest, he starts to realise just how devastating the Congo is. He describes how the Africans are chained by the neck, one behind the other walking up a steep hill, How he can hear the cries of the Africans as they fall to the ground, dying of trauma and starvation. Marlow's description could portray how 'darkness' is used in different meanings and how uncivilised and neglected the people of the Congo were.
In the extract below, how does Conrad use language to support his theme of darkness? - MODEL
Darkness runs through the novella like a motif. But darkness can come in many forms and is not just the explicit lack of light. One form of darkness is a dearth of knowledge. Throughout the text Conrad expresses his belief that the backward nature of the "natives" makes them a lesser human beings. However, Conrad does at times reflect on the nature of the people he meets and decides that they are not inhuman, and we, the reader are closer to them in nature than we care to admit. The language he uses when he describes the natives paints a vivid and horrific picture. When they escape the forest they "howled and leaped" like animals making "horrid faces" but there is a link between him and them which "thrills" him. This imagery is reinforces the lack of humanity as we picture bestial, uncontrolled chaos. Though they are wild and passionate the thought invades his reflection that there is a remote kinship between us. This animalistic lexical field paints a darkness of humanity which is emphasized further by his contemplation. He questions whether subconsciously we respond to the terrible noise before he returns to his theme of darkness. To Conrad the mind is capable of anything, as it contains everything, but his language betrays his inner feelings. We have "dim suspicions" and most pertinently we are remote from the night of first ages, a metaphor that compares the primeval period when humanity didn't exist to the darkness of night. We hope we have escaped but a darkness is still found in Africa.
In the extract below, how does Conrad use language to support his theme of darkness?
Conrad uses the adjective 'mass' to describe the amount of 'natives' that are covering the slope, he describes them to be breathing and quivering, almost as if they are ill dogs who are left astray. Conrad describes the Africans as if they are not human beings. 'Bronze bodies', he speaks about these Africans this way as if they are not worthy. He uses this description to create the image in the readers mind that they are just bronze bodies, nothing more and nothing less, they are all the same. The 'two thousand eyes' that follow the splashing of the boat almost make out like the Africans have never seen something so interesting. Conrad shows that the fact that there is something different in their view for a change, shows how fascinated they are just by the splashing and roaring sound of the steamboat. This relates back to the theme of Heart of Darkness which is the lack of civilisation and modernisation. Conrad describes his tatted up, half broken steamboat as a 'river -demon, beating with its terrible tale and black smoke in the air'. The connotations of his boat breathing black smoke relates back to how Conrad uses language the support his theme of darkness, the fact that it is his steamboat that breaths the deathly black smoke almost symbolizes who he really is on the inside. The three men that are plastered with red earth from head to toe, restlessly move the boat, they do not give up.
The connotations of being plastered in red earth from head to toe, shows fire and determination as they worship the white man, Marlow, They way Conrad speaks of how they strutted and nodded with their horned heads, constructs the image of some sort of bull. He speaks as if these Africans are animals, he belittles them because of their appearance, and because they are not white. Conrad artistically structures a way to speak about the Africans as if they are aliens. 'They shouted periodically together strings of amazing words that resembled no sounds of human language'. He speaks as if there is only one language to speak and any other is not human. Conrad portrays Marlow to be narrow minded and portrays Marlow to think highly of himself as he speaks the language of what should only be spoken, English. Marlow does not the language of the Africans and therefore describes if as deep murmurs. 'They were like responses of satanic litany'. Conrad obviously portrays the Africans as some sort of demonic creature. Describing their language as satanic litany and comparing them to an animal with horns implies to the audience that the Africans are non human like. Like they have no human features about them. Conrad clearly displays the division of Marlow's mind between the Africans and himself.
The connotations of being plastered in red earth from head to toe, shows fire and determination as they worship the white man, Marlow, They way Conrad speaks of how they strutted and nodded with their horned heads, constructs the image of some sort of bull. He speaks as if these Africans are animals, he belittles them because of their appearance, and because they are not white. Conrad artistically structures a way to speak about the Africans as if they are aliens. 'They shouted periodically together strings of amazing words that resembled no sounds of human language'. He speaks as if there is only one language to speak and any other is not human. Conrad portrays Marlow to be narrow minded and portrays Marlow to think highly of himself as he speaks the language of what should only be spoken, English. Marlow does not the language of the Africans and therefore describes if as deep murmurs. 'They were like responses of satanic litany'. Conrad obviously portrays the Africans as some sort of demonic creature. Describing their language as satanic litany and comparing them to an animal with horns implies to the audience that the Africans are non human like. Like they have no human features about them. Conrad clearly displays the division of Marlow's mind between the Africans and himself.