Literature Analysis #1: Heart of Darkness

1. The plot of the novel Heart of Darkness is quite simple in context.  The main character, Marlow, believes he is destined to travel the waterways of Africa.  His aunt offers him a connection he cannot pass up.  Marlow visits the office of a Belgian ivory company and is made captain of one of their ships.  When he arrives in Africa he is overwhelmed by the life yet finds it contradictory to the darkness of the continent.  Whenever mentioning the natives in the text, Marlow regards them as machines rather than humans, only present to perform the duties of the white man.  Marlow overhears stories of a man by the name Kurtz who is said to be deathly ill yet holds great information concerning the secrets of the Congo.  On his venture to find this mystifying figure, Marlow and his crew encounter posts that have been overran by the natives.  These foreboding scenes suppress the excitement of Marlow and his crew however they decide to push on.  Finally they reach the village where Kurtz is only to find that he has become deeply engulfed in the native culture.  Marlow and Kurtz become close acquaintances until the steamboat leaves the next day and Kurtz dies onboard.   

2. To understand the most basic theme of the novel Heart of Darkness, the reader needs only to analyze the actions made by the main character, Marlow.  The character of Marlow views native Africans as pieces of equipment rather than actual human beings.  The most dismal part of his beliefs is that he finds no regret when disintegrating the moral character of these natives.  Instead of being blind by his ignorant views, it is as if he embraces them.  For this the reason the theme of Heart of Darkness is the idea that self-interest often degrades the lives of the people who are connected to the person driven by

3. “And as I looked at the map of it in a shop-window, it fascinated me as a snake would a bird—a silly little bird.”

This quote is referring to the author’s flashback when he was a child that loved to observe the maps of the world.  From this quote the reader is able to understand that the author is creating a metaphor.  In this case he is considering himself as the snake, while the country of Africa is the “silly little bird.”  Obviously the author decides to use this literary device in order to support his tone of simple mockery.  He sees Africa as something he can reap the benefits from without exerting much force or intuitiveness.

“He gave me a searching glance, and made another note.  ‘Ever any madness in your family?’  he asked, in a matter-of-fact tone.”

As Marlow is trying to gain permission for his venture into the Congo, he runs upon a doctor who incorporates Marlow into his research project.  The author decides to include this quote in order to create a different perspective of why Marlow has decided to go to the Congo.  At this certain point in the novel the author once again portrays a tone of mockery, however this time deriving from a more educated source.  The doctor finds it odd that a healthy and functioning human being would ever visit the Congo unless that person had acquired some kind of illness. 

“They wanted no excuse for being there.  They were a great comfort to look at.  For a time I would feel I belonged still to a world of straightforward facts; but the feeling would not last long.”

At this point in the novel the author is observing captured slaves who are completing a physical labor task.  Yet, instead of the protagonist or another character developing a tone of mockery, the author himself is creating a sense of mockery aimed at the entire situation.  It is as if the author is poking fun at the fact that an individual would find it “comfortable” to view the enslavement of fellow human beings.

4. "The conquest of the earth, which mostly means the taking it away from those who have a different complexion or slightly flatter noses than ourselves, is not a pretty thing when you look into it too much." (pg. 70)

Foreshadow- The reader from this singular moment is able to grasp the idea that the protagonist is not only making a general statement, but foreshadowing future actions taken in the novel.   The reader is able to understand that when the protagonist ventures into the unknown, he intends to use brute force without even a second thought.

“She talked about ‘weaning those ignorant millions from their horrid ways’, till upon my word, she made me quite uncomfortable.” (pg. 77)

Personification- The protagonist encounters a woman who makes this incredibly cruel statement.  The reader is able to understand that this woman is categorizing the entire population of Africa into a single group (“ignorant millions”).  She believes that all actions made by Africans are “horrid”, supporting the overarching ignorance by most foreigners.

“…We passed various places-trading places-with names like Gran’ Bassam, Little Popo; names that seemed to belong to some sordid farce acted in front of a sinister back-cloth.” (Pg. 78)

Metaphor- The author describes the various trading places as a metaphor to humorous plays.  However, to add more depth to his description he mentions how these places seem almost menacing.  By incorporating this quote, the author engulfs the reader’s attention and makes them understand the true mystery behind why these foreigners decided to conquer the continent of Africa.

“They were called criminals, and the outraged law, like the bursting shells, had come to them, an insoluble mystery from the sea.” (pg. 81)

Simile- By portraying the Africans as criminals and comparing their punishment by the law to “the bursting shells”, once again the author discovers a way to include a relevant connection to his main purpose.  He describes the Africans being mystified by these new set of laws which had put them under the ever so watchful eye of the “white man”.  Again the author is able to accomplish the task of presenting the true events that occurred during this time period.  

“A continuous noise of the rapids above hovered over this scene of inhabited devastation.  A lot of people, mostly black and naked, moved about like ants.” (pg. 80)

Simile- Again the protagonist is referring to the Africans as if they are not even human beings.  He finds them merely to be ants which fulfill the needs of the overlords.  By this the author is able to again symbolize the cruelty of the foreigners towards the Africans.

“While I stood horror-struck, one of these creatures rose to his hands and knees, and went off on all-fours towards the river to drink.”

Imagery- Instead of directly noting that the Africans were significantly similar to that of everyday animals, the protagonist uses imagery to indirectly describe the animal-like actions by the Africans.  It is as if the African slave had suddenly before his eyes transformed from a human form to that of an ape or monkey.  This portrays the discrimination the protagonist exerted towards these helpless Africans.

“Afterwards he arose and went out-and the wilderness without a sound took him into its bosom again.” (pg. 92)

Personification-The protagonist creates the sense that after an African man was nearly beaten to death, he enters the “chest” of the wilderness and disappears forever.  By including this event the author gives a concise example of the many Africans during this period of time that were consumed by the wilderness because of the foreigners.

…”Who will see Mr. Kurtz long before I can have that pleasure.  I wouldn’t like him to get a false idea of my disposition.” (pg. 95)

Diction- While the author tends to use elementary diction, at times like this one he uses an increased level of diction to make it clear of the urgency that certain character feels towards the subject at hand.

“Some fifty miles below the Inner Station we came upon a hut of reeds, an inclined and melancholy pole, with the unrecognizable tatters of what had been a flag of some sort flying from it, and a neatly stacked wood pile.” (Pg. 10)

Syntax- At this point the author uses a lengthy syntax, however in order for the audience to grasp what the village presents itself; the author feels the need to go into greater detail.

“Good God!” (pg. 123)

Hyperbole- After being fired upon by a wave of arrows, a pilgrim expresses his emotions by screaming out this small yet powerful quote.  The author wanted to create a simple interpretation of just how chaotic the previous scene was to all of the characters.