Journal 1
Pg. 3-11
"The Sea-reach of the Thames stretched before us like the beginning of an interminable waterway." pg. 3
Interminable-tiresomely long; seemingly without end.
At the beginning of the novel the narrator says that they are at the beginning of this interminable waterway which stands for the long journey ahead of these fair sailors. It also stands for the conflict and challenges that these men are going to face on their long journey.
"He was the only man of us who still 'followed the sea.' The worst that could be said of him was that he did not represent his class. He was a seaman, but he was a wanderer, too..." pg. 6
In this passage they speak of Marlow who is a man on the ship that still is a man who follows where the sea takes him. You can infer that Marlow is singled out and will be the main challenge to the fellow sailors who do not share the same views as him. I also explains that he is not just on another trip but he is on an exploration.
Journal 2
pg. 12-20
"I, Charles Marlow set the women to work..." pg. 12
In this passage right away in the book it struck me that a man of this time would be shameful of putting a woman to work. That goes to show that Charles Marlow is the protagonist and may even challenge the other men on their views of slavery and womens place in society.
Journal 3
pg. 21-29
"...an insoluble mystery from the sea. All their meagre breasts panted together, the violently dilated nostrils quivered..." pg. 24
Meagre-Deficient in quantity, fullness, or extent; scanty
Insoluble-Admitting of no solution or explanation
Both of these terms work well together and show the fear of the others but also the intensity of their attackers. Insoluble mystery is the unexplainable circumstances that have occurred right now as they have been sailing the sea. Meagre shows the weakness but driven men are their intruders determined to accomplish what they came for.
Journal 4
pg. 30-38
"'Next day I left that station at last, with a caravan of sixty men, for a two-hundred-mile tramp.'" pg.31
In this quote it shows the many expeditions that these men take. Also it hints at their recklessness of others and shows that they take these trips for their own gain whether it be power, land, or money.
"Then he began again, assuring me Mr. Kurtz was the best agent he had, and exceptional man, of the greatest importance to the Company..." pg. 36
Marlow is being convinced that he needs Mr.Kurtz for his next journey but it seems he either doesn't feel completely sure or he believes that Mr.Kurtz will just cause trouble to him and get into his way.
Journal 5
pg 39-47
"'He is a Prodigy,' he said at last. 'He is and emissary of pity and science and progress, and devil knows what else. We want,'...'for the guidance of the cause intrusted to us by Europe, so to speak, higher intelligence, wide sympathies, a singleness of purpose.'" pg 41
This is a very good biblical allusion of the "Prodigy" a man of excellence and one that is so great that he will solve the problems of mankind. He also connects the devil in with prodigy signifying that their is a conflict between the two kinds and one slaves are considered evil and associated with the devil as the other (whites) are associated with the Prodigy. He also gives further reference to Europe that they have bestowed the Prodigy on them to preach the high intelligence and speak to the natives.
Journal 6
Pg. 48-56
"As to me, I seemed to see Kurtz for the first time. It was distinct glimpse: the dugout, four paddling savages, and the long white man turning his back suddenly on the headquarters, on relief, on thoughts of home-perhaps..." pg. 52-53
This really in depth shows that the white men are the superiors. Connecting back to "Neiche" (if thats how you spell it?) It explains that they are very racist and that the men that are the lower class are treated like dogs because that is their place in life. It also reflects back to that white men have "fought" and "protect" the land that they control and must have slaves do their work since they have already done so much in the name of their country. You can infer from this that the white men are "ignorant with pride" and can be compared to "evil" more than the slaves.
Journal 7
pg. 57-65
"horrid faces", "howled", "Ugly", "Terrible franknss", "sorrow", "pretty rags", "crook", "poor devil" pg. 59-61
All of these adjectives describe the locals on the land that they have landed on. The connection between them all is all interpreted through the mind of racist men. The term poor devil infers that the look onto them as if they are the poor lower class and since they are of that class they are also the devil and evil!
"...and took to arguing with myself whether or no I would talk openly with Kurtz..." pg.64
In this passage it goes back to my inference of Marlow thinking twice about taking Mr.Kurtz for reasons of conflict and him being unnecessary. This here shows that I was correct and Marlow seems to think twice about consulting with him. It also infers back to my first post that Marlow was singled out as a different sailor that everyone else and it shows that he doesn't always go with the same mind set as some of the other explorers and also seems to not be as racist to the locals as everyone else.
Journal 8
pg. 66-74
"Certainly they had brought with them some rotten hippo-meat, which couldn't have lasted very long, anyway, even if the pilgrims hadn't, in the midst of a shocking hullabaloo, thrown a considerable quantity of it overboard." pg.68
In this passage it explains they poorness and savagery of the locals. With the food it shows that they are both given the food and able to obtain only poor quality food. It makes them seem less human and more like a slave. Also the hullabaloo was caused because of their societies way of dealing with things in an animal like manner.
Journal 9
pg. 75-83
"-ivory ball; it had caressed him, and-lo!-he had withered; it had taken him, loved him, embraced him, got into his veins, consumed his flesh, and sealed his soul to its own by the inconceivable..." pg.81
Within in this passage the author uses personification to emphasize the importance and control of the ceremonies that the locals practice. He vividly describes the mans head and how it is shaped due to the ceremonies that the man has practiced throughout his life. The ceremonies are so life demanding and controlling that it has sealed his soul and will not let anything get to it.
Journal 10
pg. 84-92
"The opening paragraph, however, in the light of later information, strikes me now as ominous." p.84
Ominous- Menacing; threatening: Of or being an omen, especially an evil one.
With this exert is shows that Mr. Krutz is truly an evil man in the things he does. Even Marlow recognizes that and is surprised by the evilness of this man.
"They had given up Kurtz they had given up the station; Kurtz was dead, and the station had been burnt-and so on-and so on...Kurtz had been properly avenged...made a glorious slaughter of them..." pg. 87
As this one is written out it is openly expressed between locals and others that Kurtz death was one of importance. Since Kurtz was betrayed by his workers that he treated so poorly he was slaughter by them and others. It is like the circle of life-what goes around comes around. Since Kurtz treated them so brutally, they will kill him in such a manner or a "glorious slaughter."
Journal 11
pg. 93-101
'''I looked at him, lost in astonishment. There he was before me, in motley, as though he had absconded from a troupe of mimes, enthusiastic, fabulous. His very existence was improbable, inexplicable, and altogether bewildering...It was inconceivable how he had existed, how he had succeeded in getting so far, how he had managed to remain..." pg.93
In this Marlow after Kurtz death reflects back on it and realizes that this man was made of true evil. While having sometime to ponder back on this it shows the trueness of this man and what he had to and effected the community and society around him.
Journal 12
pg. 102-110
My thoughts on Mr. Krutz because he is mentioned quiet a bit in this part of the book.
Mr. Kurtz-His downfall seems to be a result of his willingness to ignore the hypocritical rules that govern European colonial conduct: Kurtz has “kicked himself loose of the earth” by fraternizing excessively with the natives and not keeping up appearances; in so doing, he has become wildly successful but has also incurred the wrath of his fellow white men.
Journal 13
pg. 111-119
'''His was an impenetrable darkness.'" pg. 117
Darkness-is a very big part in the book since th concept of it is in the books title "Heart of Darkness." In this novel darkness is perceived as a way that the Europeans cannot see the life styles that they are ruining and war they are creating with their excursions and adventures into Africa. With the inablitily of the Europeans to see the life and other humans they are affecting means that they are neglecting individual and community connection and bondage that should be created between the two cultures. Also Africa, England, and Brussels are all described as gloomy and somehow dark, even if the sun is shining brightly. All showing the dark attitudes and lifestyles that these people are living in.
Journal 14
pg.120-132
The ending of Heart of Darkness introduces a much greater horror than any Marlow has encountered in the Congo. Are the evils of colonialism excusable in the name of “truth” or knowledge, even if they are not justifiable in the name of wealth? This paradox accounts at least partially for the novels frame story. Marlow recounts his experiences to his friends because doing so establishes an implicit comparison. The other men aboard the Nellie are the kind of men who benefit economically from imperialism, while Marlow has benefited mainly experientially. While Marlow’s “truth” may be more profound than that of his friends or Kurtz’s Intended, it may not justify the cost of its own acquisition.
