Throughout Heart of Darkness the setting of the forest in contrast to the also metaphorical river creates a sense of unknowing and unchartered territory to Marlow and other non-natives. Framing the river to be traveled upon lie “the edge of a colossal jungle, so dark-green as to be almost black, fringed with white surf.” While Marlow and his crew know they are safe traveling on the river, within the forest are natives and land that they know act as a boundary between the two separate lives. The fear of the forest increases to a new level after the attack. At all times the forest surround them with the “tree-tops of the grove of death.” By the end of the novel it becomes clear that the forest also has an ironic symbolization of what man can turn into. Kurtz is an example of this in how he not only trick the natives into appearing as a god like figure, but consequently also falls into the trap of a power trip. It is not until Kurtz’s dying moments that he realizes what has become of this company, the journey, and himself as he cries out, “the horror! The horror!”
I agree that the jungle was a metaphorical death trap. It was ever present and unrelenting with physical dangers at every turn, whether the be the natives or the vegetation. However, I wouldn’t deem the jungle to be “ironic.” From the time Marlow arrives in Africa he describes the jungle as a “heart of darkness,” containing the unknown. He also goes on to say that it was fear inspiring, and had the ability of showing a man his soul and the soul of all man, forever changing the observer. Throughout the novel the jungle was persistently described as dangerous, and life altering, and containing primal forces. Kurtz’s behavior and dying words were just an ultimate personification of the aforementioned effects the jungle, as described by Marlow, was capable of inducing. So, I do not see the irony in the jungle’s death trap metaphor. If anything it is a metaphor with multiple meanings.
ReplyDeleteI agree the methaphor use to describe for the jungle had multiple meanings of what is a metaphorical death trap. With the multiple phyiscal dangers at just turn whether it would be for the natives or the vegetation the jungle i would say in my opinion would deem to be ironic. From the time Marlow arrives to the end, the jungle does pheraps become a safe haven for the natives.
DeleteI agree that the forest and the river contrast each other in that the river is a sort of safe haven, whereas the forest is unknown and seemingly dangerous. The natives and the non-natives do clash, as they always have in both reality and fiction, making the river unsafe and the forest even more traitorous. As Napoleon once said, “Power corrupts, absolute power corrupts absolutely,” Kurtz is corrupted by evil and horror when he lets his thirst for power drive him to the brink of insanity. I agree that by the end of the novel the forest does symbolize what men can turn into and the darkness which “lingers” in the hearts of men.
ReplyDeleteI think it's interesting that you brought up the safety that the men felt on the river. To me, I see that as so ironic since most people would consider being out in the midst of an ocean intimidating. However, your statements are very accurate in that they found more terror on the land (the forest) than the unknown of the water. Though it is seen time and time again throughout literature the representation of the woods or a forest as the unknown or something to be concerned about. Often, it even represents a decision that a person is faced with. But almost always it is associated with some kind of darkness.
ReplyDeleteI find it quite interesting that you referred to the forest as a boundary. I always saw it as an unknown, unchartered territory that was terrifying. However, I never realized that it is a boundary or even almost a wall. It keeps the company safe, but it also keeps the Natives out. However, I am sure the Natives think the same thing as well. They like the protection the forest provides and finds it comforting that they can hide within the green leaves and be hidden. So as much as the company sees it as a wall, so do the Natives.
ReplyDeleteI also find it interesting that you see the forest as a boundary between two separate lives. I viewed it as an unprotected area that was one with the land. However, I now agree that it did provide a sense of safety and security to them. It represented a decision between the theme of good and evil and the decisions they were faced with.
ReplyDeleteAlong with many of the other comments on this post, I never really considered the forests to be boundary. However, it makes perfect sense to view it as one. Most simply, the jungle does represent the unknown and the literal darkness. It also represents the metaphorical darkness and evil. However, thought of in a different mindset, it does seem to provide a boundary for not only the natives who feel protected within its area, but the men who feel safer outside. In a way, anything within a comfort zone could be viewed as a bound.
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