The term “darkness” in the title is intended to refer to the
darkest side of human nature, as is evident between the brutal colonists, ivory
traders, and head poachers that appear in the book. There are many varying occurrences of the
word “darkness” in the text, but each still refers to this meaning in the
end. Some of these references are to
Kurtz (“was an impenetrable darkness”, “…how many powers of darkness claimed
him for their own…”, etc.). These
examples both talk about Kurtz as if the darkness were taking over him, not as
if it was part of him already. This can
also relate to how Kurtz’ soul went mad as the darkness locks its grip on him
and doesn’t let him go (question 17). In
this case, “darkness still refers to the dark side of his nature, even though
it is personified as if it were a problem or disease that he succumbed to and couldn’t
fight.
Other
instances of the term darkness in the book are during the voyage along the
Congo River (“penetrated deeper into the heart of darkness”) and the final
sentence of the book (…seemed to lead into the heart of an immense darkness”),
which both still refer to the original idea that all humans, not matter how
kind or gentle-hearted, still have a dark side.
Vivian, I agree with you when you stated that the term "darkness" in the title is intended to refer to the darkest side of human nature. I had commented on Amber's post before this and realized that this was maybe what she meant also. Not all humans are of a evil nature, some are legit evil human beings but others don't physically or emotionally have the heart to be evil therefore they just have a sinful nature, but not completely evil. I also agree with you when you stated that it could also relate to how Kurtz' soul went mad as the darkness locks its grip on him and doesn't let him go. The darkness is in fact still referring to the dark side of his evil nature. I agree with pretty much everything you stated, we took most things the same way.
ReplyDeleteI will be honest and say I am unsure of where Conrad is telling us the “darkness” lies. Is it ingrained in us and we draw it out through instinct, or is it in nature and it grows in us? If I am reading your post correctly, I would say you think the latter, which makes sense; the idea of the “madness” or “darkness” “infecting” the Europeans is how Marlow describes the change in the people he sees. Even Marlow shows change in the novel – his opinions of the natives and Europeans change as the story progresses; he didn’t start this way. This idea of sin growing in us, then, also means there is a choice as to whether we are good and bad, and shows a belief in varying levels of sin.
ReplyDeleteMaggie,
DeleteCorrect. I believe the latter of the two is a more accurate representation of human nature. For example, last year I was in one of my classes and a teacher asked the class if we thought we would ever be able to kill a person. I, not surprisingly, was the only person to raise my hand (if that doesn't express my incredible cynicism to you, nothing will) and the teacher informed us that under the right circumstances, anybody could kill another person. I believe this is just a small/minor example of the inherent and often uneximplified dark side of human nature. I wholeheartedly believe that no matter how sweet, kind, or innocent a person may seem on the outside, there is always a dormant dark side that he or she possesses. Some people express it more than others, but everyone has the capacity to be cruel.
Humans are in no way perfect or sinless. The use of the term "heart of darkness" is a tricky one, as we tend to classify villains in modern society as having a mindset of greed or a heart three sizes too small, in the case of the Grinch, but this term, "heart of darkness" speaks on top of mountains of understanding. The dual usage you cited (that was excellent, by the way) highlights Conrad's attempt to show that humans are inherently wrong in their ways, no matter what the circumstance of life. The heart of darkness at the beginning of the novel was the Congo River, and the heart at the end was London, or more appropriately, civilization.
ReplyDelete