Universal Themes in the Novella
Greed |
Greed comes from money and power which then defines their character. This theme is important as it shows what the company has done people like Kurtz.
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Truth |
Truth is often hidden away from the people to keep them safe from harm. This theme comes around when Marlow lies to The Intended about Kurtz's last words.
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Racism |
Racism comes from those that feel they are better than other just because of their skin color, causing discrimination and enslavement. Throughout the whole novella racism takes over Africa.
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power |
Power is manipulative and changes the ways that people act and go on with their lives. The company gains their power through the weakness of African people, as do their workers (i.e. Kurtz)
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quotes meaningful today
"strength is just an accident arising from the weakness of others..." (Conrad58)
This quote early in the novella relates to today as power never gains its status from taking over other powers, but by taking from the weak and building all into one. Bullies seem to be big and strong yet it is just because they pick on the weak, rather than the strong.
"It's queer how out of touch with truth women are. They live in a world of their own, and there has never been anything like it and never can be. It is too beautiful altogether..." (66)
Marlow comments on women throughout the novella like he does here, stating that they soil the truth because they do not understand it. Today, women still face the sexist point of view throughout the world.
"I've seen the devil of violence, and the devil of greed, and the devil of hot desire; but, by all the stars! these were strong, lusty, red-eyed devils, that swayed and drove-men..." (70)
The devil can be symbolic in the novella, and relates to real world problems of today. Greed, violence, and desire all can be related to evil and the devil, which many people of today blame on money and society.
"I hate, detest, and can't bear a lie, not because I am straighter than the rest of us, but simply because it appalls me. There is a taint of death, a flavour of mortality in lies." (85)
Here in the quote, Marlow says he hates lies. Today as well, people do not enjoy being lied to as, just like Marlow says, is immoral and appalling.
"prehistoric man was cursing us, praying to us, welcoming us - who could tell? We were cut off from the comprehension of our surroundings; we glided past like phantoms..." (97)
This quote depicts the tribes of the native people that are amazed by the big boat that Marlow is upon. The quote's relevance to today is that people of third world nations without the customs of America are still amazed by the technology that has developed.
"The simple old sailor, with his talk of chains and purchases, made me forget the jungle and the pilgrims..." (100)
Marlow finds peace within himself by admiring the sailor, making him forget about the horrors around him. Today, many people are able to relieve themselves of their stress and difficulties with a simple pleasure such as tea, meditation or yoga.
"No fear can stand up to hunger, no patience can wear it out, disgust simply does not exist where hunger is; and as to superstition, beliefs, and what you may call principles, they are less than chaff in a breeze..." (106)
The hungry are unstoppable, or so the quote says. Many people that are determined enough, or "hungry" enough for what they desire usually gain what they want.
“And I remember I confounded the beat of the drum with the beating of my heart, and was pleased at its calm regularity” (137)
The quote here is important because it represents the heart... of Africa, as they are in the middle of the continent. With the image of the beating heart to represent where they are and then gives perspective to today's world by relating to the US with the Midwest region representing the heart of America.
"I saw the inconceivable mystery of a soul that knew no restraint, no faith, and no fear, yet struggling blindly with itself..." (140)
Marlow comes to understand the pain of Kurtz, as he has lost his emotion and acts all that but is truly at unease with himself. Today, many people that often seem to be the most unlikely to be hurting, those who put on a fake smile everyday are often those in the most pain and conflicted with themselves.
"he cried out twice, a cry that was no more than a breath: ' The horror! The horror!'... " (144)
Kurtz's last words, hard for Marlow to accept, yet they are what they are. Kurtz understands what he has done and knows his crimes, yet he'd rather continue them than go back to civilization in Europe. People often run from the real world in similar ways, because of the hard ways of society.
This quote early in the novella relates to today as power never gains its status from taking over other powers, but by taking from the weak and building all into one. Bullies seem to be big and strong yet it is just because they pick on the weak, rather than the strong.
"It's queer how out of touch with truth women are. They live in a world of their own, and there has never been anything like it and never can be. It is too beautiful altogether..." (66)
Marlow comments on women throughout the novella like he does here, stating that they soil the truth because they do not understand it. Today, women still face the sexist point of view throughout the world.
"I've seen the devil of violence, and the devil of greed, and the devil of hot desire; but, by all the stars! these were strong, lusty, red-eyed devils, that swayed and drove-men..." (70)
The devil can be symbolic in the novella, and relates to real world problems of today. Greed, violence, and desire all can be related to evil and the devil, which many people of today blame on money and society.
"I hate, detest, and can't bear a lie, not because I am straighter than the rest of us, but simply because it appalls me. There is a taint of death, a flavour of mortality in lies." (85)
Here in the quote, Marlow says he hates lies. Today as well, people do not enjoy being lied to as, just like Marlow says, is immoral and appalling.
"prehistoric man was cursing us, praying to us, welcoming us - who could tell? We were cut off from the comprehension of our surroundings; we glided past like phantoms..." (97)
This quote depicts the tribes of the native people that are amazed by the big boat that Marlow is upon. The quote's relevance to today is that people of third world nations without the customs of America are still amazed by the technology that has developed.
"The simple old sailor, with his talk of chains and purchases, made me forget the jungle and the pilgrims..." (100)
Marlow finds peace within himself by admiring the sailor, making him forget about the horrors around him. Today, many people are able to relieve themselves of their stress and difficulties with a simple pleasure such as tea, meditation or yoga.
"No fear can stand up to hunger, no patience can wear it out, disgust simply does not exist where hunger is; and as to superstition, beliefs, and what you may call principles, they are less than chaff in a breeze..." (106)
The hungry are unstoppable, or so the quote says. Many people that are determined enough, or "hungry" enough for what they desire usually gain what they want.
“And I remember I confounded the beat of the drum with the beating of my heart, and was pleased at its calm regularity” (137)
The quote here is important because it represents the heart... of Africa, as they are in the middle of the continent. With the image of the beating heart to represent where they are and then gives perspective to today's world by relating to the US with the Midwest region representing the heart of America.
"I saw the inconceivable mystery of a soul that knew no restraint, no faith, and no fear, yet struggling blindly with itself..." (140)
Marlow comes to understand the pain of Kurtz, as he has lost his emotion and acts all that but is truly at unease with himself. Today, many people that often seem to be the most unlikely to be hurting, those who put on a fake smile everyday are often those in the most pain and conflicted with themselves.
"he cried out twice, a cry that was no more than a breath: ' The horror! The horror!'... " (144)
Kurtz's last words, hard for Marlow to accept, yet they are what they are. Kurtz understands what he has done and knows his crimes, yet he'd rather continue them than go back to civilization in Europe. People often run from the real world in similar ways, because of the hard ways of society.
images from Conrad's congo
Typical European white man using the enslaved black man for a stupid reason. The picture relates to the novella as many whites of the company took advantage of the "criminal" African men. This most directly relates to the beginning when Marlow arrives at the Outer Station.
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As seen above, these African men have been chained up and given the worst of living arrangements. They are starved, given awful clothes and treated horribly. This image directly relates to what Marlow witnesses throughout his journey, as the company takes over.
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A cargo steamboat. Much like the one Marlow would most likely pilot, yet impossible to tell for sure. The boat is flowing through the river and the image depicts the surrounding trees and environment. Having an image of what Marlow is on gives a more precise idea of his journey.
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images from today's congo
These young boys and girls are all smiling and happily taking the picture in front of some plants. Their clothes are brighter and they actually have some skin on their bones implying their diet is sufficient. Their appearances show the growth in life within the Congo today.
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The man shown above is Joseph Kabila, current President of the Congo. His presence with the United Nations symbol shows that the Congo has now grown politically with their people rather than the Europeans. The Congo follows under a Democratic Republic.
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Looking over the landscape, children see the hundreds of homes along with the humongous mountain range. These homes show that civilization of the native people has grown from their slum life that the Europeans had sentenced them to. The colors of the image also support life.
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a song that parallels the novella
Africa by Toto is a classic alternative song that references the Continent of Africa and the Heart of it. Many verses describe the life and images of Africa itself, with "wild dogs" and figures such as "Kilimanjaro" in the second verse. Other sentences symbolize the heart of Africa as it mentions "drums" in the night and "bless" the rain because it is right. The lyrics have been pasted below:
I hear the drums echoing tonight
But she hears only whispers of some quiet conversation
She's coming in, 12:30 flight
The moonlit wings reflect the stars that guide me towards salvation
I stopped an old man along the way
Hoping to find some long forgotten words or ancient melodies
He turned to me as if to say, "Hurry boy, it's waiting there for you"
It's gonna take a lot to take me away from you
There's nothing that a hundred men or more could ever do
I bless the rains down in Africa
Gonna take some time to do the things we never had
The wild dogs cry out in the night
As they grow restless, longing for some solitary company
I know that I must do what's right
As sure as Kilimanjaro rises like Olympus above the Serengeti
I seek to cure what's deep inside, frightened of this thing that I've become
It's gonna take a lot to drag me away from you
There's nothing that a hundred men or more could ever do
I bless the rains down in Africa
Gonna take some time to do the things we never had
Hurry boy, she's waiting there for you
It's gonna take a lot to drag me away from you
There's nothing that a hundred men or more could ever do
I bless the rains down in Africa
I bless the rains down in Africa
(I bless the rain)
I bless the rains down in Africa
(I bless the rain)
I bless the rains down in Africa
I bless the rains down in Africa
(Ah, gonna take the time)
Gonna take some time to do the things we never had
I hear the drums echoing tonight
But she hears only whispers of some quiet conversation
She's coming in, 12:30 flight
The moonlit wings reflect the stars that guide me towards salvation
I stopped an old man along the way
Hoping to find some long forgotten words or ancient melodies
He turned to me as if to say, "Hurry boy, it's waiting there for you"
It's gonna take a lot to take me away from you
There's nothing that a hundred men or more could ever do
I bless the rains down in Africa
Gonna take some time to do the things we never had
The wild dogs cry out in the night
As they grow restless, longing for some solitary company
I know that I must do what's right
As sure as Kilimanjaro rises like Olympus above the Serengeti
I seek to cure what's deep inside, frightened of this thing that I've become
It's gonna take a lot to drag me away from you
There's nothing that a hundred men or more could ever do
I bless the rains down in Africa
Gonna take some time to do the things we never had
Hurry boy, she's waiting there for you
It's gonna take a lot to drag me away from you
There's nothing that a hundred men or more could ever do
I bless the rains down in Africa
I bless the rains down in Africa
(I bless the rain)
I bless the rains down in Africa
(I bless the rain)
I bless the rains down in Africa
I bless the rains down in Africa
(Ah, gonna take the time)
Gonna take some time to do the things we never had