heart of darkness (1 Viewer)

[deano059]

hey guys, i need to write an essay on whether heart of darkness the novel and apocalyse now represents the darkness in all of us

what do u guys think? personally i odnt think it does but im not too sure of specific reasons why

 

[nyadude]

hey man I'm just startin journeys this year and have heard we have to do a study of heart of darkness.

I had a quick read through and thought it was full of matephors and whatnot. Fairly easy to write a few pages on. However if anyonw would like to post some dot points with examples or something that would be much appreciated thx!:wave:

 

[Zrap]

It is the heart of darkness.
BECAUSE the Congo is the centre of africa symbolically meaning the heart
When we travel up further into the heart of darkness we realise were
getting further away from civilisation.
Here he witness barbaric savages, and how they have changed just from
going to this place as their is no law, society or democracy.
Everyone has a dark side, and this was brought out among them in this place.
Theres more got a shitload of notes on this place.
Really cant be bothered typing but thats the general idea.
The darkness within everyone.

 

[Zrap]

yes it does.
Inner darkness, as well as external

 

[Rhanoct]

It definitely does. HOD + AN reveal the primal/horrific capacities of man as one is taken out of their social context (as Marlow/Willard journey along the Congo River/forgot the other one they travel away from their social contexts of law/restrictions & gain unfettered freedom) and move deeper into the jungle/their own heart (major technique there). To back this idea up you should talk about how the environment + people they meet become more surreal/bizzare as they travel deeper into the jungle/their own hearts. I have a very good quote that shows this for HOD but I can't think of it now; for AN you should comment on the ancestral statues towards the end of the film and the mist/scene where they're being attacked and there's the amazing lighting + cinematography. Willard's changing behaviour can also be commented on - shoots the woman.

Here are some quotes that exemplify the above:

"I saw him extend his short flipper of an arm for a gesture that took in the forest, the creek, the mud, the river, - seemed to beckon with a dishonouring flourish before the sunlit face of land a treacherous appeal to the lurking death, to the hidden evil, to the profound darkness of its heart." pg. 58

"He had taken a high seat amongst the devils of the land-- I mean literally." pg.??

"breathe dead hippo, so to speak, and not be contaminated." pg. 82

"Sometimes I ask myself whether I had actually seen him- whether it was possible to meet such a phenomenon!" pg. ??

- passage where Kurtz is physically described as ivory

- Kurtz's wild dances

Sorry that it's very incoherent but I'm tired pm me if you need any more help, I did HOD for y11 and am using it as a related text for y12 so I'm very fresh with it.

ps: ?? = not sure what page, I just paraphrased/googled the quote

 

[nyadude]

wow nice analysis! thx!

 

[Rhanoct]

lol.... np...

if ur still in need of analysis.. this is my hod paragraph from my area of study:

Joseph Conrad's novella, Heart of Darkness, also grapples with the notion that the physical journey evokes enlightenment, embodied in Marlow's journey down the Congo River. Despite the physical nature of Marlow's departure, it is also metaphoric. His journey down the Congo River parallels his metaphoric descent into the heart of man; that is, as Marlow moves further away from his social context of laws and restrictions, he moves into a world where freedom is unfettered, and the grim reality of European colonialism becomes apparent. The powerful emotive language used by Marlow as he describes the condition of the natives, early in his journey, demonstrates the manner in which the physical journey is a facilitator for enlightenment, as Marlow is confronted by the true, horrific nature of British colonialism; "They were dying slowly- it was very clear. They were... nothing but black shadows of disease and starvation, lying confusedly in the greenish gloom". As well as this, Marlow learns of “the horror” at the heart of man. The manager’s uncle is tainted by the corrupting influence of the jungle, established through Conrad’s metaphoric and hyperbolic dehumanisation of him, "I saw him extend his short flipper of an arm for a gesture that took in the forest, the creek, the mud, the river, - seemed to beckon with a dishonouring flourish before the sunlit face of land a treacherous appeal to the lurking death, to the hidden evil, to the profound darkness of its heart”, as his heart’s greed for ivory consumes him in a world where societal constraints are nonexistent. Moreover, Kurtz “[takes] a high seat amongst the devils of the land”, falling prey to his heart’s thirst for unrestricted, absolute power over the native population. Thus, the notion that the physical journey enlightens is clearly communicated in Joseph Conrad’s Heart of Darkness.

 

[Tsylana]

i dont know, but all i know is heart of darkness was used to make shadow resist gear for mother sharaz in black temple >_>"