Conrad’s Heart of Darkness Africa, Imperialism, and Conquest

Joseph Conrad Born 1857 in Russian-occupied Poland Patriot father & family exiled in 1862 Both parents dead of illness by 1869 Conservative uncle took him in

Conrad (Continued) Joined French Merchant Marines in 1874 at age 16 Kicked out due to nationality & suicide attempt Joined British Merchant Marines in 1878 Left the sea, began writing in 1894 Died in 1924 Buried in Canterbury

Real Life vs. Fiction Conrad's personal crisis mirrors collective crisis 1889-90: Conrad goes to Congo & captains river steamboat to retrieve Klein Trauma & illness haunt him the rest of his life HOD: Marlow goes to Congo and captains river steamboat to retrieve Kurtz Traumatized for life

Africa and Imperialism

The People of the Congo

Africa: the heart of darkness?

Africa: the heart of darkness?

Modernist Literature Style "Narrative frame" - narrator tells story of another character telling a story Marlow’s 1st-person narration = “limited” omniscient [not all-knowing]: introspective, discontinuous, fragmented, suggestive/evocative, a-rational connections Interior monologue, “stream of consciousness," flash-forward/ flash-back Associative (vs. linear) “logic” intertwines present awareness & memory