HEART OF DARKNESS Joseph Conrad

Historical-Biographical Born 1857 in Polish Ukraine English was his 3rd language Died 1924 Father exiled to Siberia/mom dies/Joseph raised by uncle in Krakow Became a seaman at 17 years of age Began writing in 1889 at 32 years old Boyhood dream of traveling to the Congo was realized/provided outline for H of D

Moral-Philosophical Bridges Victorian values Rapid growth into cities/transition from rural economy/abandonment of traditional rhythms of rural life English superiority/age of certainty and national pride Rapid change created pessimism for experience with no meaning beyond itself Masses suffered greatly during this period of growth

Africa in 1880

Africa 1885-1914

Congo River is 2733 miles long Enormous semicircle Dense forest World’s sixth longest river

Things to Look For Adventure story-seafaring, river boating, trade and exploration, imperialism and colonialism, finding meaning to the mysteries of life Framed story told by am unseen narrator who describes Charlie Marlow-still a sailor Imagery of light and dark Marlow is Conrad’s alter-ego Cultural irony Displacement of culture The horror or the human mind Appearance and reality Impossibility of innocence Moral Ambiguity Omens

Style Impressionist writer (impressionist painters—Monet, Manet, Van Gogh and Renoir, et.al.) Intentionally ambiguous/reader has the responsibility to determine meaning Action is described through the MC eyes while the events are occurring Concerned with the “emotional landscape”—how the landscape evokes emotional responses for characters and readers Marlow reports what he sees Landscape is figurative Doesn’t push along the plot or explain things

Impressionists Painters They found many of their subjects in life around them rather than in history, which was then the accepted source of subject matter. Instead of painting an ideal of beauty that earlier artists had defined, the impressionists tried to depict what they saw at a given moment, capturing a fresh, original vision that was hard for some people to accept as beautiful.

Monet: Soliel Levant

Renoir: Girl with Watering Can

Achebe’s Thoughts on Conrad “Joseph Conrad was a thoroughgoing racist” H of D is an “offensive and deplorable book” It contributes to “the dehumanization of Africa and Africans.”

The Journey Belgium First station Central station Russian’s cabin The gateposts

Is Man Good or Evil? In Kurtz, Marlow saw the inconceivable mystery of a soul that knew no restraint, no faith, and no fear. Why is this dangerous? Why do people tend to fear a person such as this? What does Joseph Conrad think?

What does the “Heart of Darkness” mean to you? Two minute discourse with the person next to you.