Billie Cox

Joseph Conrad 1890: Conrad works in Congo—Keeps diary 1899: Heart… published as serialized work (hence 3 sections)

Leopold II of Belgium Owned the Congo Free State from Holding company: International African Society Private army Forced to cede Congo to Belgium in 1908

More than 10 million Africans died during 15 yrs of Leopold’s rule. One estimate: 50% of native population killed. Countless others mutilated.

: Edmond Dene Morel Almost single-handedly exposed the cruelties of Leopold’s exploitation of the Congo. Led “first great international human rights movement of the 20 th Century.”

Roger Casement The Casement Report (1903) for British Foreign Office detailed atrocities in Congo. Conrad met him in Africa in 1890; later had long talk with Casement in London: “He could tell you things! Things I have tried to forget…!”

Kurtz’ Prototype? One story Case told Conrad was about Leon Rom Officer known for displaying a row of severed African heads around his garden. Wrote book on African customs, painted, & collected butterflies.

19 th Century View of Africa: Place of physical darkness Paganism Disease  West Coast of Africa was the “White Man’s graveyard”—half the Europeans who went there died in the first year  Of course, more than 10 million Africans died during the 15 years of Leopold’s rule—but not necessarily from disease

Insanity Primitive, savage, primordial natives Sexuality  Polygamy, pervasiveness of syphilis

FOCUSING STUDENTS IN RESPONSE TO THE FOLLOWING QUESTIONS, BRAINSTORM A LIST OF ANSWERS:

What are the essential attributes of a “civilized society”?

What is meant by “self- restraint”?

What are societal “restraints”?

CONRAD’S THEMES: EFFECTS OF COLONIALISM/IMPERIALISM (ON BOTH THE IMPERIALIST AND THE “NATIVE”) EMPTINESS/HYPOCRISY OF CIVILIZATION DIFFICULTY/IMPOSSIBILITY OF KNOWING “TRUTH” IMPORTANCE OF WORK NECESSITY FOR SELF-RESTRAINT THE HEART OF DARKNESS IN EACH OF US

CONRAD’S TECHNIQUES FRAME STORY QUEST STRUCTURE:  A QUESTER (MARLOW)  A PLACE TO GO (CONGO & LATER THE UPPER STATION)  A STATED REASON TO GO THERE (ADVENTURE & LATER KURTZ)  CHALLENGES AND TRIALS EN ROUTE  A REAL REASON FOR GOING (SELF-UNDERSTANDING)

PROLEPSIS AND ANALEPSIS USE OF DOUBLES ALLUSIONS AND SYMBOLS