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Symbol/Motif Heart of Darkness by Joseph Conrad
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Symbol/Motif Symbol- An object, picture, written word or sound that represents something else. Motif- An image, spoken or written word, sound, act or other visual structure or device that represents a symbolic recurring theme.
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Psychoanalytical Lens Kurtz is a symbol. Represents dark side of man kind How does this apply to psychoanalytical lens? Operations of repression “’The Horror! the horror!’” (Conrad 124). ASK YOURSELVES…What sends Kurtz over the edge?
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Psychoanalytical Lens The “Journey” is a motif The three stations represent the Ego, Superego, and Id Outer Station accountant—Ego—man’s exterior self Central Station Super Ego keeps Id under control. Though the people in the Central Station are dangerously close to the wilderness, they have not completely given in to it. Inner Station The Id- man’s irrational and chaotic unconsciousness No superego at the Inner Station to keep Kurtz from “forgetting himself”
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Feminist Lens The two women knitting are a symbol. Foreshadows the less than optimistic journey Marlow is about to embark. How does this apply to feminism? These two women are a metaphorical and physical embodiment of the Moirae (The Three Fate of the underworld), who weave and measure the thread of life. Women are guarding the doors of darkness “…immense double doors standing ponderously ajar…” (Conrad 45).
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Marxist Lens Accountant is a symbol The image the company wishes to protect How does this apply to Marxist Lens? Sophisticated man regardless of the fact he is surrounded by darkness Class structure/relationships “I met a white man, in such an unexpected elegance of get-up that in the first moment I took him for a sort of vision” (Conrad).
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Marxist Lens “Savages” are a symbol. How does this apply to the Marxist Lens? A human wasteland. The group of dying native laborers are the indigenous people. People who are marginalize/alienated. They have not adjusted to the change and are simply left to die. Example from the text: Marlow comes to a group of trees when he disembarks the Company’s station. He finds a group of dying native laborers (Conrad).
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Formalist Lens Fog is a motif. Fog is physically and literally white and helps to develop uncertainty How does this apply to formalism? Develops blurriness/ compares to Monet’s blurry images Leaves audience with impression of a scene “When the sun rose there was a white fog, very warm and clammy, and more blinding than the night” (Conrad 80).
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Post Colonial Lens Ivory is a motif. Accentuates greed and destruction and those who pursue it become corrupt How does this apply to Post-colonial lens? What is this saying about imperialism? The more ivory one possess (Kurtz) the more brutal one becomes. human suffering produced/promoted by colonialism
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