Heart of Darkness Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words - 1

Heart of Darkness - Essay ExampleHe says He has to go in the midst of the incomprehensible, which is also detestable. And it has a fascination, too, that goes to work upon him. The fascination of the abominationyou know. Imagine the growing regrets, the longing to escape, the powerless disgust, the surrender, the hate. This quote serves as pre-emptive explanation for why Marlow could not deny the power Kurtz held over other humans, despite his barbarity. Marlow then goes on to establish his love of reason and things that be true(a). In describing the appearance of several(prenominal) natives along the shore, Marlow relates It was something natural, that had its reason, that had a meaning. Now and then a boat from the shore gave one a momentary contact with reality. It was paddled by black fellows. You could see from afar the white of their eyeballs glistening. They shouted, sang their bodies streamed with perspiration they had faces give care grotesque masksthese chaps but they h ad bone, muscle, a wild vitality, an intense energy of movement, that was as natural and true as the range along their coast. They wanted no excuse for being there. They were a great comfort to look at. For a time I would feel I belonged nevertheless to a world of straightforward facts but the feeling would not last long. Something would turn up to scare it away. The love of the real and tangible, of work, effort and improvement are themes Conrad returns to again and again through Marlow. The character Marlow likes belonging to a world where things really are as they appear. He does not like intrigues, rumors, or deviousness. He likes steel plates and rivets, honest emotion and truthfulness. The honest work, the seat and effort of the natives was solace to Marlow as he was surrounded by plotting privateers. Marlows distain for intrigues and falsehood is embodied by the station manager. Of him, Marlow says He was obeyed, yet he inspired neither love nor fear, nor even respect. He i nspired uneasiness. That was it Uneasiness. Not a definite mistrust practiced uneasinessnothing more. This character is so loathsome to Marlow that he doesnt even inspire a single honest emotion. The manager is held in contempt in every way by Marlow. The only possible complement that can be said of the man is that he survives, but even that is not attributed to any sort of effort on his part. It is simply a result of his constitution. In fact, the whole of the station is repugnant to Marlow. He states There was an air of plotting close to that station, but nothing came of it, of course. It was as unreal as everything elseas the philanthropic pretense of the whole concern, as their talk, as their government, as their show of work. The only real feeling was a desire to get appointed to a trading-post where ivory was to be had, so that they could earn percentages. The station was a mash of plots and intrigues that were so plan as to never even come to any account. The inhabitants o f the station held titles but acted in no manner to accomplish the work associated with the title given. Work, and the importance of it is mentioned by Marlow on several occasions in telling his story. This is important because it is a vital link between himself and Kurtz. Marlow reveals his feelings towards work when he stated I dont like workno man doesbut I like what is in the work,the chance to find yourself. Your own reality