02/06/16
In Joseph Conrad's novel, Heart of Darkness, it is clear to
see the superficial meaning behind the title. Conrad was referring to the
center of Africa, the Congo, which was seen as dark and barbarous at the time
because they were not yet civilized by the Europeans. The irony in this, which
Conrad points out through Marlow with the rivets scene, was that the Europeans
themselves did nothing to civilize the African society and could not even get
the most basic task done, but rather dehumanized and killed the Africans to
further benefit their economic and wealthy status. Conrad uses this hypocrisy
to show the disconnect between the European mindset and the reality of the
people they were terrorizing. This can also be demonstrated from the scene
between the black man and the biscuit. Although the Europeans saw the
inhumanity of the way in which they treated the African community (just like
Marlow saw the disembodiment of the African man), it was their own wickedness
that made them incapable of understanding that they were the ones causing this
heart of darkness in the first place. In that aspect, I understand why Conrad
implies that the Heart of Darkness is not within the environment that people
live in but the way in which we choose to perceive these people.
My question, however, comes from the novel's application in
today's society. What would be our Heart of Darkness and is Conrad implying
that we as a community are no less culpable than the hypocrisy seen in the
Europeans? Now, I understand that the extremity of the Europeans selfishness is
far more drastic than our own but do we also deserve blame for the way in which
we perceive others who don't share our mindset? And if so, how do we change our
ways?
-Rachel Robutti (Group 6)
This is also a question I have made to myself when we discuss the cruelty and barbaric nature of the Europeans in this time period. Have we evolved from from it or do we still carry those same characteristics within us? I believe that it is very possible that even today we have our own heart of darkness within our society. - Valentina Mejia
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ReplyDeleteI agree with that statement in certain aspects. Our heart of darkness lies in our selfishness. Like the brick-maker, society is so quick to judge others while denying our own faults and we use the successes of others to break people down who aren't up to that quota and discourage our own successes when we also don't reach that quota. That, I believe is our heart of darkness.
Delete-Rachel Robutti
Simply, our heart of darkness is what we want for ourselves. Referencing to the book, everyone is in the game for themselves and do whatever it is for them to move up their position. Same thing that is seem today. We don't care how things are done just as long that they are finish and to look like we put effort into doing it.
ReplyDelete-Samantha Pubien
I feel that our heart of darkness, lies not in our selfishness but also in the future or the unknown. We are always so focused on ourselves and what we need to do to get where we want to be. And we're often times too afraid or egotistic to approach the unknown.
ReplyDelete-T'Nia Tention
I feel like our "heart of darkness" is simply the amount of laziness in today's society. Like in the beginning of the novel when Marlow began to talk about his experience, he mentioned that Kurtz kept sending back men because they weren't reliable. Also, the manager hated Kurtz because he was in a higher position and actually worked hard for it. Everyone wants to be rich and have power but no one is willing to actually put forth the work needed to get to that level.
ReplyDelete-Destiny Quinones
I feel that in today's society our Heart of Darkness if the selfish ways in which people act upon on a daily. We do any and everything to get what we want even putting others down to get on top, much similar to the actions of the Europeans. We do things for the benefits of ourselves and do not think of consequences that may affect others. - Rakasha McIntosh
ReplyDeleteI think that we do have our "heart of darkness" but it is being hidden by our title of being civilized. Our society is considered civilized because of how much is provided and has develop, like in technology and medicine. With being represented as one of the most developed countries, we can't show our heart of darkness to the world. In the novel, the heart of darkness is in the Congo. In our society, the heart of darkness would in sweatshops that are located either here in the U.S. or around the world ordered by U.S. companies. However, this is known to either very few or no one at all.
ReplyDelete- Vy Ly
In my opinion, Our heart of darkness lies further than just being selfish and only caring about ourselves rather it is found in how easily most of the members of society can turn a blind eye and leave all the problems they see for someone else to fix. Yes in this act we are selfish as individuals but yet the fact we can turn around and act like we care about the topic we turn a blind eye to makes us more hypocritical.
ReplyDelete- Alicia Cornejo
Today's heart of darkness lies between ignorance, we are all unaware of what occurs in the world every single day. It is true that it is almost impossible to know everything but that is where the issue begins. I feel like it's our responsibility to know about the crisis that go about in different countries, nothing should be kept under sheets. -Melenny Gallardo
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