Locate a quote in Section I of Heart of Darkness that describes what Marlow terms as "civilization." Type the quote with the page #. Then, define civilization in 3-4 sentences.
"It had known the ships and the men. They had sailed from Deptford, form Greenwhich, from Erith--the adventurers and the settlers; kings' ships and the ships of men on 'Change; captains, admirals, the dark 'interlopers' of the Eastern trade, and the commissioned 'generals' of East India fleets. Hunters for gold or pursuers of fame, they all had gone out on that stream, bearing the sword, and often the torch, messengers of the might within the land, bearers of a spark from the sacred fire. What greatness had not floated on the ebb of that river into the mystery of an unknown earth! ...The dreams of men, the seed of commonwealths, the germs of empires." (Heart of Darkness Pg.7)
I feel that Marlow is describing the England, especially the city of London as the civilization of that time period. This is because the definition of civilization literally means the most advanced stage of human development. Aside from knowing England's history as the most advanced society in the world during the 19th and 20th centuries, seeing how the adventurers and sailors from England were described in the quote above supports my view of England as a civilization. Traveling the world in search of wealth, to spread religious beliefs, and to obtain fame such as stated above, is a classic example of a civilized society trying to grow even further.
"They were no colonists; their administration was merely a squeeze, and nothing more, I suspect. They were conquerors, and for that you only want brute force." pg 10
I think this quote shows that Marlow feels that civilization is "brute" and uncaring about old culture and that they are superior to that of old culture. They felt that civilization was made to be sophisticated, not primal.
" 'Mind, none of us would feel exactly like this. What saves us is efficiency-the devotion to efficiency. But these chaps were not much to account, really.' " (pg.7)
I feel like Marlow believes that civilization is worse than what these people think in the book. He thinks it causes us to do bad things because we are greedy and that all civilization needs is efficiency. If you have efficiency of your resources you are civilized. Civilization is socially developed. It is also well organized and advanced because it uses its resources wisely.
"Or think of a decent young citizen in a toga... coming out here in the train of some prefect, or tax-gatherer, or trader even, to mend his fortunes. Land in a swamp, march through the woods, and in some inland post feel the savagery, had closed around him...' pg 9
I feel as if Marlow sees civilization as a well-developed place where people follow rules, and where there are no rules, people are savage. Leaving the civilization someone has grown up and been comfortable in can be frightening.
"They wandered here and there with their absurd long staves in their hands, like a lot of faithless pilgrims bewitched inside a rotten fence. The word ‘ivory’ rang in the air, was whispered, was sighed. You would think they were praying to it. A taint of imbecile rapacity blew through it all, like a whiff from some corpse." -pg.35
'Civilization' to Marlow is obsessed with the ivory trade, even obsessing over it. He uses the word 'pilgrims', meaning maybe a new, (at least to him) people who are possibly advanced in their own ways and culture. Using the line 'like a whiff from some corpse' implies that even though the ivory trade happens, like death, it will still continue to happen, like death.
'"Everything else in the station was in a muddle - heads, things, buildings. Strings of dusty niggers with splay feet arrived and departed; a stream of manufactured goods, rubbishy cottons, beads, and brass-wire set into the depths of darkness, and in return came a precious trickle of ivory.'" (pg. 25-26)
Marlow is manifesting the idea that what he sees is the exact opposite of a civilization. What he sees is necessity. The horrible surroundings and the sadness of the labor people were literally killing themselves with not as horrible and as sad as we know it today. Marlow sees it as how most people seen it before it all became illegal, a "necessary evil." This wasn't a civilization, it was a need.
" I came upon a boiler wallowing in the grass, then found a path leading up the hill. It turned aside for the boulders, and also for an undersized railway-truck lying there on its back with its wheels in the air. One was off. The thing looked as dead as the carcass of some animal." (1,21)
Marlows excitement for Africa can relate to this quote and his obsession over "pioneering" similar to the Roman empire. Both will or have fallen. The description shows that nothing can outlive an eternity and everything eventually decomposes.
"And this also" said Marlow suddenly, "has been one of the darkest places of the Earth." Pg. 7
Marlow views civilizations as being in a high social class. He pictures it as being organized, clean, and with people of advanced minds. He soon learns that not every place in the world have the standards that he has for himself and for those around him. He realizes that the dark places in Earth that people talked about actually were real and they were not even close to being civilized.
"A slight clinking behind me made me turn my head. six black men advanced in a file, toiling up the path. They walked erect and slow, balancing small baskets full of earth on their heads, and the clink kept time with their footsteps. Black rags were wound round their loins, and the short ends waggled to and fro like tails. i could see every rib, the joints of their limbs were like knots in a rope; each had an iron collar on his neck, and all were connected together with a chain whose bights swung between them, rhythmically clinking." (pg 22).
I believe that Marlow sees this as not civilization, but a culture that is a standard for these people. In order for the structure to survive, the head honchos need these slaves to progress the village. This "civilization' is not supposed to be fair, but controlling.
"A narrow and deserted street in deep shadow, high houses, innumerable windows with Venetian blinds, a dead silence, grass sprouting right and left, immense double doors standing ponderously ajar. I slipped through one of these cracks, went up a swept and ungarnished staircase, as arid as a desert, and opened the first door I came to."
Marlow describes this scene from the Company Brussels Office and it has a very negative viewpoint on civilization. He describes this place as a narrow, run-down disgusting place. He seems to feel that civilization has ruined what one was clean and pure but now nature has taken over what once was a civilized place.
"It appears the Company had received news that one of their captains had been killed in a scuffle with the natives. This was my chance." (pg. 11) This quote shows a lot about the civilization that Marlow lived in. It shows that people were not afraid to use other people's downfalls to their own advantage. This is similar to today's life.
"The conquest of the earth, which mostly means taking it away from those who have a different complexion or slightly flatter noses than ourselves, it is not a pretty thing when you look into it too much. What redeems it is the idea only." (pg 10)
Marlow views civilization in a negative way. As he expresses in this quotes he thinks that the way people treated colored people was not something to be proud of. He made it seem like he was ashamed of the society he lives in saying "it is not a pretty thing." He then goes on to say that the only thing that redeems them from being bad people is the idea of why they act the way they do.
“The word ‘ivory’ rang in the air, was whispered, was sighed. You would think they were praying to it. A taint of imbecile rapacity blew through it all, like a whiff from some corpse. By Jove! I’ve never seen anything so unreal in my life. And outside, the silent wilderness surrounding this cleared speck on the earth struck me as something great and invincible, like evil or truth, waiting patiently for the passing away of this fantastic invasion.” (page 32)
This is Marlow's first impression of the Central Station. He notes that the lives of the men that work for the Company revolve around the ivory trade. Marlow views civilization as negative and greedy. As an example of the way he feels, he refers to the corpse. This not only signifies the death of the elephants for their tusks, but also the death of the workers to pursue their goal.
"These were strong, lusty, red-eyed devils, that swayed and drove men-men, I tell you!" (Page 81).
This quote shows Marlow's original idea of civilization is flawed. He sees the men as devils. They use other men as tools to carry out their plans to satisfy their greed. Even though Marlow works for this civilization, he still sees the flaws and evil truth behind the facade of wealth and strength that the travelers try to show. He knows what these demons are, and he now sees how they have inhabited the people who he once saw as civilized.
"And outside, the silent wilderness surrounding this cleared speck on earth struck me as something great and invincible, like evil or truth, waiting patiently for the passing away of this fantastic invasion." (pg. 36)
Marlow sees civilization as something that has evils and truths. It has its fantastic moments when everything is grand and wonderful. He sees everything as something so exciting! Then there are bad moments, when there are invasions and problems. It is a struggle, but then sometimes Marlow just loves the invasion of good and evils.
"...and in some inland post feel the savagery, the utter savagery, had closed round him --- all the mysterious life of the wilderness that stirs in the forest, in the jungles, in the hearts of wild men.There's no initiation either into such mysteries. He has to live in the midst of the incomprehensible, which is also detestable." (Heart of Darkness 4) Marlow is describing what its like going into an uncivilized place as a civilized person here.He says there is no way to prepare and you have got to be wild to do something like this.
"It would be interesting for science to watch the mental changes of individuals, on the spot." pg. 29 This quote by Marlow is showing his interest in civilization and how people change through it. I think that Marlow is fascinated by how mentally people are different when they are civilized. Parts of the book talk about how Marlow wants to see people reactions as well. He is very interested in seeing the change and the civilization that causes it.
"Sand banks, marshes, forests, savages,- precious little to eat fit for a civilized man, nothing but Thames water to drink." pg. 9
In my mind civilized means mannerly. Thinking with thought and not instinct. Not so much being human because animals become civilized, or domesticated. Just being mannerly and having mannerly thoughts instead foreign things. Like eating people, spearing, stoning, and things like that.
"I had then, as you remember, just returned to London after a lot of Indian Ocean, Pacific, China Seas - a regular dose of the East - six years or so, and I was loafing about, hindering you fellows in your work and invading your homes, just as though I had got a heavenly mission to civilize you." (page 11)
Marlow makes fun of the colonist's motto—to civilize savages—by comparing it to an idle traveler imposing himself on hosts too generous to make him leave. He is implying that the colonists' arrival with all their talk of civilization, is ultimately undesired by the native African inhabitants. He believes that the Africans think they are fine the way that they are, and do not want this so called "civilization" that the colonists' believe they are bringing.
"where not a breath stirred, not a leaf moved, with a mysterious sound - as though the tearing pace of the launched had suddenly became inaudible'' (23)
This is symbolizing the transition that is about to take place from the transfer to a remote 3rd world, alienated land. The silence stands for the absence of superior knowledge in the air. Comparing this of course to the loud busy streets of London where there is a lot of brains and complex jobs that are required in the city. In a way, this is foreshadowing the change in intellectual and physical parts of life of the transition.
"It was just robbery with violence, aggravated murder on a great scale, and men going at it blind - as is very proper for those who tackle a darkness. The conquest of the earth, which mostly means the taking it away from those who have a different complexion or slightly flatter noses than ourselves, is not a pretty thing when you look into it too much. What redeems it is the idea only. An idea at the back of it; not a sentimental pretense but an idea; and an unselfish belief in the idea - something you can set up, and bow down before, and offer a sacrifice to..." (pg 10)
Marlow views civilization in a very negative way. He thinks that it means going in and taking away land and resources from a people group simply because they look different and he is against that practice. Marlow says the only thing that might be able to make civilizing "pretty" would be the idea that first started the process: the hope for wanting something more and something better than the current situation.
"They were conquerors, and for that you only want brute force-nothing to boast of, when you have it, since your strength is just an accident arising from the weakness of others." (pg. 4)
I believe Marlow uses this to convey his belief that civilization is all about taking, whether by force or not doesn't matter. He does hint that the idea behind the actions of people may actually be unselfish at the core, but along the way they lose sight of that, however their idea is their only way of redemption. He says that civilization conquered what they could purely for their own benefit.
"Imagine him here and going up the river with stores, or orders, or what you like." pg. 9
Marlow was talking about the Romans and how civilized it is now compared to when they came nineteen hundred years ago. The Romans did not have anything they were used to, they only had the hope of going down the river to find something. Where Marlow and the others were traveling was once an empty darkness to the Romans that they thought would lead to no where but now it is a well known place.
"The smell of the mud..was in my nostrils, the high stillness of primeval forest was before my eyes; there were shiny patches on the black creek..wall of matted vegetation...What were we men who had strayed in here?...I believed it in the same way one of you might believe there are inhabitants in the planet Mars." (pg. 37)
A civilization is a highly functioning and well-mannered society. On the contrary, Marlow sees everything but a civilized society. He pokes fun, and points out their flaws. All he sees is evil and greed among the "savages".
"Imagine him here - the very end of the world, a sea the colour of lead, a sky the colour of smoke, a kind of ship about as rigid as a concertina - and going up this river with stores, or orders, or what you like. Sand-banks, marshes, forests, savages, - precious little to eat fit for a civilized man, nothing but Thames water to drink." page 9
Marlow is trying to say with this quote is that all civilization start the same way and then is built up. This is why the roman quote comes before this. Everything has to start with a basic structure whether it be good or bad. Things do not just spontaneously start awesome or i would be a millionaire and a lottery winner.
"And this also, has bee one of the dark places of the earth."
Marlow is discussing his views of society with this quote, he is showing that he believes civilization to be dark. He believes it to be in secrecy and gloomy. The civilization as he describes it is bad.
"Nothing could happen. There was a touch of insanity in the proceeding, a sense of lugubrious drollery in the sight; and it was not dissipated by somebody on board assuring me earnestly there was a camp of natives- he called them enemies!- hidden out of sight somewhere." (pg 20)
Marlow captures the more violent paranoid view that "civilization" has. The men on the Man-of War ship are just firing into the jungle at the natives that they call "enemies" that they see as uncivilized savages. this is heightened by the fact that they are firing blind into the jungle because they are hidden somewhere, almost like they are coming after them.
"He was neither civil not uncivil...He began to speak as soon as he saw me. I had been very long on the road. He could not wait." (pg 31)
In this quote, Maslow is describing the manager of the central station. He describes this man as neutral, but comments and seems offended by his bluntness. The manager did not ask him to sit which would've been customary anywhere else. This is Maslow's first taste of the differences between a large city's standard of civilization and a small station's definition of civilization. He is expecting hospitality, which he did not receive.
"This is my share in the advantages my country shall reap from the possession of such a magnificent dependency." (pg. 17)
Marlow is discussing his trip with the doctor who performs a check-up on him. He believes that every part of the world is in close comparison to the civilized world he knows of. The only parts of the world he has seen are London and Brussels which are two, developed places. Marlow believes, as he leaves for Congo, he will be arriving in another industrialized city; one that he can take over and use to build wealth for himself and England. However, he is thrown into chaos, and soon realizes that not all civilizations have the same standard of living.
"The word 'ivory' rang in the air, was whispered, was sighed. You would think they were praying to it. A taint of imbecile rapacity blew through it all, like a whiff from some corpse. By Jove! I've never seen anything so unreal in my life. And outside, the silent wilderness surrounding this cleared speck on the earth struck me as something great and invincible, like evil or truth, waiting patiently for the passing away of this fantastic invasion." (pg. 32)
Marlow speaks of how ivory has become the center of what these people live for almost. This all occurs after Marlow is told that it will take months till his ship is ready to set sail once more. Civilization is not the same in the Congo as it is in England, for the people in England keep almost to themselves and go about their daily lives. In the Congo, people are put to work for the search on ivory. Ivory is all that is made to be important there, this in turn makes their civilization very different from his whose priorities vary more.
"When near the buildings I met a white man, in such an unexpected elegance of get-up that in the first moment that in the first moment i took him for a sort of vision... He was amazing and had a penholder behind his ear."
Marlow is describing the accountant he meets at the outer station. This man, who would be seen as ordinary in Marlow's home town, appears supernatural among the chaos that surrounds him. Although Marlow has only been away from his familiar definition of a "civilized region" for a few days, it already seems like a distant concept. The accountant represents the vast difference between what qualifies as civilization in Europe and what qualifies as civilization in the Congo.
“The word ‘ivory’ rang in the air, was whispered, was sighed. You would think they were praying to it. A taint of imbecile rapacity blew through it all, like a whiff from some corpse...and outside, the silent wilderness surrounding this cleared speck on the earth struck me as something great and invincible, like evil or truth, waiting patiently for the passing away of this fantastic invasion," (Heart of Darkness page 32). This quote show that Marlow is shocked and maybe even embarrassed by how the people he considers civilized are so obsessed with ivory while being surrounded by such a wild and fascinating place. He even seems to be comparing the atmosphere of the cleared space to the wild forest and implies that the forest is somehow better than the civilized area.
"It had known the ships and the men. They had sailed from Deptford, form Greenwhich, from Erith--the adventurers and the settlers; kings' ships and the ships of men on 'Change; captains, admirals, the dark 'interlopers' of the Eastern trade, and the commissioned 'generals' of East India fleets. Hunters for gold or pursuers of fame, they all had gone out on that stream, bearing the sword, and often the torch, messengers of the might within the land, bearers of a spark from the sacred fire. What greatness had not floated on the ebb of that river into the mystery of an unknown earth! ...The dreams of men, the seed of commonwealths, the germs of empires." (Heart of Darkness Pg.7)
ReplyDeleteI feel that Marlow is describing the England, especially the city of London as the civilization of that time period. This is because the definition of civilization literally means the most advanced stage of human development. Aside from knowing England's history as the most advanced society in the world during the 19th and 20th centuries, seeing how the adventurers and sailors from England were described in the quote above supports my view of England as a civilization. Traveling the world in search of wealth, to spread religious beliefs, and to obtain fame such as stated above, is a classic example of a civilized society trying to grow even further.
"They were no colonists; their administration was merely a squeeze, and nothing more, I suspect. They were conquerors, and for that you only want brute force." pg 10
ReplyDeleteI think this quote shows that Marlow feels that civilization is "brute" and uncaring about old culture and that they are superior to that of old culture. They felt that civilization was made to be sophisticated, not primal.
" 'Mind, none of us would feel exactly like this. What saves us is efficiency-the devotion to efficiency. But these chaps were not much to account, really.' " (pg.7)
ReplyDeleteI feel like Marlow believes that civilization is worse than what these people think in the book. He thinks it causes us to do bad things because we are greedy and that all civilization needs is efficiency. If you have efficiency of your resources you are civilized. Civilization is socially developed. It is also well organized and advanced because it uses its resources wisely.
"Or think of a decent young citizen in a toga... coming out here in the train of some prefect, or tax-gatherer, or trader even, to mend his fortunes. Land in a swamp, march through the woods, and in some inland post feel the savagery, had closed around him...' pg 9
ReplyDeleteI feel as if Marlow sees civilization as a well-developed place where people follow rules, and where there are no rules, people are savage. Leaving the civilization someone has grown up and been comfortable in can be frightening.
"They wandered here and there with their absurd long staves in their
ReplyDeletehands, like a lot of faithless pilgrims bewitched inside a rotten
fence. The word ‘ivory’ rang in the air, was whispered,
was sighed. You would think they were praying to it. A taint
of imbecile rapacity blew through it all, like a whiff from some corpse." -pg.35
'Civilization' to Marlow is obsessed with the ivory trade, even obsessing over it. He uses the word 'pilgrims', meaning maybe a new, (at least to him) people who are possibly advanced in their own ways and culture. Using the line 'like a whiff from some corpse' implies that even though the ivory trade happens, like death, it will still continue to happen, like death.
'"Everything else in the station was in a muddle - heads, things, buildings. Strings of dusty niggers with splay feet arrived and departed; a stream of manufactured goods, rubbishy cottons, beads, and brass-wire set into the depths of darkness, and in return came a precious trickle of ivory.'" (pg. 25-26)
ReplyDeleteMarlow is manifesting the idea that what he sees is the exact opposite of a civilization. What he sees is necessity. The horrible surroundings and the sadness of the labor people were literally killing themselves with not as horrible and as sad as we know it today. Marlow sees it as how most people seen it before it all became illegal, a "necessary evil." This wasn't a civilization, it was a need.
" I came upon a boiler wallowing in the grass, then found a path leading up the hill. It turned aside for the boulders, and also for an undersized railway-truck lying there on its back with its wheels in the air. One was off. The thing looked as dead as the carcass of some animal." (1,21)
ReplyDeleteMarlows excitement for Africa can relate to this quote and his obsession over "pioneering" similar to the Roman empire. Both will or have fallen. The description shows that nothing can outlive an eternity and everything eventually decomposes.
"And this also" said Marlow suddenly, "has been one of the darkest places of the Earth." Pg. 7
ReplyDeleteMarlow views civilizations as being in a high social class. He pictures it as being organized, clean, and with people of advanced minds. He soon learns that not every place in the world have the standards that he has for himself and for those around him. He realizes that the dark places in Earth that people talked about actually were real and they were not even close to being civilized.
"A slight clinking behind me made me turn my head. six black men advanced in a file, toiling up the path. They walked erect and slow, balancing small baskets full of earth on their heads, and the clink kept time with their footsteps. Black rags were wound round their loins, and the short ends waggled to and fro like tails. i could see every rib, the joints of their limbs were like knots in a rope; each had an iron collar on his neck, and all were connected together with a chain whose bights swung between them, rhythmically clinking." (pg 22).
ReplyDeleteI believe that Marlow sees this as not civilization, but a culture that is a standard for these people. In order for the structure to survive, the head honchos need these slaves to progress the village. This "civilization' is not supposed to be fair, but controlling.
"A narrow and deserted street in deep shadow, high houses, innumerable windows with Venetian blinds, a dead silence, grass sprouting right and left, immense double doors standing ponderously ajar. I slipped through one of these cracks, went up a swept and ungarnished staircase, as arid as a desert, and opened the first door I came to."
ReplyDeleteMarlow describes this scene from the Company Brussels Office and it has a very negative viewpoint on civilization. He describes this place as a narrow, run-down disgusting place. He seems to feel that civilization has ruined what one was clean and pure but now nature has taken over what once was a civilized place.
"It appears the Company had received news that one of their captains had been killed in a scuffle with the natives. This was my chance." (pg. 11) This quote shows a lot about the civilization that Marlow lived in. It shows that people were not afraid to use other people's downfalls to their own advantage. This is similar to today's life.
ReplyDelete"The conquest of the earth, which mostly means taking it away from those who have a different complexion or slightly flatter noses than ourselves, it is not a pretty thing when you look into it too much. What redeems it is the idea only." (pg 10)
ReplyDeleteMarlow views civilization in a negative way. As he expresses in this quotes he thinks that the way people treated colored people was not something to be proud of. He made it seem like he was ashamed of the society he lives in saying "it is not a pretty thing." He then goes on to say that the only thing that redeems them from being bad people is the idea of why they act the way they do.
“The word ‘ivory’ rang in the air, was whispered, was sighed. You would think they were praying to it. A taint of imbecile rapacity blew through it all, like a whiff from some corpse. By Jove! I’ve never seen anything so unreal in my life. And outside, the silent wilderness surrounding this cleared speck on the earth struck me as something great and invincible, like evil or truth, waiting patiently for the passing away of this fantastic invasion.” (page 32)
ReplyDeleteThis is Marlow's first impression of the Central Station. He notes that the lives of the men that work for the Company revolve around the ivory trade. Marlow views civilization as negative and greedy. As an example of the way he feels, he refers to the corpse. This not only signifies the death of the elephants for their tusks, but also the death of the workers to pursue their goal.
"These were strong, lusty, red-eyed devils, that swayed and drove men-men, I tell you!" (Page 81).
ReplyDeleteThis quote shows Marlow's original idea of civilization is flawed. He sees the men as devils. They use other men as tools to carry out their plans to satisfy their greed. Even though Marlow works for this civilization, he still sees the flaws and evil truth behind the facade of wealth and strength that the travelers try to show. He knows what these demons are, and he now sees how they have inhabited the people who he once saw as civilized.
"And outside, the silent wilderness surrounding this cleared speck on earth struck me as something great and invincible, like evil or truth, waiting patiently for the passing away of this fantastic invasion." (pg. 36)
ReplyDeleteMarlow sees civilization as something that has evils and truths. It has its fantastic moments when everything is grand and wonderful. He sees everything as something so exciting! Then there are bad moments, when there are invasions and problems. It is a struggle, but then sometimes Marlow just loves the invasion of good and evils.
"...and in some inland post feel the savagery, the utter savagery, had closed round him --- all the mysterious life of the wilderness that stirs in the forest, in the jungles, in the hearts of wild men.There's no initiation either into such mysteries. He has to live in the midst of the incomprehensible, which is also detestable." (Heart of Darkness 4)
ReplyDeleteMarlow is describing what its like going into an uncivilized place as a civilized person here.He says there is no way to prepare and you have got to be wild to do something like this.
"It would be interesting for science to watch the mental changes of individuals, on the spot." pg. 29
ReplyDeleteThis quote by Marlow is showing his interest in civilization and how people change through it. I think that Marlow is fascinated by how mentally people are different when they are civilized. Parts of the book talk about how Marlow wants to see people reactions as well. He is very interested in seeing the change and the civilization that causes it.
"Sand banks, marshes, forests, savages,- precious little to eat fit for a civilized man, nothing but Thames water to drink." pg. 9
ReplyDeleteIn my mind civilized means mannerly. Thinking with thought and not instinct. Not so much being human because animals become civilized, or domesticated. Just being mannerly and having mannerly thoughts instead foreign things. Like eating people, spearing, stoning, and things like that.
"I had then, as you remember, just returned to London after a lot of Indian Ocean, Pacific, China Seas - a regular dose of the East - six years or so, and I was loafing about, hindering you fellows in your work and invading your homes, just as though I had got a heavenly mission to civilize you." (page 11)
ReplyDeleteMarlow makes fun of the colonist's motto—to civilize savages—by comparing it to an idle traveler imposing himself on hosts too generous to make him leave. He is implying that the colonists' arrival with all their talk of civilization, is ultimately undesired by the native African inhabitants. He believes that the Africans think they are fine the way that they are, and do not want this so called "civilization" that the colonists' believe they are bringing.
"where not a breath stirred, not a leaf moved, with a mysterious sound - as though the tearing pace of the launched had suddenly became inaudible'' (23)
ReplyDeleteThis is symbolizing the transition that is about to take place from the transfer to a remote 3rd world, alienated land. The silence stands for the absence of superior knowledge in the air. Comparing this of course to the loud busy streets of London where there is a lot of brains and complex jobs that are required in the city. In a way, this is foreshadowing the change in intellectual and physical parts of life of the transition.
"It was just robbery with violence, aggravated murder on a great scale, and men going at it blind - as is very proper for those who tackle a darkness. The conquest of the earth, which mostly means the taking it away from those who have a different complexion or slightly flatter noses than ourselves, is not a pretty thing when you look into it too much. What redeems it is the idea only. An idea at the back of it; not a sentimental pretense but an idea; and an unselfish belief in the idea - something you can set up, and bow down before, and offer a sacrifice to..." (pg 10)
ReplyDeleteMarlow views civilization in a very negative way. He thinks that it means going in and taking away land and resources from a people group simply because they look different and he is against that practice. Marlow says the only thing that might be able to make civilizing "pretty" would be the idea that first started the process: the hope for wanting something more and something better than the current situation.
"They were conquerors, and for that you only want brute force-nothing to boast of, when you have it, since your strength is just an accident arising from the weakness of others." (pg. 4)
ReplyDeleteI believe Marlow uses this to convey his belief that civilization is all about taking, whether by force or not doesn't matter. He does hint that the idea behind the actions of people may actually be unselfish at the core, but along the way they lose sight of that, however their idea is their only way of redemption. He says that civilization conquered what they could purely for their own benefit.
"Imagine him here and going up the river with stores, or orders, or what you like." pg. 9
ReplyDeleteMarlow was talking about the Romans and how civilized it is now compared to when they came nineteen hundred years ago. The Romans did not have anything they were used to, they only had the hope of going down the river to find something. Where Marlow and the others were traveling was once an empty darkness to the Romans that they thought would lead to no where but now it is a well known place.
"The smell of the mud..was in my nostrils, the high stillness of primeval forest was before my eyes; there were shiny patches on the black creek..wall of matted vegetation...What were we men who had strayed in here?...I believed it in the same way one of you might believe there are inhabitants in the planet Mars." (pg. 37)
ReplyDeleteA civilization is a highly functioning and well-mannered society. On the contrary, Marlow sees everything but a civilized society. He pokes fun, and points out their flaws. All he sees is evil and greed among the "savages".
"Imagine him here - the very end of the world, a sea the colour of lead, a sky the colour of smoke, a kind of ship about as rigid as a concertina - and going up this river with stores, or orders, or what you like. Sand-banks, marshes, forests, savages, - precious little to eat fit for a civilized man, nothing but Thames water to drink." page 9
ReplyDeleteMarlow is trying to say with this quote is that all civilization start the same way and then is built up. This is why the roman quote comes before this. Everything has to start with a basic structure whether it be good or bad. Things do not just spontaneously start awesome or i would be a millionaire and a lottery winner.
"And this also, has bee one of the dark places of the earth."
ReplyDeleteMarlow is discussing his views of society with this quote, he is showing that he believes civilization to be dark. He believes it to be in secrecy and gloomy. The civilization as he describes it is bad.
"Nothing could happen. There was a touch of insanity in the proceeding, a sense of lugubrious drollery in the sight; and it was not dissipated by somebody on board assuring me earnestly there was a camp of natives- he called them enemies!- hidden out of sight somewhere." (pg 20)
ReplyDeleteMarlow captures the more violent paranoid view that "civilization" has. The men on the Man-of War ship are just firing into the jungle at the natives that they call "enemies" that they see as uncivilized savages. this is heightened by the fact that they are firing blind into the jungle because they are hidden somewhere, almost like they are coming after them.
"He was neither civil not uncivil...He began to speak as soon as he saw me. I had been very long on the road. He could not wait." (pg 31)
ReplyDeleteIn this quote, Maslow is describing the manager of the central station. He describes this man as neutral, but comments and seems offended by his bluntness. The manager did not ask him to sit which would've been customary anywhere else. This is Maslow's first taste of the differences between a large city's standard of civilization and a small station's definition of civilization. He is expecting hospitality, which he did not receive.
"This is my share in the advantages my country shall reap from the possession of such a magnificent dependency." (pg. 17)
ReplyDeleteMarlow is discussing his trip with the doctor who performs a check-up on him. He believes that every part of the world is in close comparison to the civilized world he knows of. The only parts of the world he has seen are London and Brussels which are two, developed places. Marlow believes, as he leaves for Congo, he will be arriving in another industrialized city; one that he can take over and use to build wealth for himself and England. However, he is thrown into chaos, and soon realizes that not all civilizations have the same standard of living.
"The word 'ivory' rang in the air, was whispered, was sighed. You would think they were praying to it. A taint of imbecile rapacity blew through it all, like a whiff from some corpse. By Jove! I've never seen anything so unreal in my life. And outside, the silent wilderness surrounding this cleared speck on the earth struck me as something great and invincible, like evil or truth, waiting patiently for the passing away of this fantastic invasion." (pg. 32)
ReplyDeleteMarlow speaks of how ivory has become the center of what these people live for almost. This all occurs after Marlow is told that it will take months till his ship is ready to set sail once more. Civilization is not the same in the Congo as it is in England, for the people in England keep almost to themselves and go about their daily lives. In the Congo, people are put to work for the search on ivory. Ivory is all that is made to be important there, this in turn makes their civilization very different from his whose priorities vary more.
"When near the buildings I met a white man, in such an unexpected elegance of get-up that in the first moment that in the first moment i took him for a sort of vision... He was amazing and had a penholder behind his ear."
ReplyDeleteMarlow is describing the accountant he meets at the outer station. This man, who would be seen as ordinary in Marlow's home town, appears supernatural among the chaos that surrounds him. Although Marlow has only been away from his familiar definition of a "civilized region" for a few days, it already seems like a distant concept. The accountant represents the vast difference between what qualifies as civilization in Europe and what qualifies as civilization in the Congo.
“The word ‘ivory’ rang in the air, was whispered, was sighed. You would think they were praying to it. A taint of imbecile rapacity blew through it all, like a whiff from some corpse...and outside, the silent wilderness surrounding this cleared speck on the earth struck me as something great and invincible, like evil or truth, waiting patiently for the passing away of this fantastic invasion," (Heart of Darkness page 32). This quote show that Marlow is shocked and maybe even embarrassed by how the people he considers civilized are so obsessed with ivory while being surrounded by such a wild and fascinating place. He even seems to be comparing the atmosphere of the cleared space to the wild forest and implies that the forest is somehow better than the civilized area.
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