The quotation above is Marlow's speech about his experience assimilating back into English society. Marlow's tone is very bitter in the passage, as he explains coldly how he detested the thought that these fools back in England were ignorant of the atrocities that were underlying the "nobel" cause of their imperial expansion in the Congo. He is very bitter towards these individuals, almost laughing at their ignorance in these matters. Through this passage, one can see that Marlow considers himself truly enlightened after his experience in darkness, as he smugly observes the ignorance of the people of England. He considers himself so enlightened that in fact he chooses not to burst the ignorant bliss of the common folk who consider their daily toils to be important in the scheme of the world. Marlow portrays the people around him as so absorbed in their own words, that they cannot possibly understand the evil that is taking place around them.
Conrad's diction in this passage is especially poignant and should be noted for its significance. He employs powerful and direct words such as "intruders", "commonplace", and "stupid" to describe the people of England and their ignorance of the abomination they have created with Imperialism. This direct criticism contrast Conrad's typical use of irony throughout the book to attack the foundations of the movement. Thus because of this contrast, this attack of the ideology of the people of England proves to stick out from much of the subtle criticism he has used in the past. Being this late in the novel, one may infer that this is Conrad's last stand; a final direct dig into the problems of the ideology of the time before he resolves Marlow's narrative.
Here are some questions:
1. What truly is the purpose of women in this story? Many (Kurtz's intended, Marlow's aunt...etc) are mentioned, and their "separate sphere" is established throughout the story, however Conrand leaves it up to the reader to imply what the purpose of the women in this story were for. Do you think they have any significance, or am I just reading too closely into the details?
2. Why is Marlow now able to tell the men on the ship about his experience (an attempt to enlighten them), in contrast to before when he had no desire to enlighten others with his experience?
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ReplyDeleteSelection – “I remember his abject pleading, his abject threats, the colossal scale of his vile desires, the meanness, the torment, tempestuous anguish of his soul. And later on I seemed to see his collected languid manner, when he said one day, ‘This lot of ivory now is really mine. The Company did not pay for it. I collected it myself at a very great personal risk. I am afraid that they will try to claim it as theirs though. H’m. It is a difficult case. What do you think I ought to do – resist? Eh? I want no more than justice.’ … He wanted no more than justice—no more than justice.“ (Conrad, 91-92)
This selection begins by displaying Marlow’s disgust with Kurtz – his recognition of wrongdoing and disregard for the lives of the natives (enemies). It is this dissociation from justice which the book embodies. The reuse of the word abject shows his deep disgust with Kurtz’s mindset, and furthers that with the rest of his description.
Kurtz quote is a strong use of Conrad’s sarcasm, which as was spoke of in lecture is a very prominent element in the text. His calmness of the situation is glorified, as he develops little anger for the fortune which may be taken away from him upon his (possible) return. This gentleman-like quality shows that he is an icon of the Imperialist movement, as can be seen in Marlow’s statement “Your success in Europe is assured in any case.” (Conrad, 83) The heartless blindness to the true injustice which has been done is Conrad’s depiction of the “White Man’s Burden,” and the atrocities which it caused.
Questions to ponder upon –
1. What does Marlow’s loyalty to Kurtz represent, given the contrasting loathing he holds toward him?
2. What does Kurtz’s concern with his ivory stock parallel in real-world events? Furthermore, does his death represent the end of Imperialism or the bloodshed caused during the Imperialist movement? Why?
In response to the second question posed by Jack, I asked myself this same question as well. I think the intense isolation that Marlow feels after such a traumatic experience is one that has left him cut off from society because he simply can't communicate what it was that happened to him and how that has changed him since then. This isolation, I think, is illustrated in the quote that Jack posted on, namely "I felt so sure that they could not possibly know the things I knew," (Conrad, 88). In a way then, I felt that Marlow went off on this long tangent about his experience in Africa to these people he didn't know because he had been holding on to it for so long he had to let it out, he had to let someone know in order to be fully connected to people again. From everything I’ve experienced and seen, catharsis is achieved through communication. Having a connection that enables you to share a problem or difficult experience, I believe, is paramount to being able to feel better. Directly stated, I believe that time has given Marlow the ability to be able to tell others about his harrowing experience in the Congo.
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