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Imperialism and The Heart of darkness

At times it is suggested that Kurtz would have made a great radical politician or a fast-and-loose journalistic advocate; both callings seem to be needed to right the wrongs in the world, but simply too morally shady to be morally instructive. Kurtz's exercise of his civilizing power seems unable to distinguish between right and wrong, and hence is a force of darkness. .
             Kurtz also shows his ability to pursue dark paths as other Company men and natives are cited for showing their own restraint. As the manager tells Marlow: ".there is no disguising the fact, Mr. Kurtz did more harm than good to the Company. He did not see that the time was not ripe for vigorous action." That Kurtz refuses to relent in his single-minded exploits while others are calling for a halt shows that he possesses an inner darkness that refuses to submit to any external demands. Such a powerful, abstract darkness is much like that which Conrad also ascribes to the Congo itself. .
             The darkness of Kurtz seems to be actuated only in the sweltering moral abyss of the Conradian Congo; the two hearts are in a sympathy that thoroughly corrupts Kurtz. Throughout Heart of Darkness are many passages from Marlow's narration or in quotations from other people that state that the "remarkable" Kurtz would never have descended into grossly indecent stealing, fighting and otherwise spreading unrestrained madness. These passages also can be said to reflect upon the idea of civilizing imperialism Marlow admiringly mentions in his introduction as Kurtz serves as the embodiment of an imperial mission gone astray from any civilizing acts. Marlow shows the degrading effects of the Congo on his helmsman: "he had no restraint, no restraint - just like Kurtz - a tree swayed by the wind." There is no power on the helmsman's part in this analogy - nor is their any in Kurtz by way of comparison. In Conrad's world, all Kurtz can do is respond to the winds of darkness by being blown over.


Essays Related to Imperialism and The Heart of darkness

1. Darkness in Conrad's Heart of Darkness

The second is centered on Europe and imperialism, and the figurative darkness of it; lastly, the main interpretation of darkness is directly related to Kurtz and the complete darkness of his heart and soul. ... This reference to the title implies that the whole of Europe, the heart of imperialism, is filled with darkness. This also shows that imperialism is closely linked to the title as a symbol of darkness and evil. ... His heart was full of the corruption and the evil of imperialism. ... The second reveals imperialism as the heart of corruption in Europe, and the last shows Kurtz as ...

  • Word Count: 937
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2. Heart of Darkness and Imperialism

Heart of Darkness Essay task: Marlow's narrative presents a critical analysis of the "Empire mind- as well as being a descriptive account of a journey up the river Congo! Assess this claim with detailed reference to Heart of Darkness Heart of Darkness, written by Joseph Conrad in the year 1899, is a story about a journey up the river Congo in Africa. ... Marlow symbolizes the positiveness of Imperialism but realizes the evil that the negative Imperialism has caused and decides that it's unnecessary to go through so much evilness. ... This character had the open-mindness tha...

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3. Heart of darkness

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  • Word Count: 852
  • Approx Pages: 3
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4. Heart of Darkness

Mine My Precious The novel Heart of Darkness is a montage of many political and social themes appropriate to Joseph Conrad's era. ... "And it is precisely those desires, repressions, investments, and projections' that Heart of Darkness exposes in the discourses of imperialism."" ... The same can be said of Marlow's experience in Heart of Darkness although Conrad uses several tactics to avoid his experiences being directly linked with the experience of his main character. ... "The true center of Heart of Darkness is the subtly revealed psychology of an ethical human being s...

  • Word Count: 2001
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5. Symbols in Heart of Darkness

In, "Heart of Darkness," Joseph Conrad uses the nature of the Congo river as a symbol to express the chaos and condition in the heart of both the conquerors and the conquered. ... Conrad writes about how the river came to have a, "profound darkness," within its heart, implying that all the hatred, disgust, vanity, and poisonous feelings in the heart of the Europeans and the Africans figuratively accumulated in the river. In effect, the author uses personification when Marlow realizes that the river not only appeared, "dark," but also, "hopeless," confronting the f...

  • Word Count: 595
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6. Imperialism in Conrad's Heart

Imperialism in Conrad's "Heart of Darkness" Since known history, humans have tried to comprehend their existence, striving to give meaning to their lives in a variety of ways. ... Conrad's "Heart of Darkness" delves deep into the human condition to expose the inherent darkness in at least one of these ways: Conquest. ... Conrad recognizes the flaws and harmful effects of imperialism , and uses his novella "Heart of Darkness" to shed light on the true nature of imperialism. ... But, when you get into the heart of the darkness, the reader is shown how things are much different t...

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7. Essay on the Heart of Darkness

The Heart of Darkness. In Joseph Conrad's novel Heart of Darkness, the evil qualities of a man are introduced and discerned as direct effects of imperialism. The character of Marlow in the Heart of Darkness advances the theme of the hypocrisy of imperialism in the scene when Marlow arrives to the Company's outer station at the mouth of the Congo river. Through Marlow's eyes the reader penetrates into the darkness within the characters and themselves. ... Strings of dusty niggers with splay feet arrived and departed; a stream of manufactured goods, rubbishy cottons, beads, and ...

  • Word Count: 489
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8. Heart of Darkness

In Conrad's, Heart of Darkness, the women are presented as people who are unstable without the presence of a male figure. ... Her lack of knowledge of imperialism makes her think that the Company is praiseworthy. She believes that imperialism is the best for the natives and that it is a good cause. ... Imperialism has taken over her home but, it has not conquered her. ... Heart of Darkness gives the feeble-mindedness of women and the sense that women can have some of their own independence and identity. ...

  • Word Count: 612
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9. Heart of Darkness

Joseph Conrad's Heart of Darkness is not an easy story to try to sum up in a few words. ... One of the main subjects in this story is the idea of imperialism - the creating of an empire. ... On Marlow's journey, he realizes what Kurtz's idea of Imperialism is really about. ... Another notable feature of Heart of Darkness is the abundance use of symbolism. ... This image is quite appropriate, given the hypocritical view of Imperialism's "civilizing mission". ...

  • Word Count: 434
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