SH+2015+P6+Heat+of+Darkness+by+Joseph+Conrad

AIM (Author's purpose): Kelsey Haley

Joseph Conrad is trying to capture the reader into seeing the true colors in the world and within a person. Darkness surrounds the environment, but most of all, every human being has darkness within themselves. Everyone has a choice of what and who they want to bring into theirs lives and for most, their choice is to visualize the dark instead of looking to the light. People can choose who they want to be and how they want to impact their environment. All know right from wrong, but in the story, a character who sets out with good intentions to help the natives in Africa turned to being obsessed with control, power, and greed. In the story, //Heart of Darkness//, the author portrays Mr. Kurtz as a man who is conceited and thrives for power and wealth and would obtain it at any cost. The obsession that Mr. Kurtz had in his mind for power, wealth, and greed devoured him and he lost everything and ultimately lost his sanity and his life. Conrad states, “The mind of man is capable of anything – because everything is in it, all the past as well as all the future. What was there after all? Joy, fear, sorrow, devotion, valour, rage – who can tell? – but truth – truth stripped of its cloak of time. Let the fool gape and shudder — the man knows, and can look on without a wink” (Miller). The article’s thoughts on the book is anyone can do anything they set their mind to. People can get so caught up into the monsters within themselves, that they change who they are. Everyone has their own hidden mask that no being can see. However, the monster and mask everyone has, shall fade and the inner darkness will crawl out from underneath with the truth. Every being is capable of doing the wrong thing and things like greed can draw a person closer to evil, willing to do anything for power. The way we perceive the world, life, and others can be all wrong. The last words Mr. Kurtz “uttered were his expression of what life is, what meaning is, and are four of the more potent ever written in English: ‘The horror! The horror’” (Miller).

Works Cited Bernardo, Karen. “An Analysis on Joseph Conrad’s Heart of Darkness”. //Storybites//. 2014. Web. 02 Aug. 2015.

Miller, David. “Joseph Conrad’s Heart of Darkness”. //The Telegraph//. 7 July 2007. Web. 02 Aug. 2015.

Historical : Natalia Jacobson

During the time this literature was written, there was a rapid “scramble for Africa”. European powers had colonized on the continent of Africa, so they could find a valuable component called ivory. “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” (1.6, Birth Joseph Conrad). The Africans who lived there basically did not have any say in which how to handle this situation, due to the other colonies oppressing towards them. A man named Marlow, travels through the jungles in a long and arduous pursuit to find a puzzling and secretive man named Kurtz. Kurtz as described in the literature, becomes a god-like figure to the people. Eventually he is too overwhelmed with his own power where he soon becomes unbalanced and mad in the end. The historical events that had transpired within the time had affected the written text by creating the story to evolve more of the African american view on what they considered their crisis. The written text provided an analytic view of the activities being done by the Europeans. At the time this literature was appreciated, but also due to the detail descriptions the book contained. It was also disapproved by the public with the contents giving people an advantage towards the government's rules of freedom. The author felt strongly to what was happening during the time, making him write deeply and strait forward to the events that were taking place. Works Cited Shmoop Editorial Team. "Heart of Darkness." //Shmoop.com//. Shmoop University, Inc., 11 Nov. 2008. Web. 02 Aug. 2015.

SparkNotes. //SparkNotes//, n.d. Web. 02 Aug. 2015.

Audience: Jordan Cartwright

The intended audience for Joseph Conrad’s //Heart of Darkness// are people who seek power and wealth. Having too much of these can affect a person’s thoughts, actions and overall character. This is shown when the character Marlow, from //Heart of Darkness// says, “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" (Conrad). Mr. Kurtz was thought of as a god to the native people because he introduced ivory to them. This led to Mr. Kurtz becoming powerful and greedy, therefore, controlling the natives. Having too much power can lead to greed and selfishness. Mr. Kurtz’s obsession and thirst for control and wealth ultimately led to his demise. Mr. Kurtz also shows this when he says, “‘The horror! The horror’” (Miller). At this point, Mr. Kurtz has a revelation of the horror that he has caused the native people. He realizes this in his last few minutes of life. His greediness and obsession for power caused the natives to become violent.

Works Cited SparkNotes. //SparkNotes//, n.d. Web. 02 Aug. 2015.

Bernardo, Karen. "An Analysis of Joseph Conrad's Heart of Darkness" //Heart of Darkness by Joseph Conrad//. N.p., n.d. Web. 02 Aug. 2015.

"Heart of Darkness." //Shmoop.com//. Shmoop University, Inc., 11 Nov. 2008. Web. 02 Aug. 2015.

Miller, David. “Joseph Conrad’s Heart of Darkness”. //The Telegraph//. 7 July 2007. Web. 02 Aug. 2015.

Culture: Katie Izatt

Joseph Conrad’s //Heart of Darkness// has had a significant impact on culture both in the past, and today. The basic plotline of //Heart of Darkness// is of a white man who tries to “re-train” the Africans and manipulate their culture. He does not succeed and loses his mind and his life to his attempts. In the early twentieth century, there was racism and riots everywhere a person looked. Because of the culture during that time, writing such as this was not seen as “arrogant or bigoted,” (Bernardo). However, in 1977, “ Nigerian novelist Chinua Achebe described Conrad as ‘a bloody racist,’” ( Liukkonen ). As modern culture changed, people began to look at //Heart of Darkness// with a more critical eye. Although it is analyzed critically nowadays, Conrad’s book was able to be published originally without censorship due to the culture of the early twentieth century. However, culture not only played a part in the publication of the work, but also in the writing of it. Conrad claims that his works are not to be tied to his own personal experiences, but many similarities have been found. In the case of //Heart of Darkness//, references are evident throughout the novel that link it to Conrad’s own trip up the Congo River in 1890. He saw and learned many things about African culture at that time as well as the effects of European explorers on that culture on this trip. “Conrad had learned about atrocities made by Congo ‘explorers’ and created in the character of Kurtz the embodiment of European imperialism,” (Liukkonen). In the story, Marlow, the main character, describes his discovery of Kurtz’s fence with posts topped with impaled Africans’ heads. Atrocities such as this are mentioned throughout the book to emphasize Kurtz’s effect on the African culture. In contrast to his own character, Conrad actually admired African culture. He asserts that, “ the indigenous culture was not depraved until Kurtz got there,” (Bernardo). His purpose is to show through Kurtz’s actions, how the European imperialism destroyed the African culture. By having such a contrast here, he is also able to impress upon modern society the importance of native culture and his views on culture in general. The thrilling tale of how Mr. Kurtz lost himself in the “Heart of Darkness” will forever reside in the modern culture of the world.

Works Cited Bernardo, Karen. “An Analysis of Joseph Conrad’s ‘Heart of Darkness’.” //Storybites.com//. N.p., n.d. Web. 1 August 2015

Ed. Philip V. Allingham. “The Initial Publication Context of Joseph Conrad's Heart of Darkness in Blackwood's Edinburgh Magazine ('Maga'): February, March, and April, 1899.” //Victorianweb.org//. N.p., n.d. Web. 1 August 2015

Liukkonen, Petri. “Joseph Conrad.” //Authorscalendar.info//. N.p., n.d. Web. 1 August 2015

Miller, David. “Joseph Conrad’s Heart of Darkness.” //The Telegraph//. 7 July 2007. Web. 31 July 2015.