the heart of darkness
DESCRIPTION
THE HEART OF DARKNESS. Billie Cox. Joseph Conrad. 1890: Conrad works in Congo—Keeps diary 1899: Heart… published as serialized work (hence 3 sections) . Leopold II of Belgium. Owned the Congo Free State from 1885-1908 Holding company: International African Society Private army - PowerPoint PPT PresentationTRANSCRIPT
THE HEART OF DARKNESS Billie Cox
Joseph Conrad
1890: Conrad works in Congo—Keeps diary
1899: Heart… published as serialized work (hence 3 sections)
Leopold II of Belgium
Owned the Congo Free State from 1885-1908
Holding company: International African Society
Private army
Forced to cede Congo to Belgium in 1908
More than 10 million Africans died during 15 yrs of Leopold’s rule.
One estimate: 50% of native population killed.
Countless others mutilated.
: Edmond Dene Morel
Almost single-handedly exposed the cruelties of Leopold’s exploitation of the Congo. Led “first great international human rights movement of the 20th Century.”
Roger Casement
The Casement Report (1903) for British Foreign Office detailed atrocities in Congo.
Conrad met him in Africa in 1890; later had long talk with Casement in London: “He could tell you things! Things I have tried to forget…!”
Kurtz’ Prototype?
One story Case told Conrad was about Leon Rom
Officer known for displaying a row of severed African heads around his garden. Wrote book on African customs, painted, & collected butterflies.
19th Century View of Africa:
Place of physical darknessPaganismDisease
West Coast of Africa was the “White Man’s graveyard”—half the Europeans who went there died in the first year
Of course, more than 10 million Africans died during the 15 years of Leopold’s rule—but not necessarily from disease
InsanityPrimitive, savage, primordial natives
Sexuality Polygamy, pervasiveness of syphilis
FOCUSING STUDENTS
IN RESPONSE TO THE FOLLOWING QUESTIONS, BRAINSTORM A LIST OF ANSWERS:
What are the essential attributes of a “civilized society”?
What is meant by “self-restraint”?
What are societal “restraints”?
CONRAD’S THEMES:
EFFECTS OF COLONIALISM/IMPERIALISM (ON BOTH THE IMPERIALIST AND THE “NATIVE”)
EMPTINESS/HYPOCRISY OF CIVILIZATIONDIFFICULTY/IMPOSSIBILITY OF KNOWING “TRUTH”IMPORTANCE OF WORKNECESSITY FOR SELF-RESTRAINT THE HEART OF DARKNESS IN EACH OF US
CONRAD’S TECHNIQUES
FRAME STORY
QUEST STRUCTURE: A QUESTER (MARLOW) A PLACE TO GO (CONGO & LATER THE UPPER
STATION) A STATED REASON TO GO THERE (ADVENTURE &
LATER KURTZ) CHALLENGES AND TRIALS EN ROUTE A REAL REASON FOR GOING (SELF-
UNDERSTANDING)
PROLEPSIS AND ANALEPSIS
USE OF DOUBLES
ALLUSIONS AND SYMBOLS