Answer one of the following
questions with 200-250 words, cite relevant examples to prove your points:
1) What does Kurtz represent to
Marlow? Why does Marlow want to meet Kurtz? What does Marlow learn from his
meeting with Kurtz?
2) Explore the concept of
“savagery” in this story. Who and what constitutes savagery? What does it mean
to be civilized?
3) Discuss Heart of Darkness
as a quest narrative. In what way is this a journey into the self? What does it
mean to encounter the “heart of darkness”? How do the African people and
landscape reflect Marlow’s state of mind?
66 comments:
3.
Rather than the specific incident which really occurs in the journey, Marlow senses the horror in “human nature”.
As Marlow and his crew approach Kurtz, he discovers that the closer the crew gets to Kurtz, the more offensive and greedy they’ve become. Despite Marlow doesn’t fall for desire, he is related to the unspeakable danger. Marlow is deeply fascinated by Kurtz’s power, which indicates that Marlow himself also have the potential to fall for the darkness of desire.
Marlow’s fear of men’s desire grows after the cannibal incident. On the steamer, there are Marlow, general manager, pilgrims and the cannibals. The cannibals only bring the meat of a dead hippo during the trip. However, the cannibals’ only supply decays very soon which makes them very starving. Marlow here mentions that “….with a curiosity of their impulse, motives, capacities, weakness, when brought to the test of an inexorable physical necessity. Restraint!” Marlow forms a tension because in stereotypes, cannibals are related with animals because they always live without manners. Nevertheless, on the steamer, those European men who are fighting for benefits seem to be the real wild ones.
It’s pretty ironic that Marlow uses the “physical necessity” to describe the desire because necessity usually refers to something that is extremely needed in our lives such as water or air. It’s interesting that those who fight for ivory may really feel like dying if they don’t get ivory at last.
2. Civilization and savagery are two indispensible themes that Conrad wants to convey to the readers. Savagery is a noun describing something in an uncivilized condition. However, it also refers to an act of violent cruelty. In “Heart of Darkness”, Conrad describes a lot about those Africans’ savagery. The so-called civilized Europeans consider those “animal-like” Africans as uncivilized creatures. Europeans come to torture, exploit and dehumanize African people in the name of helping them raised from barbarism to an enlightened stage. Ironically, these seemed honorable acts are actually violent brutality. In fact, what the white do is the real savagery! Civilization is a state with refinement and social development. But we can observe the release of humans’ deepest desire in the novel. Without the refinement (the enlightened state), the heart’s darkness gets freedom. The dark heart becomes the king in the dark world (Africa), which is not enlightened. The “civilized” white can’t control their desires in the face of enormous economic profits; however, the “uncivilized” black can resist while facing the temptations. Conrad indeed uses the satire to show us what the superficial civilization is. Besides, Mr. Kurtz’s last word: “The horror! The horror!” shows how the so-called civilization makes him degenerate and corrupt. In conclusion, the seemingly civilized one actually is the one who savages the African world the most.
#410002043 鍾亞筑
Name: Khulan
Student ID: 410121064
Question No.2
Firstly, for Marlow, this journey was a big experience; yet different from what he was expecting. When he finally came to the destination, the whole situation was like a big disaster as he said “I’ve seen the devil of violence, and the devil of greed, and the devil of hot desire; but, by all the stars! These were wrong, lust, red-eyed devils, that swayed and drove men-me.” His mind was really affected by seeing this whole savagery running by those white people. Here, the savagery is the main theme that is very violent and cruel; all these native black people are being seen as animals for those Europeans. Europeans think themselves as superior hero bringing civilization to this poor land; but in a real situation, they are just using them to fulfill their own desire. Everyone is so hungry and crazy about getting something from this land. Those native people are working like animals and most of them are dying due to sickness. For them, those who are controlling them are god and evil at the same time. Mr.Kurtz plays very important role for this savagery because he is the chief of the inner station and the most influential person who controls everything going on. He has a good talent and capable of affecting people around him. His desire and willingness to ivory is so strong that he even can’t control himself being so aggressive and mad. Finally, when he died he said” The horror” as he realized how his life was so miserable, dark and arrogant because of his hunger to get what he wants.
410102060 英美二陳俊承 ---2
Different people have different views about savagery.
From Europeans’, the colonists views, they think Africans are barbarian, uncivilized, and primitive.
From Africans’, the abused, colonialized, views, Europeans are the devil that robs them blind.
Bur after Marlow goes to explore Heart of Darkness, discovering that Africans suffering from brutal abuses. Suddenly, maybe he senses that they, Europeans, are murder on Africa or Congo. Marlow’s world is rocked by a lot of devastating scenes that Congolese are treated like dirt. The sacredness of mission to civilizing Africans turns out to be the evils of colonialism, imperialism, and nationalism. However, who makes Congo into Heart of Darkness? In my opinion, these seemingly sacred Europeans are murder on Africa. Besides, all that they desire is MONEY. However, they squeeze Africans out of their blood as much as they can, laboring every single Africans into death. Ironically, Europeans justify themselves that they bear the responsibility to civilizing African, creating a better life for Africans. Actually, the real savages are Europeans themselves, not Africans because Europeans are blinded by Money, actually trapped in the “Ivory” tower.
There is only a fine line between savagery and civilization. In that imperialistic period, people rival for priority to get profits and do lots of dirty works with noble reasons. They think that they are civilized people. In Heart of Darkness, Kurtz plays an important role in this situation. In his report, we can see his ambition. He thinks that the white people should approach Black people with the mighty as God and so on. All his words reflect that Black people is inferior to the white people, and the white people should be responsible for teaching those disgusting and ugly Black people. What’s worse, Blacks had better disappear. In addition, the picture painted by Kurtz is another obvious example. The woman is blindfold, but she takes a lighted torch. It is such an ironic picture. No matter what the woman takes, she cannot see anything. Someone seems to help this woman, but he has never asked what the woman really wants. He just compels the woman to do whatever he wants or he wishes, and imposes himself as a savior. In contrast to Kurtz, Marlow has mentioned that cannibals endure the hunger instead of eating the white people to allay their hunger. Besides, work for them harder. Who are truly savage people? Our civilization cannot be covered with benefits and arrogance, or it will become savagery.
Teacher, sorry!
My answer is for question 2.
Thank you!
49902064 張宏偉
2) Explore the concept of “savagery” in this story. Who and what constitutes savagery? What does it mean to be civilized?
Savagery in literal meaning is no culture, no civilization and no humanity; and we usually use this word on those people in undeveloped countries and areas, including Africa, where in the story we call it “Heart of Darkness”. Without comprehensive realizing, we think there is full of battles, blood, awkwardness, harshness, backward, and cannibalism. However, with Marlow’s adventure of “Heart of Darkness”, we gradually get rid of these bias and prejudgment, and discover the real “Heart of Darkness” is undoubtedly existing in human’s mind. In the 19th century, imperialism and white racism have a massive invasion on the world of those “savageries” and after we call them “Third World”. The Powers invade those countries and exploit various resources to fill their pocket. In Marlow’s period, he brings us to witness the history that the real “savagery” is actually those colonial countries. Although they are apparently cultural, literate, and civilized, they are dominantly brutal, barbarous, greedy, and cannibal in their behaviors and mental world. With “Heart of Darkness”, they deeply hurt the colonizer’s pure and undeveloped heart; yet with their mighty and self-centeredness, they think of themselves “the civilized” to have authority to enlighten those savageries (but actually enrich their desires).
Jenny 410002028
2.In the story, the savagery includes the imperialism, the desire to conquer, and the wilderness. On the contrary, I think that the humanity in one’s mind means the civilization. When it comes to the savagery, Mr Kurtz is the best representative. He uses his power to exploit the Africans for making money form the ivory trade. He even thinks that the White is just like a deity to allow the Black to be civilized. Besides, Marlow’s admiration for Kurtz and his desire to conquer the Africa are as savage as Kurtz. And the wildness in Africa also makes the blacks have to live in the savage ways. However, when the heart is gradually civilized, it means that people are getting the humanity. Although those cannibals are extremely hungry during the voyage, they restrain their hunger. It shows that the civilized heart dose not make them hurt the others. When seeing the Africans work in the poor conditions and the sad fiancée of Kurtz, Marlow also expresses his humanity and even tell a lie. Finally, before dying, Kurtz said “The horror! The horror!” I think it is the humanity in his deep heart which allows him to feel regretful about what he has done. To sum up, there is no document of civilization that is not at the same time a document of barbarism. All the people have the savage concepts in their mind, but the civilized process will make people gradually away from the savagery because of the humanity.
Question 2.
410002011 Vivian Lee 李彥儀
At that time, European people are greedy and arrogant. They want to control the whole world. They think it is their mission to bring the light to those places which are dark and uncivilized. They want to go to Africa to bring them civilization and clean their mind. We can see from the story, for example: Marlow’s aunt talked about “Weaning those ignorant millions from their horrid ways”. However, their noble desire actually is another kind of barbarism. They bring African people nothing but death and sick. They even trade black people for their profits. Under their fake mask of bringing civilization, there is truly savagery inside. In the story, the Kurtz is the darkest leader and controls everything. He urges to fulfill his ambition but do not care about those black people. Under his leadership, there is only violence and cruelty that burst every day. Black people are treated like animals. This is not we called to be civilized. This is torturing and mistreating. I can’t see any shadowing of civilization in the story or in the history. There is only a sweet lie that urges to distinguish civilization and savagery.
410002049 Leighton
3. Ostensibly, savagery represents the Africa; Civilized represents the white people. The meaning behind this fact is that they are under class division. But Heart of Darkness shows us the deeper meaning. I think the savagery in Heart of Darkness presents the darkness in people’s heart, the greedy ambition and the desire. Those greedy are almost invisible but as people get more deeply in Africa, the desire grows bigger, like Kurtz. I believe he went to Africa with passion, trying to make Africa better but after the treasure and the power he got in Africa, he just wants to be the king of them, uncivilized people, relatively speaking. Until his death, his final words are “The horror! The horror!.” I think one of this final words’ meaning is the corruption of his heart. I think Marlow is like Kurtz’s young age, wit passion and wanting to help African to a better culture. As this trip, he found out the truth is not what he think. Sometime he even feel that they are just alike with African. I think the concept of savagery is the darkness part of people. No matter what civilized they are, the dark part will always exist. If they are controlled by it, it is a kind of savagery.
英美二 410102055 黃佳珏
I would like to answer question 2.
In this story, the character, Marlow, tries to share his African journey to the listeners without fear or favor. However, the message that Africans are all savages is left to us somehow through his talking. For example, he uses several derogatory terms to describe the Africans, such as “Prehistoric creatures” and “Dog”. In his eyes, or in most of Europeans’ eyes, the black cannot be termed humans. Therefore, readers may first think “savagery” represents Africans. Nevertheless, as the story keeps developing, the concept is no longer simple. The definition of “civilized” is to be educated, cultured and enlightened. People who are civilized should be polite and tolerant. In the story, Kurtz, a so-called civilized man, cannot control his desire about wealth and reputation, keeps doing those dirty and cruel things to the Africans. In contrast, while entering the heart of darkness, African cannibal companions on board can bear their starvation and did not eat the Europeans. It seems that the Africans are much more polite and tolerant than those “civilized” Europeans. They can control themselves better even though they are uneducated. Without civilization, without those white people, maybe they can live happier in their place. Just live the way they want to live. In my opinion, the Europeans and their endless lust constitute savagery. I will call them “civilized barbarians”. They have high state of culture and social development, but behaving like savages.
410002010 呂岳芳 Carol
Question 1
In “Heart of Darkness,” Marlow observes Kurtz in an obsessed way when he learns about the story that Kurtz willingly stays at the wilderness. At first, Marlow is not interested in Kurtz at all until he learns the knowledge that Kurtz actually turns back to the jungle. Kurtz doesn’t want to be back to the embrace of civilization, which ignites Marlow’s interest in Kurtz. Deeply, Marlow has this kind of bold desire himself but he’s too used to the luxury civilization brings him and too frightened by the wilderness. Kurtz has done something Marlow himself dare not do, which is why Marlow wants to meet Kurtz and observes him.
However, after taking a closer look at Kurtz, Marlow does not adore him like local people do. “I suppose it did not occur to him that Mr. Kurtz was no idol of mine.” (Chapter 3) He describes Kurtz as a hollow man who is driven by his mad craving for power. Is Kurtz’s final words “The horror! The horror!” represents self-realization that what he desires is actually an apple of Sodom? After all, he cannot bring power or fortune along with him when he meets his fate.
What Kurtz represents to Marlow is, as a matter of fact, a different self. They have many things in common, such as birth, background and high self-esteem. They both think that they are superior to other people. Marlow finds a part of himself in Kurtz, which he might start to be afraid that he cannot differentiate himself from Kurtz anymore. He fears that he might become just like Kurtz, the Kurtz who’s crazed for power, the Kurtz who puts human skulls on his own fence, the Kurtz driven mad by hunger for desires that can never be satisfied. What he learns from Kurtz is probably to know himself better or a fair warning to remind him of what he would become if he’s not careful.
410013014 劉珈延 Peter
Question 2
From the quote in part1, “They were called criminals, and the outraged law.” We know the novel implies that civilizations are created by the setting of Laws. The Europeans were considered to be at the highest point yet achieved by humanity - the civilized. Peoples and races not yet encountered by the Europeans were placed further down the list, and were referred to as savages. In the novel, it notes that when the Romans first came to England, it was a great, savage wilderness to them, just as the situation between Europe and Africa. Although the Europeans believed they had reached the height of civilization, remnants remained of their own savagery. The novel shows the disparity between the European ideal of civilization and the reality of it, displayed by the domination, torture, exploitation and dehumanization of the African people. For example, when Marlow starts his journey into Africa as an agent for the Company, a Belgian ivory trading firm, he witnesses brutality and hate between colonizers and the native African people, becomes entangled in a power struggle within the Company. They are cruel and devious towards the very people they are supposed to be helping. According to the behaviors the people from that company have done toward the Africans, it seems that the civilized people are actually the savagery.
英美二 410102048 李靖淇
Question 2
Savagery is usually using in human beings who are at the bottom of the hierarchy, and its meaning is extremely cruel and violent behavior. In the story, savagery does not just represent the European or African; it stands for both sides of the European or African. First, the reason why the European is the savagery is that they lack of control to exploit the slaves of the Africans, and they lack of restraint to wrest the ivories arbitrarily. Besides, London is the powerful country at that time; those white people have the unlimited greed want to expand their influence to be the king in the world. In order to get more money, actually, this trade is not fair to African anymore. On the other side, Africa is associated with darkness of natives’ skin and chaotic place; also they are a symbol of barbarian and uncivilized people in the European’s sight. Moreover, the European brings the African to be dark rather than creating the bright future for them because they squeeze them utterly unjustifiable, and brutally treat them as the servants not as human beings. In fact, the European is like a murder to kill the Africans’ life rather than educating them and civilize them. Finally, the arrogant white people only desire to fulfill their greed with the ivories, they don’t care about whether the black people is civilized or not; it explains the civilized people are actually the savagery.
610202406劉宇宸 Venus
1.
At the beginning, Marlow does not know Kurtz very well. He can only hears of some rumors which are related to what Kurtz has done in Africa. As a sailor, Marlow is simply eager for the mystery of jungle and curious about the first-class agent who can conquer those savagery people with ease. As a result, he begins his journey of searching this remarkable figure. Later on, he does meet this guy with illness and he finds out the truth of his cruel and ruling actions due to the desire of power. Marlow doesn’t support the behaviors Kurtz has been doing. Even, he is starting to be skeptical to Kurtz since he hates Imperialism. Although they come from the same background- all from European countries, Marlow is simpler than Kurtz. On the other hand, Marlow feels a little contradictory in his mind while meeting Kurtz. The reason is that Marlow disagrees European people’s civilization and has fancy of the Congo but at the same time he still has his dark side of heart because he still discriminates those barbarians in the jungle. In the end of this story, Marlow is able to understand himself more and know more about the civilization is not really fit to nature.
410002055 Kimberley
2. Savagery means an act of cruelty; barbarity. In heart of Darkness, Conrad gives a lot messages about Africans’ savages. Europeans arrive to Africa. They think they are arrive an animal place, and seem these Africans as animals. Their task is bringing the civilization to Africa. Europeans think they are different from African. They are noble. But Africans are humble. In the beginning, Europeans’ arrival seems the arrival of civilization. Gradually, they do not bring anything but tragedy. They trade Africans to other country to be slaves. It causes Africans’ family broken. They also bring the disease to here. Europeans use their civilized mask to hide their greedy. All of them want to grab more and more in Africa. In the story, these Africans are more civilized than these Europeans who use mask to hide their savagery. These Africans just not be educated and do not have white skin. But these Europeans use their white skin to show their honorable. They seem to educate Africans and bring the civilization to here, but their arrival just wants to satisfy their desire. Europeans arrive to African and use the civilized excuse to show their savagery.
410002048 英美三 石睿凡
Question 2
At that time, 19 century, the European thought they had to civilize the people whose skin color wasn’t white. These European went to South America, Asia and Africa to do their “honorable mission”. Based on Social Darwinism, they had the responsibility to conquer these places because these places and the people are uncivilized and savage. This was called New Imperialism. In the story, the European exploited the aboriginals, grabbed their resources and abused them. These white people thought what they did were their duty. They regarded the aboriginals of second class human; therefore, they did all they want to do on these aboriginals. In history, this was called Big Game or Safari.
The Africa, especially central Africa, was civilized by European countries. The chief of the aboriginals in central Africa would force to sign contracts with European counties when they were civilized. When they were civilized, they were no longer to have their own religion, their culture and their lifestyle. They need to change belief from original religion to Catholic or Protestant. They should learn European culture and accept European lifestyle. Moreover, they should not have their own agriculture. Instead, they should plant cash crop as the payment they were civilized. To sum up, in 19 century, the European invaded many savageries they considered. In fact, these behaviors were no more than to fulfill their greediness and shift the chaos in Europe to Africa.
Kurtz is a person who represents a concept in the novel - desire. At first,Marlow hasn't seen Kurtz; the first impression of Kurtz is been told by the Company's chief accountant. He talks compliments about Kurtz to Marlow. In this moment, Kurtz is a imagination of power. Although Morlow doesn't admire Kurtz, he is a curious question mark for Morlow still. After trip from river, Morlow eventually realize that Kurtz is man who living with desires without rational, exporting ivories for company.Makes himself as a king in the heart of darkness. This temporary dominant power leads him to crazy, while him knows the power would eclipses him lethally. He knows that he just a tool for the company; one day he will be replaced, but he just can't give up his desires which company gave him. Fear is the enemy for Kurtz, and he understands it so well, but he can't quit it berfore the death. Marlow realizes this mental illness after seeing Kurtz, and him hiding this horrible truth in the end. He knows the darkside of the Africa trade, but he doesn't want to spread this brutal concept. He lies to Kurtz wife the will of Kurtz that he's final words is saying her name.
410102015 英美二鄭茗尹
Question 1 :
During the story, Kurtz is continuously praised by every man Marlow meets, and even the local cannibals adore him. He is depicted as an universal genius, a remarkable person with eloquent voice, making him become more mysterious and impenetrable covered by the unlawful desire deeply in the heart of darkness. Before Marlow meets him at presence, Kurtz only appears as a voice, an evil god, and an inevitable nightmare spreading everywhere like a curse in Congo by people saying his name with jealousy and admiration. Along the journey deep into the inner station, the darkest hell, Marlow cannot help but slip into the quest of finding Kurtz in order to talk with him. Kurtz distinctive talent of expression in both speaking and writing makes him peculiar. In Kurtz's report of the "scramble of Africa", he initially records arrogantly and contemptibly that the white should act like God gracing the "savage continent" as their moral duties, just like every hypocrites in imperialism age. However, in the end of the report there is a note revealing the truth writing "Exterminate all the brutes!”. Marlow regards the note is written after Kurtz has completely gone mad. And indeed, as the same time, Kurtz's soul has been devoured by his own boundless avarice. After Marlow see Kurtz in person, he has already extremely ill physically and mentally. He conducts violent ruthlessly on the native to make himself worshiped without disguising. Marlow learned that Kurtz’s ultra-greed turns him shameless to his dirty practice, and threaten the European company, as well.
410002042 賴鈺欣
1.
Actually, Marlow isn’t like other greedy staffs who focus only on money and advancement that idolize Kurtz, instead, at first Marlow is curious to see this “noble” man whether would keep his pure nature after climbing to the top. However, Marlow find out the spell of wilderness has draws Kurtz to its pitiless breast by awakening of forgotten and brutal instincts. In Africa, Kurtz uses some barbaric and native methods to show off his magnificent power, for example, Kurtz puts skulls on the stakes in front of his house and raids ivory from everywhere. During several talks with Kurtz, on the one hand, Marlow fascinates Kurtz’s power of eloquence, on the other hand, Marlow disappoints at Kurtz’s barren darkness of his heart under the veil of magnificent folds of eloquence. In a report written by Kurtz, Marlow mentions that the lofty words make him tingle with enthusiasm, but there were no practical hints, except one terrifying sentence was noted “ Exterminate all the brutes!” which is contrast to the altruistic sentiment of former phrases. In conclusion, although Marlow and Kurtz have some ways in common, such as background and the attitude of earnest, Marlow didn’t become an insatiable shadow. On the contrary, through Kurtz’s horrible experience, he learns that the civilization is so fragile that easily defeated by natural instinct. In the end, Marlow uses self- control and successfully resists of the temptation of Dark Continent.
410002030 英美三 吳敏綾
In most people’s thought, savagery represents barbarism; an uncivilized condition. It is also regarded as a brutal and violent behavior. In Heart of Darkness, the author seems to describe those Africans' savagery. On the contrary, the Europeans are on behalf of civilization. The superior white people think that those Africans are uncivilized animals. However, it is only a line between savagery and civilization. In the story, real savagery is what the Europeans did on the Africans. Also, savagery is the darkness part of civilized people. The Europeans’ violent and cruel acts to these native black people are of course rationalization. They did not think it is wrong or inappropriate; they believed these are necessary behavior in order to help the uncivilized Africans to be civilized. They seemed to give the Africans good life. Even so, to tell the truth, the white Europeans just used the black Africans to f satisfy their own desire and greedy. In this situation, Marlow said “I've seen the devil of violence, and the devil of greed, and the devil of hot desire; but, by all the stars. And Kurtz's last word: “The horror! The horror!” showed what he thought about what he saw. All this is a big horror.
英美二 410102052 葉靜芝
Question 2
At first, it seems that the African are the savageries and the white are civilized people in Heart of Darkness. There are many derogatory terms are used to describe the Blacks. For instance, Marlow says that the fireman “was as edifying as seeing a dog in a parody of breeches and a feather hat, walking on his hind-legs.” (Chapter 2 paragraph 8) I think it is very caustic and impolite to say that. As for the European, they think they are civilized, and their responsibility is to bring civilization to the African. The term “civilized” means having high state of culture and social development in dictionary. However, we can see how the European behave is not like they are civilized at all. They treat the African in a brutal way. And those white people look down on black people and regard them as animals. The colonists destroy the aborigines’ lives and deprive them of their resources. It is obvious that the Whites don’t really bring a better life to the African, but plunder whatever they want. Although those African may not be civilized, somehow the European are not civilized enough as well. Frankly speaking, sometimes the Whites are more like the barbarians because of their behavior.
410002061 Shawn
Answer Q2
Mention about salvage, we have to recognize a possibility that salvage is the product of civilization. How can I say so? Cause In the book, the story implies that civilization is created by the human rules and laws. However, on certain degree that civilization makes human to achieve higher standards. But after achieving a higher level, people start to look down upon on those who are not follow or keep up with the rules, and human then force and give these people the name of salvage, and start to rule and enslave them.
And related salvage to the characters Marlow and Kurtz, they are two opposite examples. Marlow represents the civilized one, and he is still clean, still not polluted by the dark of savagery jungle; Kurtz represents the every person will become if one day away from the civilization, the inner desire would cover the eyes of mind.
In my opinion, the book shows me that civilization must be learned, and taught by arrogant Europeans. For me, that is ridiculous, because we cannot even assure that the Europeans are the civilization one. However, I think the civilization is the way and the mask that the arrogant Europeans want to teach the salvages, but also the salvage is the name that justify the right of European invasion.
Q2 Edmund Chen
Civilization is a good nous in the dictionary, but this word is an evil for Africans.
In “Heart of Darkness,” Europeans who are whites bring their so-called “civilization” to African. According to “Heart of Darkness,” Marlow shows the Europeans’ views of Africans. They think they are the best race in the world because of white skin. On the contrast, African’s world is destroyed by these “civilized” Europeans. In Europeans view, they think Africans are suffering and they should bring better life for them; but, Europeans not only take advantage of Africans for working, but also think Africans are “animal-like” and “uncivilized.” Above these points, we can know Africans are discriminated by Europeans. So, these “civilization” is an evil in the helping mask. For Africans, this superficial civilization is the real savagery. Nevertheless, African civilization is savagery for Europeans, but this is the real life for them. Moreover, Kurtz’s last word: “The horror! The horror!” also shows the evidence of this superficial civilization. Eventually, every civilization owns its uniqueness; not these racial and colonized Europeans can understand.
410002026 英美三 邱惠愉
2. Every person has different definition from savagery and civilized so we cannot judge other people’s view about savagery or civilization directly.
Many people think that people who live in the city, which is convenient, entertain, technological and so on or people are educated. They think it is civilized. But I think being civilized possesses their cultures, lifestyle, language, faith, trade and so on. I think it is civilized, which can be written and will become history. We cannot stand in our shoes to look at other people, who are different from us. We are in abnormal sight to look at and treat other people, whether we are savage or not. What constitutes savagery is the people, who are priggish and think they are superiority. In Heart of Darkness, it describes the white asks the black to carry heavy things. The black was viewed as slaves. The white comes to other country and rob ivories to make a profit and hurt people. This behavior looks like savage. The white is uncivilized. I think savagery and civilization are defined by ourselves and own country’s education and culture. Because people usually stand in own stand, they do not care about other races’ feeling and culture and then they feel they are superiority, other races are savagery, inferiority and undeveloped. Savagery and civilization are constituted and defined by people.
question 1
Kurtz, represent to Marlow, is a special guy who makes Marlow keep observing and once identifying himself with. In the whole story, Marlow has different images, attitudes and judgments toward Kurtz. Before Marlow gets in touch with Kurtz, he called this person as a "remarkable man." He even mocks at those blindly people who completely worship for their "god." But when at a moment he gets the idea that he might not meet Kurtz, he comes up with a strong feeling - regret. Marlow obsesses of Kurtz gradually. He shows his curious of that man with ambition who rather returns to barbaric world than stays in his original world of civilization. Kurtz could not deny the temptation of power and also finds out his talent at spreading his idea by language. To Marlow, the man aspires his deeply desire but he is too weak to give up something in reason. Therefore, Marlow wants to meet Kurtz.
After Marlow finds Kurtz, he has another understanding with him. He manages to control people and to make his idea to come true. That cause Kurtz presents brutal instincts. He can bear any uncivilized, depravation to be a human. The behavior of Kurtz cannot be described beyond people's cognition of dignity or humble. Marlow watches and learns from his "remarkable man" who is brave enough to break through the limitation of civilization and live in degeneration. There shows the same quality between Marlow himself and Kurtz about their desires. But Marlow chooses to carry the "darkness'' in mind.
410002031
question 1
Kurtz, represent to Marlow, is a special guy who makes Marlow keep observing and once identifying himself with. In the whole story, Marlow has different images, attitudes and judgments toward Kurtz. Before Marlow gets in touch with Kurtz, he called this person as a "remarkable man." He even mocks at those blindly people who completely worship for their "god." But when at a moment he gets the idea that he might not meet Kurtz, he comes up with a strong feeling - regret. Marlow obsesses of Kurtz gradually. He shows his curious of that man with ambition who rather returns to barbaric world than stays in his original world of civilization. Kurtz could not deny the temptation of power and also finds out his talent at spreading his idea by language. To Marlow, the man aspires his deeply desire but he is too weak to give up something in reason. Therefore, Marlow wants to meet Kurtz.
After Marlow finds Kurtz, he has another understanding with him. He manages to control people and to make his idea to come true. That cause Kurtz presents brutal instincts. He can bear any uncivilized, depravation to be a human. The behavior of Kurtz cannot be described beyond people's cognition of dignity or humble. Marlow watches and learns from his "remarkable man" who is brave enough to break through the limitation of civilization and live in degeneration. There shows the same quality between Marlow himself and Kurtz about their desires. But Marlow chooses to carry the "darkness'' in mind.
英美二 410102056 張文馨Wendy
1.
Marlow, who is likes a God, has a lofty personality and appearance. But he still faces kinds of temptation in the mysterious Africa, where people can do anything they want. Even if Marlow is acknowledged as a holy person, he cannot still withstand the temptation of darkness, and he nearly falls into the terrible darkness. But he continues restraining himself and defeat the savagery. However, what Kurtz has done just reflects the potential heart of Marlow. Kurtz cannot prevents himself from the desire and the temptation of darkness so that he becomes more and more degenerate. Even in the end of Kurtz’s life, Kurtz said that “The horror! The horror!”
Marlow hears that there is a white agent called Kurtz who is a respectable leader and is regarded as the God by the African aborigines. All the people praise Kurtz highly so that Marlow is also interested in this man. But after meeting Kurtz, Marlow found that Kurtz is actually a tyrant who robs aborigines of their property and lie to be adored. And Kurtz’s failure shows the loss and the anxiety under the desire. It is just liked Marlow has mentioned that self-fulfillment is not as clear as the water, but the exposure of the dirty heart in a world far away from the reality, the African wilds without any police and a place without any real advice.
410102012 王品文
Q2: Explore the concept of “savagery” in this story. Who and what constitutes savagery? What does it mean to be civilized?
The story shows us the savagery of colonialism. The Europeans in the story think they are more superior, educated and civilized. In the story, the narrator mention many times of African people’s savage life style and habits. Also, from the conversation in the story we can tell that most Europeans who go to Africa view themselves as torchbearers. They embellish their invasion and emphasize only on how they can make Africa civilized but speak none of their cruelty. However, in the story it is obvious that those Europeans who are well-dressed and act like “civilized” people are the ones who do all the savage deeds. Blinded by profits from ivory and power, those Europeans make Africa like hell. They keep black people as slaves, torture them, ask them to work with low paid or even no paid and abandon them when they are sick or injured. On the contrary, even though they are treated badly, those black people still show their loyalty. On the trip to meet Kurtz, the hungry cannibals have the chance to eat Marlow and other Europeans. However, they choose to stick to their job and bear the hunger. The attitude that those black people shows is truly civilized. Compare to them, the Europeans in the story are just money driven savagery with gorgeous appearance.
Nick 410002027 英美三 曹立運
Answers to question 1.
Isn’t it makes people curious if we were told that there is a remarkable and talented person whose backgrounds and even thoughts are similar to yours? What’s more, you are coincidentally on the journey to meet this person who is in the same company with you. I think the answer is obvious. During his journey to get to deepest part of the jungle, Marlow heard about a large amount of rumors about this mysterious person, Mr. Kurtz. In addition to backgrounds, Marlow is quite surprised and fascinated that Mr. Kurtz resembles him in so many ways. He finds a part of himself in Kurtz as time goes by. In my opinions, the most attracting part of the similarities for Marlow is that they both have the sense of superiority, which means they both think they are superior and better to other people. Through the journey, Marlow gradually finds that Mr. Kurtz wants to bring civilization to the jungle initially, but in vain. In contrast, Mr. Kurtz became a savage himself. To Marlow, he dislikes spreading the idea of civilization; however, he still discriminates those barbarian people, which makes him scared because he don’t want to be like Mr. Kurtz, especially after reading the notes that Mr. Kurtz writes. “ Exterminate all the brutes!”. In the end of the story, Marlow learned from Mr. Kurtz that civilization is obviously not fit to nature.
英美三 陳奐霖 Linus 410002032
Question1
Kurtz is just like a magician in Marlow’s mind when Marlow hear that he can inspire uneasiness and never be ill. The purpose of meeting Kurtz shows that Marlow also has the potential ambition to conquer the Africa and want to make money. But after Marlow see Kurtz and know his actual deeds was so cruel, there is kind of sympathy emerging from Marlow’s mind. Under the imperialism, I think Marlow keep the sense of superiority as he travels to Africa. Therefore, when he knows that Kurtz’s superpower and his great wealth, he admires him and wants to meet him in person. However, after seeing the poor situation in Africa and understanding that the true purpose of Kurtz is to exterminate the Africans, Marlow gradually shows his sympathy to the blacks. In my opinion, Marlow learns that how hollow a person under the imperialism. Although Kurtz earns so much money and be respected by the blacks, he does not get anything in the end of his life. In a word, Kurtz represents the hollow man under the horror imperialism. In contrary, through the observation, Marlow discloses the despicable means of England Imperialism and changes his admiration toward Kurtz to sympathy toward Africans. I think that Marlow gets the lesson from the life of Kurtz.
410102021 Sylvia 柯思羽
1.Marlow is obsessed with Kurtz before he even meets him, without a clear idea why.
The people Marlow meet said Kurtz was a man out of the civilization and was adored by the local cannibals as god. Kurtz became a hero of the civilize world. He brings benefits to Europe and conquers the heart of darkness. Talking to him has become the entire reason for Marlow's passage through this jungle. Before Marlow meet him, his knowledge and understanding to Kurtz, are entirely through the voice, which makes Kurtz more like a mysterious existence. However, when Marlow finally meet Kurtz, Marlow can’t find any trace of Europe civilization on Kurtz. His spirit is completely destroyed by a symbol of material wealth African, ivory. All the Marlow see is the endless greedy. With his dying body, Kurtz said that “The horror! The horror!” During the trip, Kurtz’s presence dominates Marlow vividly. I think the reason Kurtz affects Marlow so deeply is that Kurtz has turned his back on his roots, Europe and essentially become so native in the Africa. What Marlow learns from Kurtz is to understand himself. He is not different from Kurtz. Both him are greedy and full of desires.
#410002014 Andy Tsai 蔡孟霖
The so-called "savagery" is actually European people's excuse to conquer Africa. African people just live the life in their own way, not civilized but natural. There's no way that anyone can define their culture as "savagery". The imperialists were in fact the ones who constitute savagery. They kill technology-inferior African people with cannons and guns, they capture people for slavery, and they extort the resource in Africa. What they did was not human at all; they were the savagery ones, not the Africans. If being greedy for benefit is the core quality of being civilized, then yes, we could say the imperialists were civilized people; if slaughtering the weak and unarmed people is the quality of being civilized, yes, we could say the imperialists were civilized. In the story, the dark heart is like a symbol of the savagery measure the European use to persecute African people. Through Marlow’s trip to doing business, we can see how ugly the Europeans are when they were trying to reach their greedy goal.
410002056 陳柏安 Andy
Question 2
What is “savagery”? For those European such as Mr. Kurtz at that time, the people in Congo, or those Africans are savagery because the European think that those people don’t have any civilization or culture. The European at that time wants to control the whole world. Mr. Kurtz thought that those people who are not from their country, those people whose skin are not white are all savagery. Those European think it’s their duty to clean those African’s mind and bring light to those dark or uncivilized places. But is that really true?
Look at those Africans in this story. They were suffering under European’s control. The European forced those Africans to do those hard works and didn’t get them any freedom. Those native people worked like animals. Is those European really more civilized or they are just like barbarian? Kurtz, a guy who everyone think is a civilized man is actually the people who bring darkness into Africa or Congo’s heart. Those European are actually the first group of people who let Africa or Congo into the “Heart of darkness.” There is no real savagery or civilized, we might be able to only say that they have more technology or they have less recourse. Each country, each people have that part in their heart have the desire to control others, or to show their power to others. But if they do it in the wrong way, it will turn out that civilized become savagery. Just like Mr. Kurtz, he control those native people in a wrong way by control them to do those hard works. So what is real savagery and what is civilized? I think it all depend on their behaviors.
The explanation of savagery that Oxford's dictionary gives is "behaviour that is very cruel and violent". Similarly, in heart of darkness, the colonists (i.e. the white men), also casted their savagery onto this uncivilized land. And they, of course, take whatever they did for granted. The colonists looked upon African as savagery, which is full of barbarism, and they treated they like animals— or rather, salves. At the same time, the colonists also represented savagery due to their violent activities to harm those African. Conrad wanted to pass the concept of imperialism to the readers, at that time, European exploit, domesticate, and torture African, they naively thought they were bringing light and civilization to those on the land; However, it was all about savagery. Think of the event that happened on the land, in Taiwan, we on one hand saying our request of preserving the aboriginal culture; on the other hand, we view them as people that yearning for culture and education, we didn’t ask what their need really is. After I read the novel, I rethink the situation between the European and African, it’s really hard to define savagery belongs to which side, because it belongs to two sides. If European didn’t use savagery on African, what would they become? Remains the same until today? This should be discussed.
英美二 410102033 陳世豪 Bernie
Answer to Question 2
The background is that the Europeans who are white think they can stand for civilization and they had to civilize the black in South America and Africa in 19 century. They called it as a “honorable mission” to instead the truth of they are totally a group of colonists who got lost in the desire of economical profit, money, the most direct. The ”civilization” is actually a big lie. The Europeans grabbed the black in Congo or somewhere and forced them to work harder in order to earn more money for them. The black were forced to be slaved and sign the contrasts with the white, the devils. After Marlow discover the truth that Africans are brutally abused and slaved, he feel that the Europeans are murders, more like devils than saints or teachers. And Marlow’s world is shook severely by all the disappointing and terrible scenes. The Europeans justify themselves as messengers with holy missions but only try their best to squeeze every single African into death. All they care and all they do are totally because of money. What an ironic truth that all Europeans will be never willing to admit.
英美三 陳若仙 Sandy 410002001
2)
The story is totally told in white people perspective because of the superior and condescending feeling toward the natives. Take Marlow for example, when he describing his African boiler, he states: “He was an improved specimen; he could fire up a vertical boiler. He was there below me, and, upon my word, to look at him was as edifying as seeing a dog in a parody of breeches and a feather hat, walking on his hind legs.” Therefore, on the surface, it gives us a brief idea that the native people in Africa represent savagery and barbarian, while the white represent civilization. However, what the white say is totally different from what they do in Africa, and that makes the white the real savage group. The white assume that they are torchbearers bringing civilization to Africa. Actually, they are like grim reapers that scramble lives and everything worthy there. For instance, Kurtz scrambles something he wants through violence and intimidation, and the skull fence surrounding his mud hut reveals his savagery. Kurtz kills because of his lust for ivory and being worshiped. In contrast, the natives are remarkable for their resistance to the hunger and not to eat the white for a month. Who, then, is civilized in the story is ambiguous. Surprisingly, the virtue of principle shows clearly in the natives. To be civilized means self-control and being different from animals, then what the white do shows their ambivalence.
410102028 英美二陳雅森
2) Explore the concept of “savagery” in this story. Who and what constitutes savagery? What does it mean to be civilized?
Conrad’s works, Heart of Darkness in particular, provide a bridge between Victorian values and the ideals of modernism.
The concept of "savagery" is means uncivilized, and the concepts of “civilization” exist merely as just hypocritical ideals. In this story, these behaviors are savagery, these people are savagery. Kurtz and those people who follow the imperialism think they are more civilized, educated and elevated. For the sake of their higher class and urge, they think they have the right to civilize the Africans and bring the civilization to them. But actually this is an excuse for these imperialists to take all the resources and benefits from Congo. They rob, seize the resources and kill the dwellers, treating them like slaves or brutes in a cruel and inhuman way.
However, the action of violence and they have made, robbing resources, killing people and ruling the place pretending themselves are the kings in there, are more like uncivilized people, like barbarians. They are bumptious, consider themselves in the right and think the Africans should be uncivilized by them, but what they have done are more brutal. And what they do is madness as a result of imperialism.
Mina 陳綎嵐
410002018
Question 2
Actually,civilization is the reverse of savagery ,two of them can not exist independently.
In "Heart of Darkness" the white can be symbolized as the goodness, enlightenment,and civilization in ironic tone of narrative.They use the honorable excuses to rationalize their cruel act of scrambling Africa exploited their land, grabbed their resources and abused them .Just because of the sense of superiority from most European at that time during the New Imperialism period,they can regardless of the natural morality and see those Africans they thought is uncivilized as animal. However,the truth of civilization is actually covered by inhumanity and greed.The fact remains that the whites are the true savages who abuse the blacks to work to death. In the other hand,the blacks are associated with savagery which also have the image of death, evil,uncivilized. Originally,the true civilization is to prevent human form revert to their darker tendencies (ignorance ) however,what hypocrisy act of civilization become the real savagery and violence.
410102039 英美二 鄭巧俞
question 2
The meaning of savagery is the condition of being primitive or uncultivated. Usually, we related the savagery to Africa and the civilization to Europe. However, in this story we can find that the man from Europe, which is considered to be civilized, actually performing the savage behavior. Just like the story said,“I’ v seen the devil of violence, and the devil of greed, and the devil of hot desire. ”This sentence interpret that if the man cannot resist to the temptation of money and reputation, he will become mind-blinded and even do something obeying the moral rules. Take Kurtz for instance, due to his interminable greedy, he made use of his super power to manipulate the Africans, made them be the instruments of financial gain and even built himself the deity image. So, we can see even though he came from civilized country, he was still possible to do the barbaric deeds when losing control of his desire. Instead of civilization, this kind of behavior is more like pillage, plunder or loot. Therefore, I think if the non-native people want to civilize the savage region, they have to empathy more and give the practical skills to them, not just take their advantage of power to take away all the local resources.
Sunny 姚山 410002002
Q1: What does Kurtz represent to Marlow? Why does Marlow want to meet Kurtz? What does Marlow learn from his meeting with Kurtz?
The reason why Marlow wants to meet Kurtz is curiosity. Marlow is an adventurer who has a hunger to explore the unknown and Kurtz is the ultimate answer to his quest. With the journey moving on, Marlow learns more and more mysterious news about Kurtz and the uneasiness and unreliability of the continent. He starts to wonder what kind of man can live in this wildness for such a long time and why both the white and the black are fascinated with him loyally. He tries to find out if Kurtz’s charisma and eloquence come from the civilization.
However, after meeting with Kurtz, Marlow realize the bloody truths, such as the raided ivories. Kurtz represents “the devil of violence, and the devil of greed, and the devil of hot desire.” Even until being dying, he cannot end his desires, crying “My ivory, my station, my river─” Kurtz tries to conquer African wildness. But like it illustrates “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.” The strong power of the wildness eats him, making him cry “The horror! The horror! ”
In this experience, Marlow learns the fact that “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.”
2.
European had been conducting the slavery for a long time. In this novel, Marlow plays a important role in the adventure. He described the power of imperialism which took over the African. They underwent a series of torturing suffering. European Company regarded themselves as the supreme power at that time. They try to control Africans in a wild place. However, not everyone could bear with this kind of environment. Long time ago, people born with nature and lived with her. They enjoy the wild land until the white men explore them. With the thoughts of superior identity, they were eager for money and benefits from those whom were deprived the right to fight against them. The heart of ambition, curiosity and greedy constitute the savagery. Because the heart of darkness destroyed the nature, purity and wild. The European intruded the place where did not belong to them. Then it became a reign of cruelty. They want to take over all of the Africans in order to get more benefits from ivory trade. Also, they want to change the way they live. If they were civilized, the imperialism would be successfully expanded. They taught them constructions but force them to work as a dog to death. The civilization did not mean anything to African, however it meant something to the imperialism expansion.
3.
The upper Congo River voyage of the second layer narrator, Marlow, is driven by the pursuit of an “ideal man,” as Marlow’s self-expectation. At beginning, he starts his sail out of “passion for maps” back from childhood. Marlow is charmed by the snake like river on map. Trough out the journey, Marlow gradually wonders and reveals what underlies the “Renaissance man,” Kurtz. He sees the wilderness and unpredictable route, which sometimes triggers him to pause or fear. Marlow says that the blacks “had faces like grotesque masks” but also mentions that “they were not inhuman. Well, you know, that was the worst of it.” His sympathy, though racism, toward the indigenous forces him to reconsider what “the heart of darkness” actually is during the journey. Marlow thinks he travels into the dark, uncivilized, place of earth, “Going up that river was like travelling back to the earliest beginnings of the world.” The immense of unknown frightens Marlow. He does encounter savage; however, the real darkness is humans’ pure greedy and brutality, which represents by the whole-Europe-contributed man, Kurtz’s corruption. The fantasized hero turns out to play himself “God” in the jungle, worshipped by natives. Kurtz as God performs fierce and cold and concerns only ivory, profits. Disillusion of the idle, Marlow starts to question his original faith. At the end, Marlow has learned and reflected deeper of his ideal dream and his own self.
2. Savagery means someone behavior that is very cruel and violent or uncivilized condition. In the story “heart of darkness”, Marlow is a very important character to make us think about savagery and civilization. Europeans think they are civilized and educated. In the contrary, black people are all savagery and uncivilized as animal.White people want to control the whole world including Africa. So white people think they conquer Africa will bring light to the dark place. And that is honorable mission. But it’s totally wrong. White people torture and exploit the natives. They bring no benefits but bring death and disease. The character Kurtz’s greed for ivory is an example of savagery. The Imperialism that native peoples needed to be civilized or remade in European image fails because of Kurtz's selfishness and his madness. I think the real savagery is Kurtz and his follow that is Imperialism. They think they are civilized enough to colonize black people. But their act is savagery and barbaric. In the deeply of civilization must have a part of savagery. So I think it is inevitable exist between savagery and civilization. If they want to civilize natives, they should not treat them like animal and take all their property away.
#410102061 胡靜
410002038 英美三 陳蕙玉
Question 1
Kurtz represents the evil genius. He is civilized man and wants to bring civilization to the savagery. However, when he went to Africa, he was overwhelmed by his greed and desire. He loses his mind and abuses the natives brutally. He becomes proud and selfish, thinking himself as the king of the forest. He considers that he has the power and right to control everything, including Africa, animals and everyone. Nevertheless, many people praise Kurtz as a talented man because he can get a lot of ivory. Marlow thinks that Kurtz is not as greedy as other colonists in Africa before he meets Kurtz. He thinks that Kurtz has a noble humanity--- sympathy and strong willing to bring civilization to the uncivilized people so he respects Kurtz. Then Marlow learns from his meeting with Kurtz that he earns his fame by getting ivory illegally and crazily. Kurtz’s original intention of civilizing the natives has become the desire of wealth and power. He abandons morals and becomes beastly. Marlow knows that he may become as beastly as Kurtz because he also wants to get power, wealth and others’ admiration. He finds that he has some similarities with Kurtz. He gradually knows himself, becomes wiser and feels sad about Kurtz’s moral degeneracy.
410002066 英美三 謝孝昇_Sing
1.
Kurtz is admired by the local cannibals as god. He becomes a conqueror of Europe. He brings benefits to Europe. His mind is full of African ivory. On Marlow’s way finding Kurtz, Marlow learns more and more profound news about Kurtz and the uneasiness and unreliability of the continent. He starts doubting that why Kurtz can live in this wildness for such a long time and why both the black and the white are loyalty to him. When he knows that Kurtz’s superpower and his great wealth, he admires him and wants to meet him. He tries to find out if Kurtz’s fascination and eloquence come from the civilization. Marlow learns from Kurtz about the dreadful of the imperialism. The last words “The horror! The horror!” illustrate that Kurtz rejects imperialism. “The offing was barred by a black bank of clouds, and the tranquil waterway leading to the uttermost ends of the earth flowed sombre under an overcast sky—seemed to lead into the heart of an immense darkness” shows that Marlow understands the terrifying of imperialism, but he can do nothing to change the situation at the moment.
英美二 410102043 林萱怡
1. Marlow thought Kurtz as the most successful person of imperialism, who brought the civilization into Africa, and brought the prosperity into Europe. And, he is the ideal person of his dream, who wins everything, such as reputation, money, power, and the experiences of adventures. He had gone through the Africa, where he dreams to go. Marlow thought Kurt as a god, an incredible man, mentioning him that “He inspired uneasiness.”, and “He was never ill.” Later, he learns that Kurt is an evil and finds that imperialism is the ridiculous one. The imperialists think that they are too kind to bring the civilization into Arica. Nevertheless, they are civilized in name, but lost their humanity. The imperialism is the most powerful thing, but it is also the poorest one that they were eaten by their greedy, evilness, desire, and shame. In fact, the surrenders are the key roles that support those imperialists. Without the labors or the substance of ivory, there is no boom in Europe, and no rising of the imperialism. On the surface, the imperialism has everything. However, they deserve nothing, because they don’t have the nature resources that they have to snatch the wildness by the name of civilization.
410002051 英美三 喻柏樺
Question 2.
Civilization and savagery are two indispensible themes that Conrad wants to convey to the readers. Savagery in literal meaning is no culture, no civilization and no humanity; and we usually use this word to describe those people in undeveloped countries and areas, including Africa, where in the story we call it “Heart of Darkness”. However, it is only a line between savagery and civilization. In the story, real savagery is what the Europeans did on the Africans. Also, savagery is the darkness part of civilized people. The Europeans’ violent and cruel acts to these native black people are of course rationalization. In “Heart of Darkness”, Conrad describes a lot about those Africans’ savagery. European people think that it is their mission to bring the light to those places which are dark and uncivilized. They want to control the whole world. Europeans consider those “animal-like” Africans as uncivilized creatures. I think that their noble desire actually is another kind of barbarism. Kurtz, a so-called civilized man, cannot control his desire about wealth and reputation, keeps doing those dirty and cruel things to the Africans. He thinks that the white people should approach Black people with the mighty as God and so on. It seems that the Africans are much more polite and tolerant than those “civilized” Europeans.
410102035 英美二 黃雅婷
question 3
Marlow found the ugliness of humanity in the process of approaching Kurtz. Like peeling onion, Marlow gradually realized the evil factors of human beings from the beginning of the journey to meet Kurtz. The more Marlow got closer to Kurtz, the more dark sides, rapacious, violent and the endless desire of mankind he could detect. Marlow after deeply noticed that Kurtz had infinite desire and used violence to hold such enormous power. How ironic African people still considered him as a god, despite of the fact that he treated them cruelly. Kurtz who represented the imperialism forced the African people building railway, digging minerals and etc. then grabbed away all the benefits. It is also the way west civilize world plunge the third world, treating African people as slaves and scrambling all the ivories. Rather than feeling satisfied, they just became more and more greedy. Miserably, they thought it was to bring civilization to Africa, however, the so-called civilization just an excuse to rationalize the vicious imperialism, and contrarily made them more look like barbarian. Moreover, Marlow seemed to against the imperialism, and had sympathy with the colonized people, though, he still despised them in his deep mind. For instance, when one of his crews who was cannibal was killed, he felt nauseated instead of feeling mournful. Because the blood of the cannibal splashed on his clothe. Hence, we can tell that Marlow assumed the African people still inferior to him.
Answer of question 2
Savagery means the condition of being primitive or uncivilized, an act of violent cruelty. Every man has a heart of darkness that is usually drowned out by the light of civilization. However, when removed from civilized society, the raw evil within his soul will be unleashed. The tendency to revert to savagery is seen in Kurtz. When Marlow meets Kurtz, he finds a man that has totally thrown off the restraints of civilization and has de-evolved into a primitive state. And Marlow represents the civilized soul that has not been drawn back into savagery by a dark, alienated jungle. To be civilized, is to be "educated in the usages of organized society". The book implies that civilizations are created by the setting of laws and codes that encourage men to achieve higher standards. The underlying theme of Heart of Darkness is that civilization is superficial. The level of civilization is related to the physical and moral environment they are presently in. It is a much less stable or permanent state than society may think. Before their journey into the jungle in the Heart of Darkness, both Marlow and Willard live according to certain standards of value prevalent in the civilized, orderly world. While society seems to restrain these savage tendencies, it does not get rid of them.
As we know, before WWI—fin-de-siècle—is the summit of imperialism. Europe countries buried themselves in exploiting Africa resources.
In the story, we can clearly see that the totally different archetypes of Europeans and Africans.
To Europeans, they were well-educated and well-civilized. But when they faced those spectacular resources, they were like a devouring wolf, extorting what they wanted. They forced Africans, even set traps to capture them to be slaves. Though Europeans were so gentle, polite from their appearances, their devouring minds were the most horrible contrast that people could not tolerate.
On the contrary, Africans were poor, illiteracy. They didn’t care about how to be gentle, but they’d never forced anyone to take advantages for themselves. Instead, they lived in ancient styles, they could be self-sufficient. To them, those Europeans were the killer, sabotaging their life structures, bringing disasters to them.
In my opinion, civilized is an imagined concept of outstanding, being superior to others by gentle appearances, and developed environments. There’s no so-called “civilized”, but selfishness. After reading the story, I think we cannot impose everyone to have the same values of us, but try to respect, and understand others position, making mutually beneficial decisions.
410102031-英美二-孫婉容
Savagery is a word which discriminates those uncivilized country especially like Africa in the story. People there are black and lack of knowledge. They live in traditional way. There is no technology or public transportation .At that time, those European countries desired nature resources and cheap slaves in African countries. They established many colonies, and did their best to exploit them. In the aspect of civilized countries, they thought they were more superior and they had obligation to civilize the barbarian countries. However, they just made their deeds reasonable and got a lot of profits from inhumane trade. Readers could see it in the book when Marlow traveled to the Inner Station. He saw people be tortured by the Company. At first, “savagery”, was described for those people who were born in Africa or undeveloped countries, but on the other hand, those civilized countries were more appropriate to be described by this word. They depended on their power to sweat out other countries. Their behavior was shameless. Besides, they declared that civilizing undeveloped countries was their heavy duty. Was it true? People who lived in Africa were forced to work and someone even became slaves. Instead of getting better, they were all victims under imperialism. I didn’t see anything what civilizing countries should be in Africa. I only saw many hypocrites justify what they did. The only thing they brought was destruction. Civilized countries became more civilized, and barbarian became worse like inferno.
英美四
鄭百佑 Kenny
49902052
Question 2:
When Marlow first heard about Mr. Kurtz, that he was a first class agent of company in Africa. At the beginning, Marlow doesn’t really know what he should think about Kurtz. The fact is that everybody seems to adore him. But Marlow has a strong personality. He thinks about the things he does and he doesn’t do what all the others do. But he wants to know more about him, because Kurtz is for him a big secret and he would like to find out more about him, before he is making his own opinion about him. Therefore, he begins to study the history of Kurtz. The people talk about Kurtz. Marlow doesn’t understand all that. After a while, when Marlow knows more about Kurtz he gets also more and more interested in him. Because he finds out that a lot of people say bad things about him, some because they are jealous, because he is so mighty. When Marlow meets Kurtz he has no real opinion about him. He isn’t sure if Kurtz is mad or not. But when Kurtz has told Marlow why he chose this life in the heart of darkness, Marlow does understand him more or less. Now he wants to know everything about him, to read his texts, to listen to his adventures and what Kurtz knows about the black continent. But Kurtz dies before Marlow was able to talk to him about all those things. Marlow respects Kurtz and his decisions, and also Kurtz respects Marlow, but they weren’t friends, they just had no other.
Queenie Hu 胡沛涵 410002017
3) Discuss Heart of Darkness as a quest narrative. In what way is this a journey into the self? What does it mean to encounter the “heart of darkness”? How do the African people and landscape reflect Marlow’s state of mind?
Eventually he has come to his fascination place on the map that he has yearning for since he was a child, but only to find out the sacred worshiper, the mysterious snake, Congo River, is not what he imagined to be. By more days Marlow stay at the station and observes, he discovers the uptight but filthy of Kurtz and also finds the ridiculous of the exalted so called International Society for the Suppression of Savage Customs.
Marlow came to implement his great Journey, but also having conversation to himself if this is what he is chasing for. Reflect on will Marlow conquer himself to defy the darkness of humanity or the Saint-been-made Kurtz or the system of colonialism, it is the journey into himself! At the same time he also struggled to do something for the corruption, but he is born to be as an ethnic white man, a European, his position would classify him same as people like Kurtz, who is in high hierarchy, no reason for empathy.
The creation of being worshiped by natives is to confirm the legitimacy of power control. The scene of including cannibals and natives satirize that the European are more likely to have the beast-like darkness heart. Compare to the cannibals, such thing as greed, sloth, pride and how wanton disregard that the civilized Kurtz behave, relatively, the civilizing and savage doesn't seem to be more conscientious and not brutal than the cannibals.
410002039 Kendrick
Question 2.
Civilization and savagery are two different words and opponents meanings. Civilization, we think it is a positive word. It means that people have words and culture. Conversely, savagery is a negative word. It represents that people are rude and barbaric. As we knew before, the Europeans are considered civilized and the natives in Africa are considered savages. After Marlow sees the inflicted on the native population, the subtext is that the Europeans are the ones with the savage "Heart of Darkness" and not the natives.
In the Heart of Darkness, Conrad takes us on a journey into the soul of man. He uses lots of words to describe the scene he saw in Africa. In the story, savagery stands for both sides of the European or African. The European came to Africa, and they only bring the dark lives to those African. They saw African as savagery, but they did not want to change them. They only wanted to get the advantages. The African lived very hard under the European’s rule. So how can we really define civilization and savagery which is good or bad?
Civilization is not human quality, its human restrained that is only because of society. Natives’ society is close to nature and away from refined, polished and civilized society so they are savage in every sense.
The book implies that civilizations are created by the setting of laws and codes that encourage men to achieve higher standards. Above all, every man has a heart of darkness that is usually drowned out by the light of civilization.
410002024 英美三 張巧宜
2.
The concept of savagery literally contains violent, primitive and inhuman behavior. In this story, the seemingly civilized people are actually the barbarian. To state specifically, the Europeans think their behavior of taking over Congo is “bringing light into the dark”. They also treated the African as “animal”. They exploited the local people and natural resources in order to make fortune. They only care about money rather than the Africans. The concept of civilized people lied in the humanity. In the literal meaning, civilized people usually had a well-developed social system, they are well-educated and also polite to people. But obviously, they did not use their educated sense to treat the Africans. Take a specific example, Kurtz in the story stated that white people must necessarily appear to savages in the nature of supernatural beings as a “deity”. He showed how extreme he is in this saying. He deemed himself as God. He even wanted to “exterminate all the brutes!” He thought himself the upper class of hierarchy. Did the African themselves make Congo the heart of darkness? Or the “civilized” European made it dark? It was a question the narrator left for us to solve. Also, in Kurtz’s last word: “The horror! The horror!” It hinted that he might have repented for his sin. Also, Marlow told the story like the mariner in “The Rime of the Ancient Mariner”. Only when the story been told, the dark side of the humanity started to be disclosed.
英美二 410102027陳雅慧
Question 2
Savagery means the condition of being primitive or uncivilized. In Heart of Darkness, savagery is one of the most important theme which helps develop and connect the whole story. The narrator, Marlow describes Congo River as a undeveloped place, which is full of unspeakable secrets. What does it mean to be civilized? The description of the so-called savagery in white man's view, the earliest beginnings of the world, an empty stream, a great silence, an impenetrable forest is actually the "nature" . But at that time, the white people reach Congo, advocating civilizing. In white man's opinion, civilization versus savagery. Those white victors defines the way of life and thinking of savagery. Civilization is the stage of human social development and organization which is considered most advanced. But in this novel, the civilization is actually the excuse of the white man's greedy and desire to rub the precious in the area. There are many terrible and evil things torturing everything and lives in the deepest peaceful area during the period of civilization. We can feel the sorrow when reading the ugly of the civilization and those greedy people.
410102017 英美二黃少軍
Question 2
In my opinion, the literal meaning of the word “savagery” in this story is a symbol of those African people who were not civilized yet. However, the deepest meaning that author want to convey to us is the behavior that Europeans done to Africans when they visit the dark land---Congo. The title “Heart of darkness” conveys a concept to us--- Congo was the darkest place in the world no matter environment or people. Yet, the illocution means that those who done brutal things to Africans have heart of darkness. In those Europeans’ opinion, the so-called barbarians are brutal and should be civilized by white people. However, they used methods which they think were best for Africans but unfortunately they were wrong. There is an obvious ethnocentrism in Europeans’ thoughts. They tortured, enslaved even killed them! It’s ridiculous that white people attach “savagery” to African people. Conrad used this novel to accuse the disgusting behavior and I think it reveal the truth and ugly side of colonialism. To me, I think civilize should be executed in smooth way but in this novel it seems not. In conclusion, to civilize so-called savage people should abandon prejudice so that the process would be more peaceful.
Question 2
410002041 張芮甄
This time, a lot of white people come to Africa to exploit profits. We can know almost white people think they are superior to locals from the depiction of this story. For example, there is an International Society for the Suppression of Savage Customs. It entrusts Kurtz making of an eloquent report at Africa. It is irony that those people who scramble for Africa with rough and greedy mode said other people are savage. When Marlow finds the shrunken human heads on the stakes under Kurtz’s window, he recognizes this is the real savage. Generally speaking, savagery could represent the condition of being uncivilized. However, when Marlow more and more understand what Kurtz did and find the heart of darkness of himself, he think their savagery is much horror than people who are uncivilized. The dead of Kurtz at the end with last word “the horror! The horror!” represents the truth. Besides, whites use the word “civilized” to make African worker for them. It is just a falsehood to cover their greedy and lust.
410002020 周煒傑
1) What does Kurtz represent to Marlow? Why does Marlow want to meet Kurtz? What does Marlow learn from his meeting with Kurtz?
At the beginning, Kurtz represents a talented man for Marlow. Marlow thinks Kurtz as a top agent from others’ description and almost everyone working in Congo knows the famous Kurtz. Therefore, Marlow is looking forward to meeting with Kurtz. The harlequin tells him that African even adores Kurtz. He would like to know the reasons why Kurtz is so well known, why the manager and his uncle, for example, feel jealous of Kurtz, and what charisma Kurtz has. However, everything falls apart. After meeting with Kurtz, Marlow finds out that Kurtz is not only physically ill but mentally ill. Kurtz does not want to leave the interior. In my perspective, “Power tends to corrupt; absolute power corrupts absolutely” is what Marlow has learned from meeting with Kurtz. In the heart of darkness, there is no possibility to be a good guy. The only solution to do is to choose less evil. Therefore, Kurtz only represent a sympathetic man to Marlow in the end of the story. There is nothing that Marlow would like to envy.
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