conrad Flashcards
most important factors in conrad life
Joseph Conrad was born in Ukraine, but by the time he was 12 both of his parents were dead. So, he went to live with his uncle in France. His dream was to go to the sea. The most important trip was in 1890 when he went up to the river Congo, this trip left strong impressions that happen in the heart of darkness
novels and short stories
His literally success come from “Allayer’s folly”, based on his experience like all the other novels
The most important novella is heart of darkness that is considered his masterpiece
the philosophy of conrad works
In Conrad novels his adventure centre on the moment of crisis when the individual is alone, this is a test of the man’s integrity. Conrad uses these circumstances to analyse isolation and the corruption of social values.The dilemma that is strictly tied with the condition of humas is absolutely modern.
characteristics of heart of darkness
Heart of darkness is a novella based on personal experience. Conrad in particularly sailed up the river Congo in 1890
what simbolizes the darkness in “hearth of darkness”
the title itself is a symbol of the dualism of the depiction of the darkness in the novel Africa was often referred to as the dark continent but at the same time Conrad explores the darkness in the human consciousness. The geographical voyage is of discovery into the unknown corresponds to a voyage of discovery into the self.
what is the immage of colonialism in the “hearthof darkness”
This identification of colonialization and savagery is personified by the figure of KurtzKurtz embodies the extreme of European colonialisKurtz justifies colonialism with the idea of an ennobling mission of the Europeans in Africa. Most of heart of darkness in exposes the hypocrisy and cruelty of the colonization of Africa
narrator and point of view in “heart of darkness”
Most of heart of darkness is narrated in first person by Marlow, but in reality, the story began and ended by another voice, that of one of the men who are on the boat while mallows tell his story. Kurtz is seen not only through Marlow eyes but also through those of the many people that talk about him. Conrad is able to show the reality in each person’s individual consciousness. this is called refraction of the point of view
how is structured the time sequence in the heart of darkness
The time sequence is divided in two narrations. The present of the first narrator and the past of Marlow’s adventures, in particular Marlow’s narration also has frequent time-shifts
there is mention of the theme of the double
Conrad puts two characters alongside each other: Kurtz stands for the dark and unconscious side of Marlow. Kurtz is what Marlow could become under different circumstances
what is the story of heart of darkness
Marlow tells his story to some friends on a boat on the river thames. Years before marlow was hired by a Belgian trading company to fetch a man by the name of kurtz, who now lived among the natives and revered as a godl. marlow sails up the river congo. When he finally reaches kurtz he finds a diyng man idolized by the natives. he is disgusted by the colonists’ hypocrisy, they want to get rid of kurtz since he has exposed the brutal, materialist business that is colonialism. Kurtz dies on the boat that was heading back to Europe.Back in brussel marlow goes to talk to kurtz fiancé that sees kurtz as an angel that civilizes the natives. so he lies to her saying that kurtz last word were her name, while his real last words were the horror. this sums up the life of kurtz.
what the passage from heart of darkness in the book talks about
the passage is from chapter 1 marlow is going up the river congo and suddenly arrives at one of the company’s stations. Here narure is being polluted and destroyed by man, suddenly some natives appear they are wearing iron collars and are chained together , how could these helpless men be considered enemies asks marlow
