Introducing Joseph Conrad’s Introducing Joseph Conrad’s

Heart of DarknessHeart of Darkness

QuickwriteQuickwriteTake a few minutes to ponder the following Take a few minutes to ponder the following

question:question:

What restraints prevent What restraints prevent man from yielding to man from yielding to

his dark compulsions?his dark compulsions?

Locating the TextLocating the Text

Congo River

The Congo RiverThe Congo River

Pre-Colonial ProsperityPre-Colonial Prosperity

The Kingdon of the Congo The Kingdon of the Congo was a well-run imperial was a well-run imperial federationfederation

Known for advanced Known for advanced working in copper and ironworking in copper and iron

Rich in ivory and rubberRich in ivory and rubber

Participated in thriving Participated in thriving slave tradeslave trade

Ne VundaKongolese ambassador to the Vatican,

1608

King Leopold II & The King Leopold II & The CongoCongo

The Congo Free StateThe Congo Free State

Leopold sought the ability to use the river to Leopold sought the ability to use the river to gain access to the rich rubber supplies in the gain access to the rich rubber supplies in the interiorinterior

As European nations negotiated and agreed As European nations negotiated and agreed to respect each others’ claims to African to respect each others’ claims to African territory, Leopold made his claim for the territory, Leopold made his claim for the CongoCongo

The Congo Free StateThe Congo Free State

Leopold sent the famous Leopold sent the famous explorer of Africa, Henry explorer of Africa, Henry Morton Stanley, to negotiate Morton Stanley, to negotiate with the Congolesewith the Congolese

Chiefs offered trinkets or Chiefs offered trinkets or cloth if they would place an cloth if they would place an “X” on a document they “X” on a document they couldn’t readcouldn’t read

These treaties, along with These treaties, along with Leopold’s proclaimed goal to Leopold’s proclaimed goal to end slavery and promote end slavery and promote free trade, led the European free trade, led the European countries to recognize countries to recognize Leopold’s claim to the Leopold’s claim to the territory in 1885territory in 1885

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dpx5hy5TejE&feature=youtu.be

Cheap Labor, Barbaric Cheap Labor, Barbaric PracticesPractices

Agents ‘encouraged’ young men to work by Agents ‘encouraged’ young men to work by holding their wives and children captive until holding their wives and children captive until each man’s quota was met.each man’s quota was met.

Many who resisted were killed on the spot.Many who resisted were killed on the spot.

Others were beaten with cruel whips called Others were beaten with cruel whips called chicotte, made from dried hippo hide with chicotte, made from dried hippo hide with sharp edges.sharp edges.

Cheap Labor, Barbaric Cheap Labor, Barbaric PracticesPractices

During the years from 1895-1908 it is During the years from 1895-1908 it is estimated that 8-10 million people died due estimated that 8-10 million people died due to murder, mistreatment and starvationto murder, mistreatment and starvation

““Human Rights” Human Rights” MovementMovement

Public pressure eventually Public pressure eventually forced Leopold to sell the forced Leopold to sell the Congo Free State. It became Congo Free State. It became The Belgian Congo in 1908The Belgian Congo in 1908

The Belgian Government The Belgian Government ended the worst of the ended the worst of the atrocities, but still controlled atrocities, but still controlled the fate of the African the fate of the African natives “for their own good”natives “for their own good”

The Congolese were never The Congolese were never consulted about their futureconsulted about their future

ImperialismImperialism

Imperialism: The policy of extending a Imperialism: The policy of extending a nation’s authority by territorial acquisition or nation’s authority by territorial acquisition or by the establishment of economic and by the establishment of economic and political hegemony (the predominant political hegemony (the predominant influence, as of a state, region, or group, over influence, as of a state, region, or group, over another or others) over other nations. another or others) over other nations. Includes the system, policies, or practices of Includes the system, policies, or practices of such a government.such a government.

““Robbery with violence, aggravated murder Robbery with violence, aggravated murder on a great scale.on a great scale.””

Heart of Darkness, page Heart of Darkness, page 7070

Heart of DarknessHeart of DarknessContent & Stylistic Content & Stylistic

Elements Elements Frame storyFrame story What’s the premise?What’s the premise? From the intro: From the intro: ““ItIt’’s about our capacity for s about our capacity for

idealism, as well as our capacity for deterioration; idealism, as well as our capacity for deterioration; our desire for brotherhood and our propensity to our desire for brotherhood and our propensity to solitary crime…Marlowsolitary crime…Marlow’’s journey up the Congo is a s journey up the Congo is a journey into the heart of manjourney into the heart of man’’s darknesss darkness””

It may be uncomfortably It may be uncomfortably ““wordy…At times it wordy…At times it seems Conrad and Marlow seem to want to erect seems Conrad and Marlow seem to want to erect a screen of words between themselves and the a screen of words between themselves and the horror of a half-remembered experience…horror of a half-remembered experience…””

Heart of DarknessHeart of DarknessContent & Stylistic Content & Stylistic

Elements Elements ““……itit’’s about personal strength and integrity and a s about personal strength and integrity and a

psychological studypsychological study”” in which in which ““our best chance for our best chance for survival, moral survival, lies in frankly recognizing survival, moral survival, lies in frankly recognizing the infinite capacity for reversion and crime that the infinite capacity for reversion and crime that slumber in all our unconscious minds.slumber in all our unconscious minds.””

No chapters, only sections and long narrations. No chapters, only sections and long narrations. Lots of subtext, but you are now pros with this!Lots of subtext, but you are now pros with this!

Look at mood, tone, SETTING, symbolism, and Look at mood, tone, SETTING, symbolism, and imageryimagery

ItIt’’s all about the journeys all about the journey

Marlow has returned from his (archetypal) Marlow has returned from his (archetypal) journey, so this implies that…?journey, so this implies that…?

He has changedHe has changed

Therefore, as you read listen for the two Therefore, as you read listen for the two voices of the narrator: voices of the narrator: The naïve one who hasnThe naïve one who hasn’’t yet faced the t yet faced the

darknessdarkness The one who speaks with undertones of The one who speaks with undertones of

knowledge and hindsightknowledge and hindsight

HomeworkHomework

Make a list of 5-7 purposes the Make a list of 5-7 purposes the opening scene serves with opening scene serves with regards to mood, regards to mood, characterization, setting, tone, characterization, setting, tone, theme(s)/ideas establishedtheme(s)/ideas established

But First, Some But First, Some ClassworkClasswork

An introduction to Early Modernism & An introduction to Early Modernism & Impressionistic WritingImpressionistic Writing

Impressionistic style: Many vague pieces coming together to form the big picture, requires reader to make their own big picture, reliance on artist’s (Marlow’s) rendition of images/events, subjective, things change moment to moment, focus on emotional landscape – seemingly unimportant details add up to create some idea/feeling

As we view the image on the next slide, follow As we view the image on the next slide, follow along and respond on your handoutalong and respond on your handout

STEP 1: What is this?STEP 1: What is this?

Homework

Consider your notes from last night on the opening scene of Heart of Darkness. Write a brief comparison/contrast response that analyzes how what Conrad is doing with language is similar to the effect created by Monet in this painting.