Heart of DarknessHeart of Darkness

““We live, as we dream, We live, as we dream, alone…”alone…”

The Heart of DarknessThe Heart of Darkness] is a dreadful and ] is a dreadful and fascinating tale, full as any of Poe’s fascinating tale, full as any of Poe’s mystery and haunting terrors, yet with mystery and haunting terrors, yet with all the substantial basis of reality that no all the substantial basis of reality that no man who had not lived as well as dreamed man who had not lived as well as dreamed could conjure into existence.could conjure into existence. --from a review in --from a review in NationNation, 1906, 1906

Joseph ConradJoseph Conrad’’s Lifes Life• Born 1857 in Russian-occupied PolandBorn 1857 in Russian-occupied Poland

• Patriot father & family exiled in Russia 1862Patriot father & family exiled in Russia 1862

• Both parents dead of illness by 1869Both parents dead of illness by 1869

• Conservative uncle took him inConservative uncle took him in• Joined French Merchant Marine at 16 Joined French Merchant Marine at 16 • Kicked out due to his nationality Kicked out due to his nationality

& a suicide attempt& a suicide attempt• Joined British Merchant Marine 1878Joined British Merchant Marine 1878• Left the sea & began writing 1894Left the sea & began writing 1894• Died 1924 & buried in CanterburyDied 1924 & buried in Canterbury

Joseph Conrad’s LifeJoseph Conrad’s Life

• -long stint in the East (Asia) ended, had trouble -long stint in the East (Asia) ended, had trouble finding a new position. finding a new position.

• With the help of a relative in Brussels, took With the help of a relative in Brussels, took position as captain of a steamer for a Belgian position as captain of a steamer for a Belgian trading company.trading company.

• Conrad had dreamed of sailing the CongoConrad had dreamed of sailing the Congo• He had to leave early for the job, as the previous He had to leave early for the job, as the previous

captain was killed in a trivial quarrel – mentally captain was killed in a trivial quarrel – mentally and physically unprepared for journeyand physically unprepared for journey

Joseph Conrad’s LifeJoseph Conrad’s Life• Conrad saw some of the most shocking and Conrad saw some of the most shocking and

depraved examples of human corruption hedepraved examples of human corruption he’’d ever d ever witnessed. He was disgusted by the ill treatment of witnessed. He was disgusted by the ill treatment of the natives, the scrabble for loot, the terrible heat the natives, the scrabble for loot, the terrible heat and the lack of water. and the lack of water.

• He saw human skeletons of bodies left to rot - many He saw human skeletons of bodies left to rot - many were men from the chain gangs building the were men from the chain gangs building the railroads. railroads.

• He found his ship was damaged.He found his ship was damaged.• Dysentary was rampant, as was malaria; Conrad Dysentary was rampant, as was malaria; Conrad

had to terminate his contract due to illness and had to terminate his contract due to illness and never fully recoverednever fully recovered

Historical ContextHistorical Context• In 1890, Joseph Conrad secured employment in the

Congo as the captain of a river steamboat, the approximate year in which the main action of Heart of Darkness takes place.

• Illness forced Conrad's return home after only three months in Africa, but that was long enough for intense impressions to have been formed in the novelist's mind.

• Today, the country at the center of Heart of Darkness is called the called the Democratic Republic of Democratic Republic of the Congothe Congo, , but in Conrad’s time it was the Congo Free State, or Belgian Congo.

Heart of DarknessHeart of Darkness• First published as a serial First published as a serial

in Londonin London’s ’s Blackwood Blackwood MagazineMagazine in 1899 in 1899

• Considered by many to be Considered by many to be the finest short novel ever the finest short novel ever written in Englishwritten in English

• Bridges the Victorian and Bridges the Victorian and Modern literary periodsModern literary periods

• Modern criticism sharply Modern criticism sharply divided over merit due to divided over merit due to racist/imperialist themesracist/imperialist themes

Key Facts

• Full TitleFull Title:: Heart of DarknessHeart of Darkness • AuthorAuthor: : Joseph ConradJoseph Conrad• Type of WorkType of Work: : Novella (between a novel Novella (between a novel

and a short story in length and scope)and a short story in length and scope)• GenreGenre:: Symbolist, colonial literature, Symbolist, colonial literature,

adventure tale, frame story adventure tale, frame story

Key Facts• Time and Place WrittenTime and Place Written:: England, 1898–1899; inspired by England, 1898–1899; inspired by

Conrad’s journey to the Congo in 1890Conrad’s journey to the Congo in 1890

• Date of First PublicationDate of First Publication:: Published in 1902 in the volume Published in 1902 in the volume Youth: A Narrative; and Two Other StoriesYouth: A Narrative; and Two Other Stories

• NarratorNarrator:: There are two narrators: an anonymous There are two narrators: an anonymous passenger on a pleasure ship, who listens to Marlow’s passenger on a pleasure ship, who listens to Marlow’s story, and Marlow himself, a middle-aged ship’s captain.story, and Marlow himself, a middle-aged ship’s captain.

• Point of ViewPoint of View:: The first narrator speaks in the first-person The first narrator speaks in the first-person plural, on behalf of four other passengers who listen to plural, on behalf of four other passengers who listen to Marlow’s tale. Marlow narrates his story in the first Marlow’s tale. Marlow narrates his story in the first person, describing only what he witnesses and person, describing only what he witnesses and experiences, and provides his own commentary on the experiences, and provides his own commentary on the story.story.

Key Facts• Setting (time)Setting (time):: Latter part of the nineteenth Latter part of the nineteenth

century, probably sometime between 1876 and century, probably sometime between 1876 and 18921892

• Setting (place)Setting (place):: Opens on the Thames River Opens on the Thames River outside London, where Marlow is telling the outside London, where Marlow is telling the story that makes up story that makes up Heart of Darkness. Heart of Darkness. Events of Events of the story take place in Brussels, at the Company’s the story take place in Brussels, at the Company’s offices, and in the Congo, then a Belgian offices, and in the Congo, then a Belgian territory.territory.

• ProtagonistProtagonist:: Charlie Marlow Charlie Marlow

Historical Context

Marlow’s & Conrad’s1889-90 journey into

““Heart o f Heart o f DarknessDarkness ””

Joseph Conrad

(1857-1914)

Historical ContextHistorical Context

The Congo River was discovered by The Congo River was discovered by Europeans in 1482Europeans in 1482No one traveled more than No one traveled more than 200 miles upstream until200 miles upstream until18771877Is 1,600 miles long and only Is 1,600 miles long and only impassable to water traffic impassable to water traffic between two places, creating between two places, creating a two-hundred mile overland a two-hundred mile overland triptrip

Matadi (the CompanyMatadi (the CompanyStation)Station)

Kinshasa (the Central Kinshasa (the Central Station)Station)

Historical ContextHistorical Context

• 1878 – King Leopold II of Belgium asked 1878 – King Leopold II of Belgium asked

explorer Henry Morton Stanley to set up a explorer Henry Morton Stanley to set up a

Belgian colony in the CongoBelgian colony in the Congo– Wanted to Wanted to “end slavery and civilize the natives”“end slavery and civilize the natives”– Actually interested in more material benefitsActually interested in more material benefits

• 1885 – Congress of Berlin forms Congo Free State1885 – Congress of Berlin forms Congo Free State– This was ruled by Leopold II aloneThis was ruled by Leopold II alone– The Congress of Berlin is referred to in the book as The Congress of Berlin is referred to in the book as “the “the

International Society for the Suppression of Savage International Society for the Suppression of Savage Customs.”Customs.”

– Leopold never even visited the Congo. He set up Leopold never even visited the Congo. He set up “the “the Company” to run it for him.Company” to run it for him.

15

King Leopold and the CongoKing Leopold and the Congo

•Belgium, as a small country, did not possess Belgium, as a small country, did not possess numerous overseas colonies, unlike its numerous overseas colonies, unlike its neighbours, Holland, France, Germany, and neighbours, Holland, France, Germany, and Great Britain, but shared their imperial Great Britain, but shared their imperial ambitions. Leopold persuaded other ambitions. Leopold persuaded other European powers at the Berlin Conference of European powers at the Berlin Conference of 1884-85 to give him personal possession of 1884-85 to give him personal possession of the Congo.the Congo.•In 1886 he organized an international In 1886 he organized an international association as a front for his private plan to association as a front for his private plan to “develop” central Africa.“develop” central Africa.•Leopold used the Congo as a huge money-Leopold used the Congo as a huge money-making resource, committing human rights making resource, committing human rights violations in the process, as he built public violations in the process, as he built public works projects in Belgium with the money works projects in Belgium with the money he accrued. he accrued.

5-8 Million Victims 5-8 Million Victims (50% of Population)(50% of Population)

““It is blood-curdling to see them (the It is blood-curdling to see them (the soldiers) returning with the hands of soldiers) returning with the hands of the slain, and to find the hands of the slain, and to find the hands of young children amongst the bigger young children amongst the bigger ones evidencing their bravery...The ones evidencing their bravery...The rubber from this district has cost rubber from this district has cost hundreds of lives, and the scenes I hundreds of lives, and the scenes I have witnessed, while unable to help have witnessed, while unable to help the oppressed, have been almost the oppressed, have been almost enough to make me wish I were enough to make me wish I were dead... This rubber traffic is steeped dead... This rubber traffic is steeped in blood, and if the natives were to in blood, and if the natives were to rise and sweep every white person on rise and sweep every white person on the Upper Congo into eternity, there the Upper Congo into eternity, there would still be left a fearful balance to would still be left a fearful balance to their credit.” -- Belgian Official their credit.” -- Belgian Official

White KingWhite King, Red Rubber, , Red Rubber, Black DeathBlack Death• Countries such as France, the Netherlands, and Great Countries such as France, the Netherlands, and Great

Britain that acquired large empires exploited both land Britain that acquired large empires exploited both land and people. However…and people. However…

• Some measures to protect the rights of overseas Some measures to protect the rights of overseas subjects were introduced.subjects were introduced.

• Rights of women and men to vote.Rights of women and men to vote.• Protection against industrial exploitation was making Protection against industrial exploitation was making

child labour illegal and improving employment child labour illegal and improving employment conditions.conditions.

• Some of these rights were followed in the African Some of these rights were followed in the African colonies…..but NOT BY LEOPOLD IIcolonies…..but NOT BY LEOPOLD II

• Leopold had to give up the Congo to Belgium in 1908 as a Leopold had to give up the Congo to Belgium in 1908 as a result of the international campaign exposing Leopoldresult of the international campaign exposing Leopold’s ’s activities in the Congo.activities in the Congo.

The Ivory TradeThe Ivory Trade

• Most Europeans in the 1890s felt Most Europeans in the 1890s felt that the African peoples needed that the African peoples needed exposure to European culture and exposure to European culture and technology to become more technology to become more evolved. evolved.

• This responsibility was known as This responsibility was known as “the white man’s burden” and the “the white man’s burden” and the fervor to bring Christianity and fervor to bring Christianity and commerce to Africa grew.commerce to Africa grew.

• In return for these In return for these “benefits,” the “benefits,” the Europeans extracted HUGE Europeans extracted HUGE amounts of ivory.amounts of ivory.

• Uses of ivory in the 1890sUses of ivory in the 1890s– Jewelry and other decorative itemsJewelry and other decorative items– Piano keysPiano keys– Billiard ballsBilliard balls

• From 1888 to 1892, the amount of ivory From 1888 to 1892, the amount of ivory exported from the Congo rose from exported from the Congo rose from 13,000 pounds to more than a quarter 13,000 pounds to more than a quarter million pounds.million pounds.

• 1892 – Leopold declares all natural 1892 – Leopold declares all natural resources in the Congo are his sole resources in the Congo are his sole propertyproperty– This gave the Belgians free reign to This gave the Belgians free reign to

take whatever they wanted however take whatever they wanted however they wished.they wished.

– Trade expands, new stations are Trade expands, new stations are established farther and farther awayestablished farther and farther away

Belgian Atrocities in the CongoBelgian Atrocities in the Congo• Reports of these atrocities reached the European public,

leading to an international movement protesting the Belgian presence in Africa. These acts, reflected in Heart of Darkness, continued, despite an order by Leopold II that they cease.

• Heart of Darkness was an important literary intervention into the emerging debate about atrocities in the Congo.

• Edmund Dene Morel, who founded the Congo Reform Association in 1904, described Conrad's story as "the most powerful thing ever written on the subject." For Morel, the title became synonymous with the "tortured African world" of the Congo that suffered under the autocratic rule of King Leopold, a man Morel described as "a great genius for evil."

Order in the midst of Chaos:HOD’s Structure

• Patterns of Three: – 3 chapters– 3 times Marlow breaks off the story– 3 stations – 3 women

(Aunt, Mistress, Intended)– 3 central characters

(Kurtz, Marlow, Narrator)– 3 characters with names– 3 views of Africa

(political, religious, economic)

Narrative Style in HOD

• Frame Narrative – (story within story) with narrator, Marlow

• Circular Structure – mimics oral storytelling, readers sits down with sailors, ready to hear myth or quest

• Light and Dark – motifs, symbols

• Transformation –physical, psychological

Narrative Style in HOD• Frame Narrative - The Frame Narrative - The story within a story techniquestory within a story technique

distances Conrad as author. distances Conrad as author. – Readers are unsure whether they are reading the tale second- or Readers are unsure whether they are reading the tale second- or

third-hand. third-hand. – Difficulty in distinguishing whether the opinions expressed are Difficulty in distinguishing whether the opinions expressed are

Conrad's own or the narrator's.Conrad's own or the narrator's.

• The book is divided into three chapters that indicate The book is divided into three chapters that indicate changes in Marlow's attitude towards Kurtz or the idea changes in Marlow's attitude towards Kurtz or the idea of Kurtz. of Kurtz. – In Chapter One, Marlow begins to build a picture of Kurtz from In Chapter One, Marlow begins to build a picture of Kurtz from

other people's descriptions of him. other people's descriptions of him. – Chapter Two sees Marlow's growing obsession with meeting Chapter Two sees Marlow's growing obsession with meeting

and talking with Kurtz. and talking with Kurtz. – In Chapter Three, Marlow and Kurtz actually meet.In Chapter Three, Marlow and Kurtz actually meet.

Narrative Style in HOD

• The book has a distinct circular structure: the first narrator begins and ends the novel in the same evening while on the boat moored on the Thames.

• "Darkness" (excess, madness, destruction) is not only in the jungle but everywhere, even in London, which was the heart of the British empire and its colonialism.

• There is a clear progression downward to hell that recalls Dante’s Inferno, and perhaps also Hamlet’s descent into madness.

• DarknessDarkness• Primitive Impulses (Kurtz, previous captain, etc.)Primitive Impulses (Kurtz, previous captain, etc.)• Cruelty of Man (Kurtz and Company)Cruelty of Man (Kurtz and Company)• Immorality/Amorality (Kurtz)Immorality/Amorality (Kurtz)

• Lies/HypocrisyLies/Hypocrisy • Imperialization/ColonizationImperialization/Colonization Power CorruptsPower Corrupts• Savage vs. CivilSavage vs. Civil• Role of WomenRole of Women• Civilization exploitive of womenCivilization exploitive of women• Civilization as a binding and self-perpetuating forceCivilization as a binding and self-perpetuating force

• Physical connected to PsychologicalPhysical connected to Psychological• Barriers (fog, thick forest)Barriers (fog, thick forest)• Rivers (connection to past, parallels time and Rivers (connection to past, parallels time and

journey)journey)

Heart of Darkness Heart of Darkness MotifsMotifs

““Foster”ing ConnectionsFoster”ing Connections

• GeographyGeography• WeatherWeather• Illness or diseaseIllness or disease• Bible or mythological allusionsBible or mythological allusions• QuestQuest• SymbolsSymbols• Eating as communionEating as communion• IronyIrony

Light vs. DarkLight vs. DarkHeavy vs. LightHeavy vs. LightInferiority vs. SuperiorityInferiority vs. SuperiorityCivil vs. SavageCivil vs. SavageInterior vs. ExteriorInterior vs. ExteriorIllusion vs. TruthIllusion vs. TruthMisogyny vs. MisanthropyMisogyny vs. MisanthropyInsanity vs. SanityInsanity vs. SanityRacism vs. Anti-racismRacism vs. Anti-racismImperialism vs. InsularityImperialism vs. Insularity

Contrasts in Heart of DarknessContrasts in Heart of Darkness

What is Modernism?What is Modernism?• Criticized the 19th century as a dangerously unreal period of

comfortable certainty and positive assurance• Broke up the logically developing plot typical of 19th century

novel• Attempted to use language in a new way• Drew attention to style instead of trying to make it

“transparent”• Offered unexpected connections or sudden changes in

perspective• Played with shifting and contradictory appearances to

suggest the shifting and uncertain nature of reality• Used interior monologues and free association to express

the rhythm of consciousness• Blended fantasy with reality while representing real

historical or psychological dilemmas

What is Modernism?

• Modernism claims to show: – a more accurate representation of reality– a better understanding of human

consciousness

• The 20th century “vision” places its emphasis on how we know – on the structures of perception themselves – rather than on traditional elements such as plot and character development.

InterpretationsInterpretations

• Archetypal (the shadow; the quest)

• Marxist

• Sociological / Cultural

• Psychological

• Formalist

• Modernist

• Religious

• Moral

The Shadow Archetype• The Shadow - reflects deeper elements of our

psyche, where latent dispositions which are common to us all arise. – Our shadow may appear in dreams, hallucinations

and musings, often as something or someone who is bad, fearsome or despicable in some way.

– It also reflects something that was once split from us in early management of the objects in our lives.

• We tend to see it in “others.” That is to say, we project our dark side onto others and thus interpret them as “enemies” or as “exotic.”

• Thus, the shadow is the personification of that part of human, psychic possibility that we deny in ourselves and project onto others.

• The goal of personality integration is to integrate the rejected, inferior side of our life into our total experience and to take responsibility for it.

The Shadow Archetype• The goal of personality integration is to integrate the

rejected, inferior side of our life into our total experience and to take responsibility for it.

• It is, by its name, dark, shadowy, unknown and potentially troubling. It embodies chaos and wildness of character. – The shadow thus tends not to obey rules, and in doing

so may discover new lands or plunge things into chaos and battle.

– It has a sense of the exotic and can be disturbingly fascinating. In myth, it appears as the wild man, spider-people, mysterious fighters and dark enemies.

The Archetypal QuestThe Archetypal Quest• HOD is a modern myth (= tradition of quest narrative)HOD is a modern myth (= tradition of quest narrative)

– In a quest, the story develops as a central character, In a quest, the story develops as a central character, the hero, meets and overcomes a series of obstacles the hero, meets and overcomes a series of obstacles on the way to accomplishing a task. on the way to accomplishing a task.

– archetypal quest stories – Virgil’s archetypal quest stories – Virgil’s AeneidAeneid & Dante's & Dante's InfernoInferno

• HOD contains mythological “quest” elements: HOD contains mythological “quest” elements: -- fellow journeymen (the Pilgrims) -- fellow journeymen (the Pilgrims) -- a fool (the Harlequin = the Russian) -- a fool (the Harlequin = the Russian) -- a set of obstacles as they travel down river -- a set of obstacles as they travel down river

(“descent to the underworld”)(“descent to the underworld”)

The Archetypal Quest

• But is there a conventional hero? • It is unclear whether the hero is Marlow or

Kurtz.

– Marlow is a flawed hero - for most of the book he lacks insight and is uncertain of the nature of his own quest, nor is it clear why he is obsessed by Kurtz.

– Kurtz himself remains an enigma. This quest yields an empty prize: the mystery, the task, remains incomplete, "unsolved."

Marxist Interpretation

• “Marxism” refers to the economics of class warfare.• Heart of Darkness is a depiction of, and an attack upon,

colonialism in general, and, more specifically, the brutal form colonialism took in the Belgian Congo. – the mistreatment of the Africans – the greed of the so-called "pilgrims" – the broken idealism of Kurtz– the French man-of-war lobbing shells into the jungle – the grove of death which Marlow stumbles upon– the little note that Kurtz appends to his noble-minded essay on

The Suppression of Savage Customs– the importance of ivory to the economics of the system.

Sociological/Cultural Interpretation

• Heart of Darkness may also be read as a sociological investigation of those who conquer and those who are conquered, and the complicated interplay between them. – Marlow's invocation of the Roman conquest of Britain – cultural ambiguity of those Africans who have taken on some of

the ways of their Europeans – the ways in which the wilderness tends to strip away the civility

of the Europeans and brutalize them – Conrad is not impartial and scientifically detached from these

things, and he even has a bit of fun with such impartiality in his depiction the doctor who tells Marlow that people who go out to Africa become "scientifically interesting."

Psychological Interpretation

• Conrad goes out of his way to suggest that in some sense Marlow's journey is like a dream or a return to our primitive past -- an exploration of the dark recesses of the human mind. – Apparent similarities to the psychological theories of Sigmund

Freud in its suggestion that dreams are a clue to hidden areas of the mind

– we are all primitive brutes and savages, capable of the most appalling wishes and the most horrifying impulses (the Id)

– we can make sense of the urge Marlow feels to leave his boat and join the natives for a savage whoop and holler

– notice that Marlow keeps insisting that Kurtz is a voice -- a voice who seems to speak to him out of the heart of the immense darkness

Religious Interpretation

• Heart of Darkness is also an examination of various aspects of religion and religious practices.– the way Conrad plays with the concept of pilgrims

and pilgrimages – the role of Christian missionary concepts in the

justifications of the colonialists– the dark way in which Kurtz fulfills his own messianic

ambitions by setting himself up as one of the local gods

Focus on the literary patterns and structures Focus on the literary patterns and structures inherent in inherent in Heart of DarknessHeart of Darkness

Threes: 3 parts to the story, 3 breaks in the story Threes: 3 parts to the story, 3 breaks in the story (1 in pt. 1 and 2 in pt. 2), and 3 central characters: (1 in pt. 1 and 2 in pt. 2), and 3 central characters: the outside narrator, Marlow and Kurtzthe outside narrator, Marlow and Kurtz

Contrasting images (dark and light, open and Contrasting images (dark and light, open and closed)closed)

Center to periphery: Kurtz-> Marlow-> Outside Center to periphery: Kurtz-> Marlow-> Outside Narrator-> the readerNarrator-> the reader

Are the answers to be found in the center or on Are the answers to be found in the center or on the periphery?the periphery?

Formalist Interpretation

Heart of DarknessHeart of Darkness published in the Late Victorian published in the Late Victorian Era exhibits mostly modern traits:Era exhibits mostly modern traits:

• a distrust of abstractions as a way of delineating truth a distrust of abstractions as a way of delineating truth • an interest in an exploration of the psychological an interest in an exploration of the psychological • a belief in art as a separate and somewhat privileged a belief in art as a separate and somewhat privileged

kind of human experience kind of human experience • a desire for transcendence mingled with a feeling that a desire for transcendence mingled with a feeling that

transcendence cannot be achievedtranscendence cannot be achieved• an awareness of and interest in primitiveness and an awareness of and interest in primitiveness and

savagery as the condition upon which civilization is savagery as the condition upon which civilization is builtbuilt

• a skepticism and a sense that multiplicity, ambiguity, a skepticism and a sense that multiplicity, ambiguity, and irony—in life and in art—are the necessary and irony—in life and in art—are the necessary responses of the intelligent mind to the human responses of the intelligent mind to the human condition. condition.

Modernist Interpretation

Moral InterpretationMoral Interpretation

Heart of DarknessHeart of Darkness is preoccupied with general questions is preoccupied with general questions about the about the nature of good and evilnature of good and evil, or civilization and , or civilization and savagery. What saves Marlow from becoming evil? Is savagery. What saves Marlow from becoming evil? Is Kurtz more or less evil than the pilgrims? Why does Kurtz more or less evil than the pilgrims? Why does Marlow associate lies with mortality?Marlow associate lies with mortality?

• Moral ambiguityMoral ambiguity is a central concept in the novel, and is is a central concept in the novel, and is expressed throughout the narrative in the tension between expressed throughout the narrative in the tension between opposing forces.opposing forces.

• IronyIrony is also deeply embedded in the novel. is also deeply embedded in the novel.– At one level, it shows the hypocrisy of the Europeans’ “moral” At one level, it shows the hypocrisy of the Europeans’ “moral”

purpose of invading Africa, when their motive is really only purpose of invading Africa, when their motive is really only commercial. commercial.

– At another level, it shows how these European emissaries, instead of At another level, it shows how these European emissaries, instead of 'suppressing savage customs,' actually become savages themselves.'suppressing savage customs,' actually become savages themselves.

Moral InterpretationMoral Interpretation

• CivilizationCivilization versus versus wildernesswilderness• CultureCulture versus versus savagerysavagery• FascinationFascination versus versus repulsionrepulsion• FreedomFreedom versus versus restraintrestraint• InnocenceInnocence versus versus experienceexperience• JusticeJustice versus versus injusticeinjustice• RealityReality versus versus unrealityunreality• StrengthStrength versus versus weaknessweakness• SuccessSuccess versus versus failurefailure• WorkWork versus versus idlenessidleness

Questions to Consider Questions to Consider as you Read as you Read:

• What does it mean to be “savage” or “civilized?”What does it mean to be “savage” or “civilized?”

• What are the different meanings of the words What are the different meanings of the words “dark” and “light”? Notice how many times “dark” and “light”? Notice how many times Conrad uses this description in different ways.Conrad uses this description in different ways.

• Why do people choose to do good? or evil?Why do people choose to do good? or evil?