[an error occurred while processing this directive] Conrads Heart Of Darkness
Conrad's Heart of Darkness Conrad's novel, Heart of Darkness, relies on his knowledge of history in order to describe its protagonist, Charlie Marlow, and his struggle. Marlow's feeling in the novel, as he goes to the Congo, rests on how he visualizes the effects of what is going on around him. Meaning that his attitude will be change during his experiences and his thoughts will change with everything that he learns. Marlow's change as caused by his exposure to the historical period in which he lived is important to his views of the situation, especially with his view of Kurtz. Marlow is asked by the company, the organization for whom he works, to travel to the Congo river and report back to them about Mr. Kurtz, a top notch officer of theirs. When he sets sail, he doesn't know what to expect. When his journey is completed, this little trip will have changed Marlow forever. Heart of Darkness is a story of one man's journey through the African Congo and the enlightenment of his soul. It begins with Charlie Marlow, along with a few of his comrades, cruising aboard the Nellie, a traditional sailboat. On the boat, Marlow begins to tell of his experiences in the Congo. Conrad uses Marlow to reveal all the personal thoughts and emotions that he wants to portray while Marlow goes on this voyage of a lifetime. Marlow begins his voyage as an ordinary English sailor who is traveling to the African Congo on a business trip. He is an Englishman who has never been exposed to any alternative form of culture similar to the one he will encounter in Africa, and he has no idea about the drastically different culture which exists out there. Throughout the book, Conrad, via Marlow's observations, reveals to the reader the naive mentality shared by every European. However, after only a short period of time in the Congo, he realizes the ignorance he and all his crew have. We first recognize the general naïve attitude of the Europeans when Marlow's aunt is seeing him for the last time before he embarks on his journey. Marlow's aunt is under the assumption that the voyage is a mission to wean those ignorant millions from their horrid ways (Conrad 760). In reality, however, the Europeans main objective is to earn a substantial profit by collecting all the ivory in Africa. Suspense picks up when Marlow becomes closer to meeting Kurtz. He hears Mr. Kurtz being refereed to as that man. Although Marlow hasn't met Kurtz yet, he has heard of his greatness from the people who were in the company back home. He now realizes that by these men calling him that man, they strip him of all his attributes. When one hears Kurtz, they think of a very remarkable person. These men are now, by not referring to him by his name, denying Kurtz's accomplishments. Marlow lacked this authority to name. Mr. Kurtz is the Chief of the Inner Station. He is a universal genius, a prodigy, an emissary of pity science and progress. It is Kurtz who will teach Marlow what a name is, for one simple reason. The man presented himself as a voice...of all his gifts, the one that stood out preeminently, that carried with it a sense of real presence, was his ability to talk, his words---the gift of expression, the bewildering, the illuminating... (Conrad 760). Indeed, Kurtz gives Marlow everything Marlow is looking for. However, he does it in a very unconventional way. Kurtz teaches Marlow the lesson with his last words. The horror! The horror! (Conrad 795). These last words are Kurtz's own judgment, judgment on the life that he has lived. He has evaluated his life, and he has pronounced a judgment upon the adventures of his soul on this earth (Conrad 795). Marlow sees Kurtz open his mouth wide---it gave him a weirdly voracious aspect, as though he wanted to swallow all the air, all the earth, all the men before him... (Conrad 795). Kurtz takes everything in. He takes his life, and puts it all out on the table. Kurtz's last words are his way of teaching Marlow the essence of a name. A name is not merely a label at all. However, unlike the Europeans who judge based on already existing principles which they have acquired, Kurtz taught Marlow to look inside of himself and to judge based on his own morals. This is the lesson that Marlow had learned. Objective standards alone will not lead one to recognize the reality in something. One can not depend only on another's principles to find his reality in something. This judgment must be from one's own internal strengths. That is why Marlow says, for good or evil, mine is the speech that can not be silenced (Conrad 797). As Kurtz has taught Marlow with his own judgment, a judgment of truth overpowers morality. Sometimes individual morals are not always correct, but are just personal beliefs. To find one's own reality, that person must not rely on other people's morals and people's principles; he must evaluate his own life. What Kurtz did is that he showed that regardless of whether the truth is good or bad, each person must face up to their own reality. He must face up to his own actions even when the conclusion is the horror and by doing so, he will find his true reality. On his voyage, Marlow notices at one of the stations, a picture that Kurtz had drawn when he was there. It is a sketch on a panel representing a woman draped and blindfolded, carrying a lighted torch. Marlow didn't really know what it meant. However, this was a perfect representation of Kurtz himself. Firstly, the background was black and totally dark. This was something similar to Kurtz because his life is full of darkness. He kills, he steals, and he is worshipped as a god. Kurtz cannot be without blackness and survive. Eventually Marlow realizes that Kurtz's picture was in essence, a self-portrait. The same thing which Kurtz conveyed with 'the horror', he conveyed with this picture. Marlow learns the essence of naming and understands what it means to 'be yourself'. However, Marlow has encountered two extremes. The European mentality, which is completely opposite to reality, and Kurtz, a man who has found his reality, but it is one of horror and no restraint from any wrongdoing. Marlow was then returning to his home to deal with his former world, however, afterwards he possessed his new understanding. Marlow cannot return to his previous 'European ways' simply because he has been changed by all of the events leading up to and around the Congo with Kurtz and the whole trip. Marlow is repelled from joining Kurtz for several reasons. Kurtz had denied any sort of moral convictions in order to be worshipped as a god. Because of this uncontrollable power, Kurtz lost all sense of restraint and became the savage that he was. Marlow, however, has not lost his sense of morality. It is because of Marlow's rejection of both the Europeans, who Marlow claims are full of stupid importance and of Kurtz's inability to establish his own moral code. The first time the reader witnesses Marlow's choice is when he first gets back to Europe. Marlow finds himself resenting the way the Europeans went about their life, hurrying through the streets to filch a little money from each other... He basically thought that their lives were meaningless because of their blindness. [an error occurred while processing this directive] Imagry In The Fall Of The House Of Usher
Imagery in The Fall of the House of Usher The description of the landscape in any story is important as it creates a vivid imagery of the scene and helps to develop the mood. Edgar Allan Poe is a master at using imagery to improve the effects of his stories. He tends to use the landscapes to symbolize some important aspect of the story. Also, he makes use of the landscape to produce a supernatural effect and to induce horror. In particular, Poe makes great use of these tools in The Fall of the House of Usher. This story depends on the portrayal of the house itself to create a certain atmosphere and to relate to the Usher family. In The Fall of the House of Usher, Edgar Allan Poe uses the landscape to develop an atmosphere of horror and to create corollary to the Usher family. Poe uses the life-like characteristics of the house as a device for giving the house a supernatural presence. The house is described as having somewhat supernatural characteristics. The windows appear to be vacant and eye-like (1462). The strange nature of the house is further explained as around the mansion, …there hung an atmosphere peculiar to themselves and their immediate vicinity. (1462). This demonstrates that the house and its surroundings have an unusual and bizarre existence. Upon entering the house, the narrator views some objects, such as the tapestries on the walls and the trophies, fill him with a sense of superstition. He describes the trophies as phantasmagoric (1462). He further explains that the house and the contents were the cause of his feelings. He describes his superstition one night, I endeavored to believe that much, if not all of what I felt, was due to the phantasmagoric influence of the gloomy furniture of the room… (1468). Hence, Poe makes use of the house to create a supernatural effect. Likewise, Poe describes the house to create a terrifying effect. The Fall of the House of Usher is a horror story. In order to develop a mood to get the reader frightened, Poe must portray the setting of the story. The house is described initially by the narrator, who sees the image of the house as a skull or death’s head looming out of the dead. He is not sure what to think and comments of the properties of the old house: What was it, I paused to think, what was it that so unnerved me in the contemplation of the house of Usher? (1461 - 1462). The house is further described to take on expressions and feelings. Poe writes that the house took on a sorrowful impression and referred to it as the melancholy House of Usher (1462). Poe further describes the surroundings: …an atmosphere which had no affinity with the air of heaven, but which had reeked up from the decayed trees, and the gray wall, and the silent tarn -- a pestilent and mystic vapor, dull, sluggish, faintly discernible, and leaden-hued. (1463). These portrayals of the house and its surroundings are used to build an effect for the story. This fantastic imagery sets the mood of the twisted events and serves as a backbone to the story and the characters. Besides mood setting, Poe uses the house to strongly relate to the nature of the characters. The narrator states that Roderick’s fears may be linked directly to the house. He is enchained by certain superstitious impressions in regard to the dwelling which he tenanted, and from which, for many years, he had never ventured forth. (1465). He believes that Roderick’s illness may be caused by the conditions of the house itself. Roderick is found as …an anomalous species of terror…a bounden slave, or he is described as a prisoner in his own home. As a result, Roderick does not leave because the influence of the house was too strong. There was …an influence which some peculiarities in the mere form and substance of his family mansion had, …he said, obtained over his spirit -- an effect which the physique of the gray wall and turrets…brought about upon the morale of his existence. (1465). Because of this fear, Roderick is retrained from leaving and does not make the attempt to defeat this enduring power that holds him captive. The house causes the fears that control Roderick Usher’s mind. Madeline Usher is effected also since she has a severe mental disorder and is in a catatonic state. Clearly the house plays a role to greatly influence the characters. Moreover, the house parallels the Usher family. The two are analogous to one another with the patterns of each being the same. The landscape and the minds of Roderick and Madeline reflect each other. The house is in deterioration as is the mental states of Roderick and Madeline. The melancholy House of Usher has a sorrowful impression while the Usher family was down to the last of the ancient race of their family (1461 - 1462). Both are crumbling from within, awaiting collapse. Furthermore, the disappearance of one implies the disappearance of the other. Everything eventually declines together, creating a unity of effect. Roderick collapsed to the floor, a victim to the terrors he had anticipated (1474). As the narrator ran from the house, he saw the mighty walls rushing asunder and the fragments of the ‘HOUSE OF USHER’ (1474). Poe uses the house of Usher as a parallel to the family in that they slowly deteriorate and eventually fall together. In addition, Poe applies the poem The Haunted Palace to make a connection between the house and its inhabitants. The poem can be described as a resemblance to the story itself. In the poem, Poe states that the house was once a fair and stately palace. This depicts the history of the house of Usher. Over time, the house deteriorated along with the emotions of the people occupying it: But evil things, in robes of sorrow, Assailed the monarch’s high estate; (Ah, let us mourn, for never morrow Shall dawn upon him, desolate!) And, round bout his home, the glory That blushed and bloomed Is but a dim-remembered story Of the old time entombed. Apparently, the house has been overcome by evil and the happiness the once lived is now just a memory. The current state of the house is a dim and depressing one, as described in the poem: A hideous throng rush out forever, / And laugh -- but smile no more. Thus, Poe makes use of this story within a story to create a further description how the house and family relate to each other (1467 - 1468). The technique Poe uses to develop a landscape is similar to the methods of Washington Irving. In The Legend of Sleepy Hollow and Rip Van Winkle, Irving uses the landscape to help enhance the story. Irving describes the atmosphere in Rip Van Winkle to help portray the lives of Americans compared to the British. The entire environment, such as the woods and mountains, was used. Irving also uses the same means in The Legend of Sleepy Hollow. This story is similar to The Fall of the House of Usher since it depicts the atmosphere to create an eerie feeling. The landscape is set to heighten the idea of a headless horseman roaming the woods. Both Poe and Irving have used the landscapes to create a vivid and extraordinary effect. In conclusion, Poe’s use of the landscape in The Fall of the House of Usher helps create a supernatural and frightening atmosphere as well as embellish the plot of the story and characters. The portrayal of the house as one with life-like characteristics produces the supernatural atmosphere. The house is almost unreal which makes the setting more terrifying. The idea of a dreadful house and the reaction of the narrator gives a ghostly impression to the reader. Poe also uses the house to magnify the plot and the characters. The house was in deterioration as was the Usher family. The poem, The Haunted Place, summarizes the life of the house. The house also affects the Usher family. The mental states of Roderick and Madeline were directly related to the house itself. They felt overpowed by the strength of the house. The lives of the two

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