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Post by riaparikh on Nov 2, 2022 16:48:08 GMT -8
In the story "Heart of Darkness" when describing the Nellie the author Joseph Conrad uses soft diction like"at rest" "nearly calm" "come and wait" (Conrad 65). Versus when describing the area around the town he uses mysterious and perilous words such as "canvas sharply peaked" "air was dark" "mournful gloom, brooding motionless" (Conrad 65). When compared, the town itself is "the biggest, and the greatest, town on earth" which could imply foreshadowing of what might happen to the town. The text then moves forward to an opinionated first person narration of themselves and their crew mates. An example of this would be, “We four affectionately watched his back as he stood in the bows looking to seaward” (Conrad 65). The narrator calls and describes each crew mate as their occupation and not their name, and the occupations are higher-paying occupations in which we could interpret the ship as a more expensive ride. The river that the boat is sailing on the changes “Forthwith a change came over the waters, and the serenity became less brilliant but more profound” “The tidal current runs to and fro in its unceasing service, crowded with memories of men and ships it had borne to the rest of home or to the battles of the sea” (Conrad 66). All this adds to the deeper meaning of the setting, and it gives personification to the river. Overall, after the narrator described his friendly relationship with his crew mates, why would he not refer to them by name but rather by their occupation, like “Lawyer” and “Accountant”? Hi Max! I think these are really good points, it will be very interesting to see how Conrad uses contrast between the Nellie and the town in the story! I also very much agree that the original narrator is opinionated which I found helpful that you pointed out, because it will make it easier to find bias later in the text. Additionally, the detail about the different sea-members' jobs was really interesting, I hadn't noticed that before. Finally, I'm not quite sure the answer to your question but I think it may be because the author did not want to establish too many characters for us to learn. By not giving us the names, we don't remember them as specific characters, but can still use them for background knowledge to learn more about the important characters. |
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Post by riaparikh on Nov 2, 2022 16:56:31 GMT -8
In the text, "The Heart of Darkness" a majority of section 1 is consumed by Marlow's dialogue in which he explains the sense of darkness in vivid detail. The setting describes the eeriness of the gloom and silence in the town that the characters are located in. For example, the text states, "The air was dark above Gravesend, and farther back still seemed condensed into a mournful gloom, brooding motionless over the biggest, and the greatest, town on earth."(Conrad, 65). First of all, this gloom has been personified to be able to "brood" which demonstrates the extent of the darkness and how it was felt by the townspeople. The significance of the greatest town on earth feeling this darkness so profoundly is daunting because normally they are meant to have more connection and light-hearted sentiments associated with them. Another example of this darkness in the setting, states, "A narrow and deserted street in deep shadow,high houses, innumerable windows with venetian blinds, a dead silence, grass sprouting between the stones, imposing carriage archways right and left, immense double doors standing ponderously ajar." (Conrad 73). This time the silence is brought into the picture which makes the already gloomy darkeness stretch on as silence does. Furthermore, the author states, "I came upon more pieces of decaying machinery, a stack of rusty rails. To the left a clump of trees made a shady spot, where dark things seemed to stir feebly" (Conrad, 80). The effect of such rusty and shady pieces in this setting adds to the darkness and begins to add weight to how scary it can be to lurk in the darkness. Another instance in the text states, "The great wall of vegetation, an exuberant and entangled mass of trunks, branches, leaves, boughs, festoons, motionless in the moonlight, was like a rioting invasion of soundless life, a rolling wave of plants, piled up, crested, ready to topple over the creek, to sweep every little man of us out of his little existence." (Conrad, 98). This example is at the end of the first section and combines all the examples of darkness accumulated into one; the gloom, the silence, the rolling wave motion stretching on forever, like the darkness.Hi Elizabeth! I think this is a really interesting take and fits perfectly within the "Heart of Darkness" title. Everything you are saying reminds me of this quote from Marlow "'And this also,' said Marlow suddenly, 'has been one of the dark places of the earth.'" (Conrad 6) Your writing also implies that darkness has a negative connotation, which I didn't realize until you said so. This is a fascinating analysis of the setting and I can't wait to see how the implications of the darkness in this town and river play into the themes of the text. |
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Post by amnakhan123 on Nov 2, 2022 17:13:47 GMT -8
Within part I of Heart of Darkness, there are numerous references to the setting of the novel, most of which parallel with changes occurring in the plot. For example, within the beginning pages, the author describes the sea-reach of the Thames as “stretched before us like the beginning of an interminable waterway”. From this, we can see that through this description, the author is conveying that, much like the water, the future events in the novel will also be an endless route of discussion and full of challenges for the characters and eventually readers. As for important shifts in setting, it is clear that within the story of Marlow’s previous voyage, the setting is transformed from meditative waterways to a foreign city with “a narrow and deserted street in deep shadow, high houses, innumerable windows with venetian blinds, a dead silence…”. From this, we can see that through the change in setting, the tone of the narrative has also dramatically become more ominous and may possibly be filled with foreshadowing. This indicates that the main force moving the otherwise slow-moving plot would be the intense imagery instilled by the author. As the reader delves deeper into part 1, we also gain historical context about the time period through the author’s vivid descriptions. Marlow recounts the coast with “various places-trading places-with names like Gran’ Brassam, Little Popo; names that seemed to belong to some sordid force…”, implying that the city and many others similar to it, must have been involved in the renowned Atlantic trade of the late 19th century. This provides further insight into the reasons for Marlow’s voyage and his preconceived notions when he first takes off.
Question: Why does the narrator specifically use setting (its effects and indications) to explain an extremely heavy topic, such as colonialism?
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adrienne lee, period 1
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Post by adrienne lee, period 1 on Nov 2, 2022 17:16:00 GMT -8
The first piece of evidence is:“The air was dark above Gravesend, and father back still seemed condensed into a mournful gloom, brooding motionless over the biggest, and the greatest, town on earth.” This represents a dark sky, perhaps at night or that it is very cloudy or ash-filled. The “mournful gloom” demonstrates a murky, mysterious aura around the “greatest town on earth.” The next piece of evidence is: “The Director of Companies was our captain and our host. We four affectionately watched his back…He resembled a pilot, which to a seaman is trustworthiness personified.” This demonstrates the background setting of the relationships between the four men on board. The four men on board, not including the captain, share a mutual respect and care for the captain. The narrator’s emphasis on how trustworthy the Captain was by describing the significance of comparing him to a pilot stresses how he unifies the differences between the crew because he has the trust of each individual. Lastly, the third piece of evidence is:“The water shone pacifically; the sky, without a speck, was a benign immensity of unstained light; the very mist on the Essex marsh was like a gauzy and radiant fabric, hung from the wooded rises inland, and draping the low shores in diaphanous folds. Only the gloom to the wet, brooding over the upper reaches became more sombre every minute, as if angered by the approach of the sun.” This image reinforces the mysterious and haziness of the undescribed explicit location. One question would be “where does this story take place?” because there is mention of an Essex shore, perhaps alluding to a location by the UK but we do not know for sure.
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Post by Isaac Cruz on Nov 2, 2022 17:28:19 GMT -8
In Part 1 of Heart of Darkness, The conditions of the setting is arranged from calm as we see contextual evidence display such" The water shone pacifically; the sky, without a speck, was a benign immensity of unstained light; the very mist on the Essex marshes was like a gauzy and radiant fabric". In doing so, the audience comes to visualize an image of water that i calm, a setting that is imaginable in a vivid reference. Furthermore the setting's condition in terms of the sea they resemble within "The sea-reach of the Thames stretched before us like the beginning of an interminable waterway. In the offing the sea and the sky were welded together without a joint". The simple yet complex statement stirs an image within the minds. As we venture throughout this setting, the author goes on to state a journey through it, "The edge of a colossal jungle, so dark-green as to be almost black, fringed with white surf, ran straight, like a ruled line, far, far away along a blue sea whose glitter was blurred by a creeping mist. The sun was fierce, the land seemed to glisten and drip with steam”. Th audience is brought to a major shift when Marlow states, “Forthwith a change came over the waters, and the serenity became less brilliant but more profound.”, showing a shift from a dark depressing setting to one that is exemplified by an essence of life through a dark to bright contrast.The audience infers a large area, characterized and growing darker. It creates a sense of pathological fear. Relative to this statement, the audience creates a stark contrast of both light and dark. In addition to the description of the areas complexio, marlow engages in words that exemplify the natives within the area such "death and exile", creating a sense of unfamiliarity that wreaks of fear within the audience. The audience is yet more engaged to read further on about this new, vast and undiscovered frontier. Marlow complexifies the setting in which these people are relative within, but in such, Why does Marlow create varying stark contrast with the settings that display a difference of arenas?
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Post by Isaac Cruz on Nov 2, 2022 17:34:34 GMT -8
In the novel the Heart of Darkness by Joseph Conrad, the author first depicts a peaceful, tranquil, and harmonious setting, as seen in the description of the river, “ the flood had made, the wind was near calm, and being bound down the river, the only thing for it was to come to and wait for the turn of the tide.” (Conrad, 65) This is a vivid image that the author provides for the audience, which establishes the first impression of the setting for the readers. It suggests that the story starts off in a seemingly peaceful environment. This atmosphere of tranquility was further reaffirmed by the description of the activities on the ship, “Afterwards for some reason or other, we didn't begin the game of dominoes. We felt meditative, and fit for nothing but placid staring. (Conrad, 66) Later descriptions of the setting and the surrounding environment further establish this feeling of peace and serenity, as seen in the author’s depiction “The day was ending in a serenity of still and exquisite brilliance. The water shone pacifically; the sky, without a speck, was a benign immensity of unstained light.” (Conrad 66) However, the author also suggests a transition from the initial tranquility, with the change in position and time. The author specifically depicts “the sun sank low,” (Conrad 66), which indicates that the setting of the story is now at nighttime. The statement “Forthwith a change came over the waters, and the serenity became less brilliant but more profound.” (Conrad, 66) This transition could be associated with the change in time, but it also suggests that a difference in atmosphere and environment is going to happen. One question that I have is- what’s the significance of the setting of such a peaceful and tranquil atmosphere, and what purpose does it serve? Hey Matthew! I really enjoyed your approach to this story. Having similar ideas, I thought that the depictions of peaceful, tranquil, and harmonious were on par with the story that was set forth. I enjoyed how you used the quote “Afterwards for some reason or other, we didn't begin the game of dominoes. We felt meditative, and fit for nothing but placid staring. (Conrad, 66) to depict the environment that surrounded the individuals as a peaceful sense of serenity and peace was most definently present at a point. I enjoyed how you futhered the use of your statements by exemplifying the switch from light to dark, as the sun sinking low was a visual of a setting shift, yet a change in the new barriers and frontiers they would find themselves among. The purpose that the peaceful setting serves can be a mere form the contrast from, adding depth to the place that they are, creating a vivid imagery for the audience. Thank you Henry! I enjoyed your take on part one of the novel of Heart of Darkness  |
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Post by amnakhan123 on Nov 2, 2022 17:35:41 GMT -8
Throughout the text “Heart of Darkness”, author Joseph Conrad utilizes vivid imagery and figurative language to put the reader in the position of the characters as well as colloquialism in order to immerse the reader in the dialogue as well as give the reader context on the time period and setting. Towards the beginning of the text the author draws an image of the setting in the readers mind by using figurative speech in addition to vivid imagery. “the sea and the sky were welded together without a joint, and in the luminous space the tanned sails of the barges drifting up with the tide seemed to stand still in red clusters of canvas sharply peaked, with gleams of varnished sprit”. In this portion of the text the author describes the environment surrounding the characters and establishes that they are at sea. The use of figurative language exaggerates the different aspects of their surroundings such as the sea in comparison to the sky and the tide. Colloquialism is also used throughout the text in order to portray the language of the men while at sea, this allows the reader to gain a sense of the time period. “‘I suppose you fellows remember I did once turn fresh-water sailor for a bit,’ that we knew we were fated, before the ebb began to run, to hear about one of Marlow’s inconclusive experiences.“ This quote shows the slang used between the characters shows a general time frame as well as depicts the more relaxed attitude they had at sea. Hi Loretta. I agree with the points made in your post. To add on, I think the figurative language not only exaggerates the surroundings, but also works to reinforce the relationship between the sea and sky. Since they are both major elements of the setting, the literary device allows us to envision the setting as a "bigger picture" and truly grasp why they seem to work together with the plot. As for the concept of colloquialism, I never considered it when reading through part 1, but after reading your post, I do think it accurately describes certain sections of the novel. |
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Post by ejknez on Nov 2, 2022 17:35:53 GMT -8
Joseph Conrad’s short story “Heart of Darkness” takes place in the late 19th century (1800’s), in the waters surrounding Europe. Marlow says, “I was thinking of very old times, when the Romans first came here, nineteen hundred years ago--the other day…” (Part 1, page 3), placing this story after the Romans’ empire ruled the area, and before the end of British imperialism. For further information in regards to the time period, the Romans conquered Britain a little bit after 50 Anno Domini, I think some time during 43 Anno Domini if I’m not mistaken. And British imperialism began in the sixteenth century and ended in the late twentieth century (1900’s), I think 1979 or 1980, again if I’m not mistaken. Marlow conveniently mentions that the Romans conquered Britain some, “nineteen hundred years ago…” (Part 1, page 3), meaning that “Heart of Darkness”, according to Marlow’s perception of time, most likely takes place around the 1860’s. More specifically the years 1857 to 1957. However Joseph Conrad had written “Heart of Darkness” in 1899 and his short story would only get published in 1902. And, Joseph Conrad, as the author, had had no logical reason to have the story be set in the future, seeing as it would not have appeared to serve any literary purpose. So, now the range at which the story can take place is 1857 to 1899. But wait, there’s more, some literary historians and normal people interested as to the history of “Heart of Darkness” and Joseph Conrad speculated that the short story had been written and based off of his previous voyages and expeditions after three years of acting as the Captain of a ship under a Belgian trading company along the Congo River, which is also where “Heart of Darkness” takes place or at the very least begins. Joseph Conrad’s final voyage ended in the year 1893. Leaving us with a time frame/ range of 1857 to 1893. Although the author was born on December third in 1857, so I doubt that the story took place before he was a mature adult. According to several sources he had begun his first voyage only twelve days after his seventeenth birthday on the fifteenth of December in 1874. And supposedly he had been occupied with this career until his final voyage, which was in 1893 as I previously stated. And seeing as Marlow’s character is based on Joseph Conrad himself, I would think it’s fair to say that “Heart of Darkness” takes place during his final voyage. The exact date as to when his final voyage began is a tad shaky, I’ve seen some saying it first set sail in December of 1890, and others saying it set sail in January the following year (1891). But I digress, either way I feel as though it’s fair to narrow down the “Heart of Darkness” to being set in the years of (late) 1890, or (early) 1891, to 1893. A two or three year time frame is, in my opinion, a great estimated range for the year at which “Heart of Darkness” or any other book is set. Note: I understand I went a tad (by which I mean extremely) off topic, or depending on how you see it, stayed so on topic that it appears off topic. To me it is just really important to understand exactly when something takes place.
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Post by Isaac Cruz on Nov 2, 2022 17:39:25 GMT -8
In the story "Heart of Darkness" when describing the Nellie the author Joseph Conrad uses soft diction like"at rest" "nearly calm" "come and wait" (Conrad 65). Versus when describing the area around the town he uses mysterious and perilous words such as "canvas sharply peaked" "air was dark" "mournful gloom, brooding motionless" (Conrad 65). When compared, the town itself is "the biggest, and the greatest, town on earth" which could imply foreshadowing of what might happen to the town. The text then moves forward to an opinionated first person narration of themselves and their crew mates. An example of this would be, “We four affectionately watched his back as he stood in the bows looking to seaward” (Conrad 65). The narrator calls and describes each crew mate as their occupation and not their name, and the occupations are higher-paying occupations in which we could interpret the ship as a more expensive ride. The river that the boat is sailing on the changes “Forthwith a change came over the waters, and the serenity became less brilliant but more profound” “The tidal current runs to and fro in its unceasing service, crowded with memories of men and ships it had borne to the rest of home or to the battles of the sea” (Conrad 66). All this adds to the deeper meaning of the setting, and it gives personification to the river. Overall, after the narrator described his friendly relationship with his crew mates, why would he not refer to them by name but rather by their occupation, like “Lawyer” and “Accountant”? Hi Max! I think these are really good points, it will be very interesting to see how Conrad uses contrast between the Nellie and the town in the story! I also very much agree that the original narrator is opinionated which I found helpful that you pointed out, because it will make it easier to find bias later in the text. Additionally, the detail about the different sea-members' jobs was really interesting, I hadn't noticed that before. Finally, I'm not quite sure the answer to your question but I think it may be because the author did not want to establish too many characters for us to learn. By not giving us the names, we don't remember them as specific characters, but can still use them for background knowledge to learn more about the important characters. Hello Max! I found great quality on the points that you exclaimed within the Heart of Darkness. The narrator is indeed opinionated. When analyzing the story, we can see a shift in light to dark. As unique as a take it is, I believe the author does such to have the audience visualize a change in depth within the scenery present within the story. Among all, the author creates a sense of unfamiliarity that the audience may grab a sense of fear from. When looking at the crew mates, I analyzed the sense of how each were personalized, and characterized by the author to create a sense of new experience and intricacy that the audience will be engaged to read about. What happens to these characters, and how do they establish themselves amongst the story that is presented within them, hence the environment they find themselves in. |
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Post by amnakhan123 on Nov 2, 2022 17:53:24 GMT -8
The first piece of evidence is:“The air was dark above Gravesend, and father back still seemed condensed into a mournful gloom, brooding motionless over the biggest, and the greatest, town on earth.” This represents a dark sky, perhaps at night or that it is very cloudy or ash-filled. The “mournful gloom” demonstrates a murky, mysterious aura around the “greatest town on earth.” The next piece of evidence is: “The Director of Companies was our captain and our host. We four affectionately watched his back…He resembled a pilot, which to a seaman is trustworthiness personified.” This demonstrates the background setting of the relationships between the four men on board. The four men on board, not including the captain, share a mutual respect and care for the captain. The narrator’s emphasis on how trustworthy the Captain was by describing the significance of comparing him to a pilot stresses how he unifies the differences between the crew because he has the trust of each individual. Lastly, the third piece of evidence is:“The water shone pacifically; the sky, without a speck, was a benign immensity of unstained light; the very mist on the Essex marsh was like a gauzy and radiant fabric, hung from the wooded rises inland, and draping the low shores in diaphanous folds. Only the gloom to the wet, brooding over the upper reaches became more sombre every minute, as if angered by the approach of the sun.” This image reinforces the mysterious and haziness of the undescribed explicit location. One question would be “where does this story take place?” because there is mention of an Essex shore, perhaps alluding to a location by the UK but we do not know for sure. Hi Adrienne! I agree with many points made within your post, especially the effects of the imagery on the setting. To add on, I think the imagery also transforms the tone of the novel with each shift in the setting. For example, in the beginning of the story, the tone, much like the setting, is calm/meditative, but eventually changes to become more ominous and mysterious. As for your question, I am also a bit lost on what the primary setting would be since it happens to change ever so often and tends to focus on waterways rather than concrete areas. However, I do think in part 2, we will gain more insight on where the setting is. |
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Post by Talaya Price on Nov 2, 2022 18:02:45 GMT -8
In the novel "Heart of Darkness" vivid parts of the setting are given from the beginning. It is clear the novel takes place on a ship, " The flood had made, the wind was nearly calm, and being bound down the river, the only thing for it was to come to and wait for the turn of the tide…”(Conrad 68). The members that are on board are savoring the calm peaceful moment of the waters foreshadowing the possibility of chaos, "the calm before the storm. Surrounding them is a gloomy sky," The air was dark above Gravesend, and farther back still seemed condensed into a mournful gloom, brooding motionless…” (Conrad 68). This description of how the sky is, makes the story move along with a more eerie feeling. Discussing the sky again the author says, “ “ Imagine him here—the very end of the world, a sea the colour of lead, a sky the colour of smoke, a kind of ship about as rigid as a concertina..” (Conrad 75). In addition to everyone on this ship we know that they are all working together, the captain knowing more about being on the water shares his many experiences with them. The closeness of everyone on the ship might not be the same based on future events of setting and how it will affect them. Going back to the saying, “the calm before the storm” will the “physical storm” that might happen later in the story affect the “emotional storm” of the relations and emotions of the characters?
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Post by Ripley Swingle on Nov 2, 2022 18:18:01 GMT -8
Joseph Conrad utilizes figurative language and vivid imagery to describe the setting in his novel “Heart of Darkness”. The beginning of the book starts off on the Nellie, a ship sailing through the ocean, “The flood had made, the wind was nearly calm, and being bound down the river, the only thing for it was to come to and wait for the turn of the tide” (Conrad 65). The intense description of the calm ocean foreshadows in the past there was harsh waters against the Nellie. This leads the reader to anticipate future conflict with the main characters, the ship, and the tough journey ahead. With further depictions of the ocean as dark, and mysterious, as described as, “The air was dark into a mournful gloom, brooding motionless over the biggest, and the greatest, town on earth.” (Conrad 65), creates a contrast and sensitivity to the ever changing ocean. This draws the reader to quick and uneasy change in nature through visualizing the setting and immersing them into the story.
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Post by ejknez on Nov 2, 2022 18:25:00 GMT -8
msmiller.proboards.com/post/13355/thread link to the post I'm responding to. I apologize for forgetting how to respond. I mostly agree with what Max Feingold has stated. However I feel as though he may have shifted his focus towards the characters and their relationships, rather than the setting. Though he briefly mentions the contrasts between the descriptions of the sailors' vessel and the sea, I feel he could have gone further in depth regarding those ideas. Such as how it may represent how Marlow is similar to many other sailors, but is also different in that he is also a wanderer. Or how the great city in contrast to the sea and sail is portrayed as, well, "great", when in reality it is the true darkness that is hidden within it, and the sea and sail, though appearing gloom, may be the only good thing in their time. But, instead Feingold shifted focus about half-way through and began explaining the narrator and his perspective of the crew. Not that I disagree with their analysis of the character(s), but I don't feel it kept the focus on the prompt is all, and that it could have been better executed.
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Post by ryanchen on Nov 2, 2022 18:28:20 GMT -8
Within Heart of Darkness, we get the general idea of the sea being the home of those on it. We are introduced to the "Director of Companies" as the captain, which already sets up the notion of business controlling the vast sea that the Nellie floats upon. As we meet the other characters, the narrator eventually confirms the situation as the narrator describes how "Their minds are of the stay-at-home order, and their home is always with them - the ship; and so is their country - the sea." (Page 67) The country is what governs the people, and the sea is what governs those on sea. Since their home, the ship, is what's on sea, we can conclude that the setting of the story resides upon a vast, open sea, where the shores are "foreign" and "no going ashore" establishes that their "stay-at-home order" is to remain on sea, to be governed by the sea, in their home ship. What's the more interesting is that this is taking place in modern day, and thus the people on the sea are simply isolated from society. As the people talk, there's "small green flames, red flames, white flames, pursuing, overtaking, joining, crossing each other - then separating slowly or hastily. The traffic of the great city went on in the deepening night upon the sleepless river." (Page 70) The narrator is fully aware of the existence of cars through the language of "traffic", showing his knowledge in the technology that humanity had at that time. Thus, we can also conclude that alongside living on the great oceans separated from shore, that they're also separating themselves from society, to be governed by the sea instead of the government that commands the land. Q: What's the technology level that the people on the Nellie have compared to the technology that the society on land have? The technology of the sailors along with those on the island is not something I considered in my writing. It is great to point out the time in which this comes from, which while isn't explicitly mentioned by the book, it can be derived from the years which Conrad is writing from, which is the early 1900s, where colonialism is arguably at its prime. Furthermore, the readily available transportation to the heart of Africa also reinforces this setting of some semblance of modern technology, as the Congo, being the location the novel is based around, was one of the least accessible places in Africa. I would affirm that some of the language in the book does confirm your assumptions, but I would like to point out that traffic does not automatically support the assumption that cars were present, as traffic may be used in the context of arbitrary transportation, not just in cars. |
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Post by ryanchen on Nov 2, 2022 18:35:46 GMT -8
In "Heart of Darkness'' by Joseph Conrad, the author pays special attention to imagery in the story, successfully painting a deep and descriptive picture of the setting. In part one, the narrator starts off with a description of the water, as the men are on the River Thames. He states, "The day was ending in a serenity of still and exquisite brilliance. The water shone pacifically; the sky, without a speck, was a benign immensity of unstained light; the very mist on the Essex marsh was like a gauzy and radiant fabric, hung from the wooded rises inland, and draping the low shores in diaphanous folds." (Conrad 4) With this statement, he portrays an ambient setting and serene calmness on the river. This adds to a lazy and unbothered tone, in which the men seem to be satisfied with their current situation and unbothered by any future or past occurrences. This remains the story until the sun sets and Marlow begins his commentary, and then his story. With such, the setting now shifts until he notably ends up in the building of the "Company". This is described less elegantly than the river, as Marlow infuses his story with his feelings of intimidation, stating "A narrow and deserted street in deep shadow, high houses, innumerable windows with venetian blinds, a dead silence, grass sprouting between the stones, imposing carriage archways right and left, immense double doors standing ponderously ajar…Its light was dim, and a heavy writing-desk squatted in the middle.” (Conrad 14) This description of his setting likely provides initial characterization of the company, as the lack of beauty and excitement contrasts his excitement for being on the river. He then moves the setting back to the river, this time full of energy, a contrast to the initial water-setting. Question: In the beginning of the story, is the narrator supposed to be another character on the ship? I agree with your analysis on the Heart of Darkness. I came to similar conclusions in my analysis, also recognizing the relative calmness and amicableness of the setting of the initial opening sequence. Similar to you, I contrasted with the suspenseful atmosphere that came up right after such circumstances. I believe that this shift can also be significant as a way to signify foreshadowing of the tragic events that are to come; in other words, it indicates that the bright and cheery scenery is not all that it seems. Overall, your sentiment is very valid, and is a constructive interpretation of the author's attitudes towards different settings. |
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