|
|
Post by ejknez on Nov 2, 2022 18:37:18 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. Similar to my reply to Max Feingold's response, I feel that Ms. Swingle here could have gone further in depth. They could have better explained there reasoning, I would say the claim is there, along with the evidence, however in the reasoning department there is, how should I say, a shortage. Not to say that I disagree, because I agree with what was stated, but as to why could be completely different. And, in my opinion, it is as Ralph Waldo Emerson said, "It's not the destination, it's the journey." Though the conclusion is good, how did one get there. If one believes in the wrong thing for the right reason, they're wrong. And if one believes in the right thing for the wrong reason, aren't they too not wrong? |
|
|
|
Post by danielchang on Nov 2, 2022 19:00:05 GMT -8
In "Heart of Darkness" by Joseph Conrad, the narrator begins the story on board a small ship called the Nellie in a river in London. The narrator describes the sea as silent and the ship is moving at a very slow pace. He 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. […] We exchanged a few words lazily. Afterwards there was silence on board the yacht. " (Conrad 3-4). The narrator portrays the condition of the setting and their atmosphere as gloomy and dull. The atmosphere of the characters' current setting stayed silent until Marlow begins his story of his past adventure to the Congo. This is when the setting in the story switches to the Congo in Marlow's story, while the characters are slowly sailing on Thames River in London. Marlow 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 14). The descriptions of the buildings in Marlow's story show that the setting is no longer on a body of water, but rather in a town. Marlow continues his story by describing his conversation with the Brickmaker, who complained that he could never find the essential materials needed to make bricks. Part 1 ends with Marlow stating, "I had plenty of time for meditation, and now and then I would give some thought to Kurtz. I wasn’t very interested in him. No. Still, I was curious to see whether this man, who had come out equipped with moral ideas of some sort, would climb to the top after all and how he would set about his work when there" (Conrad 51). His goal in his tale was to find materials to repair his ship, however was also curious of who this person named Kurtz was like.
|
|
|
|
Post by Aira Catig on Nov 2, 2022 19:35:07 GMT -8
Throughout Joseph Conrad’s Heart of Darkness, Conrad utilizes visual and descriptive imagery in order to achieve the key element of setting that will be important as the story progresses. To start off, the reader is introduced to the mariners preparing for their later travels while
Nellie, the ship that will be used for later voyages, is docked on the Thames river. This scene is painted ominously with a “mournful gloom, brooding motionless over the biggest, and the greatest, town on earth” (Conrad 65), which helps create contrast between the weather and the town and also develops a gloomy mood. Having the setting be described with a “mournful gloom” at the start, helps demonstrate the lifestyle of living at sea and can be used as an element of foreshadowing of their journey to foreign lands. The time period of this story is revealed when the narrator discusses his previous job “Company had received news that one of their captains had been killed in a scuffle with the natives” (Conrad 76). When the narrator talks about the conflicts with the natives, this can indicate that this story was not written during the modern times, but in the time period where imperialism was prevalent. With this being written during the age of imperialism, it is important to note that the narrator’s perception of the natives might be outdated and biased. Additionally, there is a shift in setting towards the end of section one when the narrator travels to a foreign land “A heavy and dull detonation shook the ground, a puff of smoke came out of the cliff…”(Conrad 87). This shift in setting from the motionless river to the intense conditions and landscape helps emphasize the different lifestyles of the foreigners to the mariners. This key difference in setting can also appeal to the narrator’s bias in perceiving the foreigners and their land as savage and dangerous. Q: Will the use of visual imagery to portray the setting help reveal more about the narrator as the story progresses?
|
|
|
|
Post by danielchang on Nov 2, 2022 19:50:12 GMT -8
The book Heart of Darkness, by Joseph Conrad, is set on a boat called the Nellie that is in the water but not moving, potentially set in a river or in the ocean. It is not very windy, so it could be a steam boat or a boat with sails. The crew is waiting until they can get moving again. This is explained by a quote that states, “The Nellie, a cruising yawl, swung to her anchor without a flutter of the sails, and was at rest. 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.” It is early in the morning or late at night with fog and mist above the water. The boat has a view of a city, meaning it is docked on the coast, as explained by, “A haze rested on the low shores that ran out to sea in vanishing flatness. 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,” There are also experienced sailors on the boat, and most likely they have returned from their journey to other places. An example that shows this is , “Between us there was, as I have already said somewhere, the bond of the sea.”Currently, the sun is going down and it's getting dark. Story also takes place in England, which is revealed by the addition of the “Essex marsh” in the quote that 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.” Furthermore, the sky is very orange and red and the sun is in the process of setting. The atmosphere is also very ominous due to the fog, which can be seen in the quote that states, “And at last, in its curved and imperceptible fall, the sun sank low, and from glowing white changed to a dull red without rays and without heat, as it was about to go out suddenly, stricken to death by the touch of that gloom brooding over a crown of men.” To add onto the overall location, the story takes place on a river used for importing goods to England. It is a dock where boats stop after their travels from other countries or continents. In the book it is stated that, “The old river in its broad reach rested unruffled at the decline of day, after ages of good service done to the race that peopled its banks, spread out in the tranquil dignity of a waterway leading to the uttermost ends of earth.” There is a shift in the setting, as it is dark now, and the lighthouse shines bright light onto the river, which is described in a quote that explains, “The sun set; dusk fell on the stream, and lights began to appear along the shore. The Chapman lighthouse, a three legged thing erect on a mud-flat, shone strongly.” Finally, the river is busy with boats, and there is a mass influx of boats passing through that is keeping the characters from leaving the boat. In the story the narrator illustrates, “Flames glided in the river, 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.” One question I have for the story is, what are the sailors waiting for? Have they returned from their travels or are they waiting to set sail? I agree with you response to the prompt of where in the beginning of the story, the sea is still and barely moving. I also like how you used mention the distinctive descriptions made to create the setting as a whole, where the sky is vibrant colors and "Essex marsh" represents that the overall setting is in England, since Essex is a city in England. The points you make in your response; some of them I never realized when reading the novel, but now I can understand the story easier with all of these descriptions of the setting. Nice job! |
|
|
|
Post by Aira Catig on Nov 2, 2022 19:52:26 GMT -8
In "Heart of Darkness" by Joseph Conrad, the narrator begins the story on board a small ship called the Nellie in a river in London. The narrator describes the sea as silent and the ship is moving at a very slow pace. He 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. […] We exchanged a few words lazily. Afterwards there was silence on board the yacht. " (Conrad 3-4). The narrator portrays the condition of the setting and their atmosphere as gloomy and dull. The atmosphere of the characters' current setting stayed silent until Marlow begins his story of his past adventure to the Congo. This is when the setting in the story switches to the Congo in Marlow's story, while the characters are slowly sailing on Thames River in London. Marlow 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 14). The descriptions of the buildings in Marlow's story show that the setting is no longer on a body of water, but rather in a town. Marlow continues his story by describing his conversation with the Brickmaker, who complained that he could never find the essential materials needed to make bricks. Part 1 ends with Marlow stating, "I had plenty of time for meditation, and now and then I would give some thought to Kurtz. I wasn’t very interested in him. No. Still, I was curious to see whether this man, who had come out equipped with moral ideas of some sort, would climb to the top after all and how he would set about his work when there" (Conrad 51). His goal in his tale was to find materials to repair his ship, however was also curious of who this person named Kurtz was like. I enjoyed reading your take on the setting of this story. I also noted in my response that Conrad used visual imagery in order to create a sense of gloominess towards the setting. From the first setting, I also found it to be ominous because of the "mournful gloom" and how this gloom mysteriously surrounded the town. I did not go into further detail discussing the town in my response, but I like how you found evidence to support the shift in setting from the river to the town. It is interesting that you talked about who Kurtz is and his relationship with the narrator, which makes me wonder if he will play a bigger role in the story. Overall good analysis! |
|
|
|
Post by Aira Catig on Nov 2, 2022 20:05:57 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. Your analysis of setting was well-written and I like how you provided evidence to help support your ideas. I like how you pointed out Conrad's use of figurative language in order to help further develop the setting. His use of figurative language helps emphasize the eeriness of the river and demonstrates the dangers of sailing in a boat. Like you said, I agree with how it can also foreshadow the future ominous mood and events throughout the story. Good job! |
|
|
|
Post by danielchang on Nov 2, 2022 20:07:25 GMT -8
In "Heart of Darkness" by Joseph Conrad, the narrator begins the story on board a small ship called the Nellie in a river in London. The narrator describes the sea as silent and the ship is moving at a very slow pace. He 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. […] We exchanged a few words lazily. Afterwards there was silence on board the yacht. " (Conrad 3-4). The narrator portrays the condition of the setting and their atmosphere as gloomy and dull. The atmosphere of the characters' current setting stayed silent until Marlow begins his story of his past adventure to the Congo. This is when the setting in the story switches to the Congo in Marlow's story, while the characters are slowly sailing on Thames River in London. Marlow 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 14). The descriptions of the buildings in Marlow's story show that the setting is no longer on a body of water, but rather in a town. Marlow continues his story by describing his conversation with the Brickmaker, who complained that he could never find the essential materials needed to make bricks. Part 1 ends with Marlow stating, "I had plenty of time for meditation, and now and then I would give some thought to Kurtz. I wasn’t very interested in him. No. Still, I was curious to see whether this man, who had come out equipped with moral ideas of some sort, would climb to the top after all and how he would set about his work when there" (Conrad 51). His goal in his tale was to find materials to repair his ship, however was also curious of who this person named Kurtz was like. I forgot to add my question on my response. Question: What are the background history of the other characters that were on the Nellie other than Marlow's? |
|
|
|
Post by calinda sang on Nov 2, 2022 20:08:27 GMT -8
In the novel, "Heart of Darkness" By Joseph Conrad, the author uses vivid imagery and language in order to create a full picture of not only the setting of their journey but also the atmosphere and mood of the passage. We start by reading about the ship "Nellie" in which the protagonist and his shipmates are aboard on the Thames river, "The Nellie, a cruising yawl, swung to her anchor without a flutter of the sails, and was at rest...The sea-reach of the Thames stretched before us like the beginning of an interminable waterway." (Conrad 3) The author describes the atmosphere as gloomy and "brooding" as he says,"a brooding gloom in sunshine, a lurid glare under the stars.“And this also,” said Marlow suddenly, “has been one of the dark places of the earth.” (Conrad 6) which provides that mood of a gloomy, almost dull day on this ship. This also tends to highlight what was said earlier about how the town was one of the greatest on the earth, yet also the darkest, showing that juxtaposition and also insinuating the possibility of an underlying meaning to the darkness of the town. The setting shifts as Marlow begins to tell his story of his adventure on the Congo river and the mood of the passage changes. A fiery and passionate feel takes over the story as he elaborates,“Flames glided in the river, small green flames, red flames, white flames, pursuing, overtaking, joining, crossing each other—then separating slowly or hastily”.
My question is, why does the story shift between Marlow and an unnamed narrator?
|
|
|
|
Post by danielchang on Nov 2, 2022 20:12:21 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? I like how you connected the "interminable waterway" to the events that could happen later in the novel and the challenges that might occur. This has expanded my knowledge on the book through my perspective, so I will also keep that connection in mind as well. I like how you also mentioned the shifts of the setting from bodies of water to a city, which is what I put in my response as well. I only focused mainly on the imagery that was used in Part 1 of "Heart of Darkness", but now knowing all of these connections and historical background, I am able to understand the story more. Good job! |
|
andy
New Member
Posts: 1
|
Post by andy on Nov 2, 2022 20:15:11 GMT -8
The Heart of Darkness began with the cast on the boat Nellie on the coast of England on the Thames River. The river was described as “the beginning of an interminable waterway”, and the sea and sky seemed to almost be “welded together without a joint”. And with the sun setting “Forthwith a change came over the waters, and the serenity became less brilliant but more profound”. The river was described to have been “crowded with memories of men and ships it had borne to the rest of home or to the battles of the sea”, serving the most famous of sailors to the most average man. All of these imagery crafts an atmosphere that is tranquil, and almost nostalgic at some point, at the remembrance of all the previous sailors that went on the waters before them. After the sun had almost set, the town started to light up, there were “Lights of ships moved in the fairway— a great stir of lights going up and going down. And farther west on the upper reaches the place of the monstrous town was still marked ominously on the sky, a brooding gloom in sunshine, a lurid glare under the stars.” I imagine a scene with the peaceful water, a star filled skies, and the cast resting on their boat. The cast was a group of sailors, with one of the old men (Marlow) trying to tell them a story as they all rested aboard their ship. The old man tells of his journey when he was a youngster to a certain river. He claimed that the river is equivalent to a place of light in his childhood, which now has became a place of darkness. As Marlow told the story, an image of that story started to appear. After he got hooked on the opportunity of the journey to the river, he went to “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” to negotiate the contract. Every person he talked about the river to had a sort of distant response, as if they wanted nothing to do with the place. He had mentioned that this journey was the first one that he had ever hesitated, adding onto its significance.
Brushing aside the difficulty of understanding this book, the story actually is quite intriguing. I look forward to the rest of the story, but I wonder how this journey to discover a place of light from Marlow leads to the book’s namesake, a Heart of Darkness. Perhaps it’s what he discovers that turned his heart into darkness, or perhaps the heart refers to something else? And how will this affect the cast? Seeing as Marlow is a character that has already had his character developed through his journey, how will the main cast grow and learn from this story?
|
|
|
|
Post by calinda sang on Nov 2, 2022 20:22:15 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 totally agree with the evidence of a murky aura over this supposed great town and it makes me wonder why there is that juxtaposition. I didnt realize the significance of the captain as a pilot in the way that he unifies the differences between the crew but that is a very sound point and I'm glad you brought it to my attention. Also, to answer your question, I believe the first setting is in London because of the way the narrator describes the town as the greatest town on earth and because the thames river flows through London, but I'm not entirely sure. |
|
|
|
Post by Lauren Gumarang on Nov 2, 2022 20:25:45 GMT -8
Heart of Darkness, by Joseph Conrad, starts with vivid descriptions that set the scene and add imagery to the readers’ minds. The setting of the novel is a ship, specifically the Nellie, which appears to be going through a calm part of the ocean. Conrad writes, “. 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). It seems that the main characters are expecting the sea to get more rough, but for now it is calm. This could possibly serve to foreshadow events that will follow in the future. The surroundings besides the water seem very dark and ominous, with depictions of the sky being gloomy. The author writes, “The air was dark above Gravesend, and farther back still seemed condensed into a mournful gloom, brooding motionless…” (Conrad 68). This setting along with the title of the novel allow us to predict that something mysterious or unexpected might happen, as gloom and darkness often represent the unknown. In addition, the sea can also represent the unknown or something unexpected that could transpire later in the book. In another description of the sky, Conrad writes, “ 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) Each of these descriptions establish a melancholic mood as well. The main character is surrounded by other sailors who are in his similar position, but some are more experienced, such as the character Marlow, who describes his personal experiences with the sea. The men on this sheep seem to have some sort of comradery, which is evidenced by their interactions. Conrad writes, “We four affectionately watched his back as he stood in the bows looking to seaward.” (Conrad 68). In addition to the physical setting, we see a setting between the characters and their close, intertwined relationship. It leads us to wonder how the plot development will test their resolve and connection as a group. Good evening; I agree with a lot of what you mentioned in your reply. I like how you noted how the dark and gloomy mood of the setting could contribute to some foreshadowing for what is to coming in the novel. Your notes of mood are especially insightful since I did not address that component of setting in my response. I agree with your consensus that the mood felt gloomy, eerie, and melancholic. These are the same moods that I picked up while reading. I also like how you noted the characters introduced, and how these relationships with the camaraderie add to the exposition. This helps the reader seek to anticipate what is to come for the characters, leading the reader on to the rest of the story. Overall, the setting building up in Part I intrigues the reader for the rest of the novel, creating a mysterious tone. |
|
elian
New Member
Posts: 5
|
Post by elian on Nov 2, 2022 20:25:56 GMT -8
The novel “Heart of Darkness” by Joseph Conrad, describes a setting that is situated around a body of water. The setting is slowly described through the path of the traveler, and also the description of the travelers. For example, in the beginning there was mention of a river, “and being bound down the river,” and also “which to a seaman is trustworthiness personified.”(3) Presenting the setting in these two ways can show that the characters have a reason why they are going on the journey, and that they are there on purpose and not by accident. The story also mentions how they are trying to make it to a sea through the river, “ the sea-reach of the Thames stretched before us like the beginning of an interminable waterway.”(3) This brings another setting into account, being a sea. We also can read that they are not in a small boat, they are in a large one, “on board the yacht.”(4) This setting reveals that the characters are advanced enough to have a big ship to travel.
A little later on in the novel, we are given more parts of the setting through the dialogue of Marlow one of the seamen, “‘ I was thinking of very old times, when the romans first came here, nineteen hundred years ago.’”(7) This setting tells us their location which could be around Greece. Not only that but that of the time period, which we can assume around 1400-1700. That is revealed a few short sentences later, with the mention of “Mediterranean.” There is a mention of a sort of darkness that is apparent, which can be inferred by the color of the sea and sky, “a sea the colour of lead, a sky the colour of smoke.”(7) This shows that the sea is not in good condition or that something is strange about it. And that the sky is very cloudy, meaning there is an apparent storm that is being casted. There is much more left to describe the setting.
One question that I have is what is the darkness that Marlow brought up?
|
|
|
|
Post by HannahGonzalez on Nov 2, 2022 20:26:22 GMT -8
In the first part of Joseph Conrad's novel "Heart of Darkness," Conrad utilizes forms of imagery and figurative language to illustrate a calm setting in London. The setting is first presented with a ship on a river called Thames, in London. Conrad describes this ship as: "The Nellie, a cruising yawl, swung to her anchor without a flutter of the sails, and was at rest" (65). With the use of "at rest", it adds a peaceful connotation. However, this contradicts with the London setting because London is a busy city which isn't exactly peaceful and calm. This peaceful setting continues with, "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” (65). Figurative language is present here because the irony between the calm setting and the flood is a quite busy natural disaster that draws out that whatever the setting is, it may contradict with the plot itself in the future. Considering this, if we were to look at the following description of the town: "The air was dark above Gravesend, and farther back still seemed the condensed biggest, and the greatest, town on earth" (65), it was presented that London is the greatest town on Earth. However, since the author has already demonstrated many uses of irony in which it is contradicting, it's possible that this as well can be a contradiction and a mockery of London. Ultimately, the setting focuses on a peaceful aspect while contradicting itself which makes the setting highlight opposing factors of the book, like why the location of London and the river. Moreover the author uses imagery: “And farther west on the upper reaches the place of the monstrous town was still marked ominously on the sky, a brooding gloom in sunshine, a lurid glare under the stars.” (67). With the use of imagery, the setting portrays the town as monstrous because the town is so big in the sky, which relates to the tall skyscrapers of London and the air pollution covering up London’s blue skies. This presents a more negative connotation of London which would counteract that peaceful setting once presented.
With this all being said, what purpose does the author serve by presenting two contrasting settings?
|
|
|
|
Post by calinda sang on Nov 2, 2022 20:27:01 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 actually didn't realize that the calmness of the setting could also portray the moods of the ship members but seeing it now, I definitely agree that the setting could've been a parallel to their feelings. I also noticed that big contrast in the way Conrad shifts the story from a dull environment to one full of energy but I like the way you talked about how the lack of excitement contrasted with Maslow's excitement on the water. To answer your question, I believe the initial narrator is probably an unnamed person on board as he sounds like he's a part of the story. |
|
