Heart of Darkness- Part 1

[Ashlyn Davis]

In "The Heart of Darkness," author Joseph Conrad utilizes vivid imagery to portray a number of complex settings within the text, in order to build on the tone of the story. For example, he starts off by telling the audience that “The sea…stretched before [them] like the beginning of an interminable waterway," creating a calm and serene tone to start the story off. This peaceful tone is built upon later when he describes how “A haze rested on the low shores that ran out to see in vanishing flatness.” In this quote, the idea of a haze makes the audience think of cool weather, which is often associated with feelings of peace and calmness, reflecting back on the initial tones created in the beginning of the story. Although we gather simple and calm tones early on in the book, the author quickly begins to contrast this with lines about fire and flames. This is especially evident in the quote: “Flames glided in the river, small green flames, red flames, white flames, pursuing, overtaking, joining, crossing each other - then separating slowly or hastily.” The heat of the fire in this quote creates a distinct contradiction with the coolness implied in the "haze" as described earlier in the book. Additionally, fire is typically associated with chaos and lack of control, which is directly juxtaposing the serene tones in the first quote. There is a tonal shift between these lines, as well as a shift in setting, as we go from a cool, peaceful ocean setting, to one of chaos and disarray.

[Lauren Gumarang]

Nov 2, 2022 16:14:43 GMT -8 Henry C. said:

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?

Good evening; I agree with your points in that the setting starts off peaceful and unsuspecting, and then transitions to something different as Part I progresses. This shift is intriguing to the reader, and also further adds complexity to this exposition. The imagery, as you noted, is a strong tool used by Conrad to develop the setting and flesh it out. The seemingly -all-too-peaceful nature of the initial setting also adds tension, as if something unexpected is about to occur. I agree with your claim that the shift demonstrated in Part I may be used to signify a difference in atmosphere is to occur, but I believe it will also influence the mood and trajectory of the story.

[Kathryn N]

In part one of the story “Heart of Darkness,” the author Joseph Conrad uses highly detailed and descriptive imagery to convey the dull and vast setting of the sea and the town streets, ultimately to set the mood for the harsh reality of the European colonialism era. For example, the beginning of the story describes the muted colors of the sea as the company travels. In the text it states, “In the offing 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 sprits” (Conrad 65). The detail that the shy and the sea “blend” together show how there is no color or joy in the beauty of nature. The setting is bleak and depressing, and matches the feelings the characters have in this part of the story. It contrasts with an average view of a skyline, as the sky is filled with a multitude of colors and is reflected on the sea, yet this view is gray and dull. Additionally, there is a description of a town street that also presents a similar atmosphere. In the story it says, “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). The description of the town is abandoned and desolate, seeming as though there is no life at all. The town reflects a melancholy start to the story and may imply that the story holds this mood for a majority of the novel.
Question: Has the immediately established setting be permanent within part 1? If so, how will the author continue to grab the readers' attention?

[HannahGonzalez]

Nov 2, 2022 20:15:11 GMT -8 andy said:

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?

Hello Andy!
     After investigating on my own, it appears that there are negative connotations in London itself. Perhaps that will have something to do with the heart of darkness. Where the darkness is over London, not specifically Marlow. Especially since that river he cherished was once filled with light but now has evolved to darkness. I do agree that the setting was peaceful at first because of the calm river and how it was a place of his childhood. I'm sure that throughout the story, London and the river will a big impression on Marlow as this is what the first few pages are already foreshadowing. 

[Leila Go-Bulusan]

In the Novel, Heart of Darkness, written by J. Conrad, provides the readers with insight into the conditions of the setting of the novel, in order to allow the audience to gain a better visual on the story itself. The author utilizes in depth descriptions and imagery throughout the whole novel.
Heart of Darkness opens up into describing the calm wind, after a flood, and the air, so dark, as the “mournful gloom, brooding motionless over the biggest, and the greatest town on earth” (65). As the story continues to progress, the readers can assume that the narrator is somewhere to be found on a boat, on the sea. The overall story starts off very calm an peaceful, and as the novel begins to progress, it turns into a more dark, chaotic setting.

[HannahGonzalez]

Nov 2, 2022 14:20:55 GMT -8 Elizabeth Herrera said:

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.

Hey Elizabeth,
     I agree that the author utilizes Marlow's dialogue to illustrate the vivid detail of darkness from the town. I think with the gloom, the silence, and the rolling wave, it adds into a mystery but scary setting. For me, I did find some peaceful aspects in the text. However, I also found them contradicting which makes your argument more valid. In the future of the text, I expect this darkness from the town to be a big conflict in the main character. Good discussion of the vivid details (imagery) and the relation to the townspeople's sentiments. Also good nuance with the conversation to what extent the darkness is affecting the townspeople <3

[Kathryn Nino]

Nov 2, 2022 14:00:20 GMT -8 Lauren Gumarang said:

In Part I of Heart of Darkness, the setting of the sea and what lies beyond the known ocean is described as mysterious and perilous, yet tempting and tension-filled; this is done through Marlow’s monologistic descriptions of his time as a sailor exploring the Congo River. Starting the story, the unnamed narrator describes the coast they are located at as having “A haze rested on the low shores that ran out to sea in vanishing flatness. The air was dark … condensed into a mournful gloom, brooding motionless over the biggest, and the greatest, town on earth” (Conrad 3). By immediately juxtaposing this gloomy sea with the bustling London, the reader gets a glimpse of what is to come, for these sailors, as they are preparing for their voyage out to a dangerous ocean to the unknown. This is also added to with the social tensions between the crew as noted by the narrator: “there was silence on board the yacht … we did not begin that game of dominoes. We felt meditative, and fit for nothing but placid staring” (Conrad 4). The tensions reflected in the crew’s lack of speech reflects the tense atmosphere of the setting, making the reader restless for what is to come. The ocean stirs in the background “crowded with memories of men and ships it had borne to the rest of home or to the battles of the sea. It had known and served all the men of whom the nation is proud, from Sir Francis Drake to Sir John Franklin, knights all, titled and untitled—the great knights-errant of the sea” (Conrad 5). The ancient status of the ocean creates a sense of antiquity and hallowedness and also creates anticipation for the reader for the journey the narrator and the crew are about to endure and voyage on. This creates reverence for the setting of the ocean that the narrator acknowledges and wishes to convey to the reader. Overall, the setting in Part I of Heart of Darkness, creates much anticipation for the reader in the upcoming rising action of the story, while creating an expositional setting which can be described as mysterious and tempting, paving the way for what is to come out in the unknown of the ocean and other lands.

* note: I used the page numbers from the PDF

I liked how you described the ocean as "mysterious and perilous", as I found it open and vast. There were many things that you mentioned that I didn't catch, such as the great juxtaposition of the ocean and the London city environment. Also, your attention to the tension in this part was good, and how you maintained that idea of tension throughout your response to the prompt. You have a lot of good details and diverse comments about the setting and how it contrasts with other settings, and foreshadows what is to come. Foreshadowing is a great concept to find in a story because it helps readers learn so much more, building suspense. Overall, epic paragraph!

[Wesley Nguyen]

Heart of Darkness by Joseph Conrad begins in the sea. There are four characters and the main character is Marlow. The story starts with the narrator describing the calmness of the sky from their yawl, a type of small sailboat: “ [the yawl was] 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. “. This shows that the setting is calm. There is no wind and the waves are calm. The boat is naturally in the flow of the river. There is no external force that is pressing the characters and the boar. The narrator also describes the beauty of the sky: “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 sprits.” This shows that the setting is pure and there are no problems; as even the heavens look complete and together. However, there is a shift in the setting. The narrator describes how there was a glooming darkness approaching the town of Gravesend. It was described that “the sun sank low, and from glowing white changed to a dull red without rays and without heat, as if about to go out suddenly, stricken to death by the touch of that gloom brooding over a crowd of men.” This shows that the setting becomes darker, which is a major change from the bright and pure setting a few pages earlier. For example, the sun is being personified by describing it has to be dead and killed by the “gloom”. This shift in mood is important in setting up the history of the town and the Thames river. The Thames river was described as a river that carried many treasures n important people, However, this is the same cause of the town’s violent history of humans and their selfish desires. Even at the end of the chapter, the mood continues to become dark. In Marlow’s flashback memory that described how he become a trader, he describes seeing two ladies knitting by the front doors intensely. He describes this scenario as being very ominous. And towards the end of the story, he recalls the ominously of the job he took for he is replacing the position of a person that just died in Africa.

[Wesley Nguyen]

Nov 2, 2022 20:25:56 GMT -8 elian said:

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?

Hi Elian this is a great analysis of the novel, Heart of darkness! I loved all the details and evidence you included in your response. You picked great quotes and I loved how you connected your evidence back to your thesis. Another stellar this you did with the analysis is your line of reasoning. Reading you analysis is very flowing- all your ideas are connected. For example, I particularly like how you pointed out "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." This a fantastic analysis of the quote you chose. To answer question about "what is the darkness that Marlow brought up", I personally beleive that the darkness is the inner nature of humans themselves. This is because most of chapter one was describing the destructive and violent nature of humans when they desire power and wealth. Overall, I love you elian please marry me. 

[Wesley Nguyen]

Nov 2, 2022 8:36:26 GMT -8 joseph said:

Before recounting Marlow’s journey down the Congo, Conrad first illustrates a peaceful setting. The Nellie is anchored and at rest: “... the only thing for it was to come to and wait for the turn of the tide” (65). Conrad effectively creates pause and quietness in the setting in order to anticipate the upcoming story.
Conrad utilizes a multitude of calming descriptors aimed at furthering the peaceful atmosphere. He uses words like gloom, brooding, placid, sombre,and pacifically - all words that illustrate tranquility. This is demonstrated in Conrad’s description of the sky. “The air … seemed condensed into a mournful gloom, brooding motionless over the biggest, and the greatest, town on earth” (65).
But as soon as Marlow begins his rendition, the setting undergoes a change. “Flames glided in the river, small green flames, red flames, white flames,pursuing, overtaking, joining, crossing each other…” (70). This highlights Marlow’s story as a fiery and energetic one of interest.The air … seemed condensed into a mournful gloom, brooding motionless over the biggest, and the greatest, town on earth
Marlow’s story begins with a description of the city where he signs his contract. “The air … seemed condensed into a mournful gloom, brooding motionless over the biggest, and the greatest, town on earth

Hi Joseph Bailey. This is a fantastic analysis of the first chapter of Heart of Darkness. I love the evidence you provided. They are concrete and a great representation of your claim. The flow of you paragraphis also very good. I like how you reasoning connects back to your claims and evidence. The shift of setting you pointed out was also very good. My favorite quote you provided was The air … seemed condensed into a mournful gloom, brooding motionless over the biggest, and the greatest, town on earth. I also liked when you said efore recounting Marlow’s journey down the Congo, Conrad first illustrates a peaceful setting. The Nellie is anchored and at rest: “... the only thing for it was to come to and wait for the turn of the tide” (65). Conrad effectively creates pause and quietness in the setting in order to anticipate the upcoming story. Conrad utilizes a multitude of calming descriptors aimed at furthering the peaceful atmosphere. Overall great anaylsis.

[Charlton]

In the Heart of Darkness: Section 1 by Joseph Conrad, it follows the narrator and crew as they follow their experiences throughout the town and their conflicts and shifts in setting that change the dynamic of the story. “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.” The narrator is watching something change in the setting, perhaps waiting for the right moment to take action or wait for the sun to go down hoping that something is coming. “...the sea and sky were welded together without a joint” The narrator is looking out to the sea with no stretch of land in sight to where the sky and the sea form a line, maybe on a cliff or a natural sightseeing location. Maybe they are on a boat in the middle of the ocean talking about life at sea. They mention the sea but references Thamas which is a river and they reference a river multiple times throughout the text changing the setting form a big sea representing freedom to a constrictions or a river. The text states, “Only he gloom to the west, brooding over the upper reaches, became more sombre every minute, as if angered by the approach of the sun.” As the sun falls, the sea becomes more gloomy waiting for the disaster to come, maybe foreshadowing that something is coming and it’s going to endanger their lives. Also stating, “The sun set; the 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, shown strongly.” The setting changes to an oceanside lighthouse, reflecting the calmness of the ocean watching the ships go in and out of the dock. Again, the setting goes from calm to chaotic in a matter of seconds, “They grabbed what they could get for the sake of what was to be got. It was just robbery with violence, aggravated murder on a great scale, and men going at it blind…Flames glided in the river… the traffic of the great city went on in the deepening night upon the sleepless river. We looked on, waiting patiently - there was nothing else to do till the end of the flood…” The dramatic change in scenery displays the chaotic relationship between the town and the crew kind of observing their actions and just letting it proceed. The calm tone that is being conveyed reveals that its a common action for dismay like this to happen. It then uses imagery to create a scene, “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.” It describes the scenery shift changing to sort of a house or building that is deserted showing no sense of life within the town. The deserted description shows how throughout the story the chaos that ensued was a factor that caused the decline in life and morality of the town. “Then I noticed asmall sketch in oils on a penl, representing a woman, draped and blindfolded, carrying a lighted torch. The background was sombre - almost black. The movement of the woman was stately, and the effect of the torchlight on the face was sinister” It then shifts to another character stating how this scary women was alone out here in the deserted town or building. This builds suspense and relates back to the ocean, repeating the word somber creating a shift in the gloomy setting.

[Kathryn Nino]

Nov 2, 2022 19:35:07 GMT -8 Aira Catig said:

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?

I like how you first provided context to the scene to show where you are starting your analysis. Your choice of quotes are very good, and I especially like your second quote, as you paid attention not only to the geographical setting, but the time period as well. You considered the fact that the viewpoints are definitely outdated in this book, which was a good choice. I also liked how you emphasized a shift as being a still and desolate setting to something that “shook the ground”, and was definitely something that I missed. I like your question as it focuses specifically on setting and how it means more than just the place that the characters are in. Great job!

[Charlton]

Nov 2, 2022 8:36:26 GMT -8 joseph said:

Before recounting Marlow’s journey down the Congo, Conrad first illustrates a peaceful setting. The Nellie is anchored and at rest: “... the only thing for it was to come to and wait for the turn of the tide” (65). Conrad effectively creates pause and quietness in the setting in order to anticipate the upcoming story.
Conrad utilizes a multitude of calming descriptors aimed at furthering the peaceful atmosphere. He uses words like gloom, brooding, placid, sombre,and pacifically - all words that illustrate tranquility. This is demonstrated in Conrad’s description of the sky. “The air … seemed condensed into a mournful gloom, brooding motionless over the biggest, and the greatest, town on earth” (65).
But as soon as Marlow begins his rendition, the setting undergoes a change. “Flames glided in the river, small green flames, red flames, white flames,pursuing, overtaking, joining, crossing each other…” (70). This highlights Marlow’s story as a fiery and energetic one of interest.
Marlow’s story begins with a description of the city where he signs his contract. “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. I slipped through one of these cracks, went up a swept and ungarnished staircase, as arid as a desert, and opened the first door I came to.“ Marlow perceives this city with distaste and reluctance. This alludes to Marlow’s hesitance and doubt towards his expedition.

You're analysis was very in depth and had a lot of thought behind each scene of the setting. It provided a clear distinction between each scene and how the feeling of it changes throughout the first part of the story. The gloomy and sombre atmosphere changes from saddened setting of tranquility to a sense of fiery and energetic feeling where Conrad describes the setting as in flames with bright and natural colors. I also like how you mention his expedition and the changes in scenery the narrator goes through and the feelings that the author is trying to evoke and purpose of every setting that changes within the story. 

[Charlton Shih]

Nov 2, 2022 20:59:14 GMT -8 Wesley Nguyen said:

Heart of Darkness by Joseph Conrad begins in the sea. There are four characters and the main character is Marlow. The story starts with the narrator describing the calmness of the sky from their yawl, a type of small sailboat: “ [the yawl was] 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. “. This shows that the setting is calm. There is no wind and the waves are calm. The boat is naturally in the flow of the river. There is no external force that is pressing the characters and the boar. The narrator also describes the beauty of the sky: “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 sprits.” This shows that the setting is pure and there are no problems; as even the heavens look complete and together. However, there is a shift in the setting. The narrator describes how there was a glooming darkness approaching the town of Gravesend. It was described that “the sun sank low, and from glowing white changed to a dull red without rays and without heat, as if about to go out suddenly, stricken to death by the touch of that gloom brooding over a crowd of men.” This shows that the setting becomes darker, which is a major change from the bright and pure setting a few pages earlier. For example, the sun is being personified by describing it has to be dead and killed by the “gloom”. This shift in mood is important in setting up the history of the town and the Thames river. The Thames river was described as a river that carried many treasures n important people, However, this is the same cause of the town’s violent history of humans and their selfish desires. Even at the end of the chapter, the mood continues to become dark. In Marlow’s flashback memory that described how he become a trader, he describes seeing two ladies knitting by the front doors intensely. He describes this scenario as being very ominous. And towards the end of the story, he recalls the ominously of the job he took for he is replacing the position of a person that just died in Africa.

Hi Wesley Nguyen! I liked the way you distinctly showed each shift in the setting and how it relates to the narrator and his expedition throughout the story. You chose solid quotes that show the change in sombre scenery and the characters that were in the story to a natural flow within the river showing a more natural and uplifting scenery. You're commentary was excellent and contained a lot of insight on the story that clarified some of the setting questions I had about the book. You say that the setting in pure and I agree with that and how it slowly changes back to gloomy espcially near the part where there is a lady in an abandoned town and the colorful flames that are burning everywhere. Also, I loved how you included the historical significance of the Thames river and how it carried many treasures and important people and compared that to the violence of the town and the history of their selfish desires. Finally, you get back to the end where you say the mood becomes more dark and ominous and I love how you tied it all together in the end!

[Katrina Y]

With its opening sentence, The Heart of Darkness establishes the novel’s initial setting upon the Thames River in London. As Maslow describes the environment in a tranquil and elegant manner, “the sea and the sky were welded together without a joint” and “the water shone pacifically; the sky, without a speck, was a benign immensity of unstained light,” these distinct details allows the readers to utilize vivid imagery and assume Maslow’s sense of ease upon the water. However, as the novel progresses, Maslow appears to consistently alter his perception of the novel’s setting to adhere to his changing views of the vast river as he recounts numerous tales of the Thames River. As Maslow declares how the “Hunters for gold or pursuers of fame, they all had gone out on that stream, bearing the sword, and often the torch, messengers of the might within the land,” he establishes the foundation of the river’s significance. Particularly, detailing how the river has been the starting point of countless magnificent adventures of the past and present, all to achieve success. However, just as quickly as Maslow is to commend the magnificence of the river, he is just as quick to declare its terrifying nature. As he prompts his shipmates to imagine “the very end of the world, a sea the color of lead, a sky the color of smoke…death skulking in the air, in the water, in the bush,” Maslow promptly explains how the glorious riches out upon the sea is surrounded by danger around every corner. With this sudden change in his perception of the river, Maslow effectively depicts the atmosphere surrounding his present journey. One is approaching a form of reward while being enclosed by the possibility of dangers, a concept we will see expanded upon throughout the novel.

Question: Why does Maslow appear to be in dissonance with the atmosphere surrounding the river? On one hand he is detailing the beauty of being out at water and, on the other, he is declaring the horrific tragedies that have occurred on it.