|
|
Post by notyounice on Nov 2, 2022 21:50:57 GMT -8
In the book Heart of Darkness, the first few pages of the story start slowly as the narrator spends a lot of time describing the setting rather than the elements or dialogue of the story. When the narrator is describing the setting of the story in which that being the sea, the book places special emphasis on the sea. For example, as the story starts off on a boat, it says, “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.” (Conrad 65). The setting here is characterized as very calm and peaceful. It also talks a lot about the sea here, which it does again when the book says, “Lights of ships moved in the fairway— a great stir of lights going up and going down,” (Conrad 71), as well as “The water shone pacifically; the sky, without a speck, was a benign immensity of unstained light” (Conrad 66). The narrator constantly talking about the sea as the main setting reveals how important the physical location of the setting is to the narrator. And since he is a sailor, it is natural that he would like the sea and be biased or whatnot. Further adding onto this idea is how he describes other settings overall to seem rather gloomy or dull because the narrator is constantly describing things like the marshes, mist and city as “sombre” and “gloomy,” such as when he states, “...the Essex marshes 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 west, brooding over the upper reaches, became more sombre every minute, as if angered by the approach of the sun.” (Conrad 66).
|
|
|
|
Post by Tiffany Chen on Nov 2, 2022 21:57:08 GMT -8
The beginning of the novella Heart of Darkness by Joseph Conrad takes place aboard the Nellie, a ship making its way through the calm waters of the River Thames. The detailed description of the surrounding environment lends to the development of its exquisite quality. It evokes deeply vivid imagery. For example, “the very mist on the Essex marsh” is likened to “gauzy and radiant fabric…draping the low shores in diaphanous folds” (Conrad 4). Conrad’s consist use of purple prose throughout the novel showcases his writing style and desire to stress every little detail to create a more fascinating setting. However, as the pages progress and we look deeper into the scenery, Conrad reveals another quality of the river—its more somber, depressing nature. The setting sun is described to have been “stricken to death by the touch of that gloom brooding over a crowd of men” (Conrad 4). The air is described to be polluted, and the color of the water is compared to that of lead. Interestingly, Conrad also notes the historical connections of the River Thames, ranging from fantastical stories of knights to former ships that belonged to members of royalty. They are told in a way that heroic stories would be, and praised as such. By immersing the reader in a bit of British culture, Conrad is able to better help them become more connected with the central themes of the novel. The setting then shifts to the perspective of the character Marlow, who spends the rest of the section recounting his harrowing voyage. There is a sense of childlike whimsy when Marlow describes a river he observed in a map as “fascinating—deadly—like a snake” (Conrad 14). Marlow’s love for maps from his childhood, which could have once been remarked as a pure and innocent trait, becomes corrupted once words such as “conquer” and “glory” enter the picture—direct references to colonialism.
One question I have is concerning the usage of contrast in this story. What does the narrator hope to achieve by giving contradictory perspectives on the conditions of the River Thames and does this have any potential connections to the themes discussed later in the novella?
|
|
|
|
Post by joseph on Nov 2, 2022 22:05:05 GMT -8
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. The care that went into your examination of each setting scene was quite thorough. It made it easy to distinguish between each scene and how its mood changed over the course of the first half of the novel. Conrad describes the backdrop as being in flames with bright and natural hues while the somber and dismal atmosphere shifts from a sense of flaming and dynamic feeling to a sense of melancholy setting of tranquillity. I particularly enjoy how you bring up his expedition, the various landscapes the narrator experiences, the emotions the author is attempting to convey, and the rationale behind each new setting that appears throughout the narrative. |
|
|
|
Post by joseph on Nov 2, 2022 22:06:24 GMT -8
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. The care that went into your examination of each setting scene was quite thorough. It made it easy to distinguish between each scene and how its mood changed over the course of the first half of the novel. Conrad describes the backdrop as being in flames with bright and natural hues while the somber and dismal atmosphere shifts from a sense of flaming and dynamic feeling to a sense of melancholy setting of tranquillity. I particularly enjoy how you bring up his expedition, the various landscapes the narrator experiences, the emotions the author is attempting to convey, and the rationale behind each new setting that appears throughout the narrative. |
|
|
|
Post by notyounice on Nov 2, 2022 22:06:34 GMT -8
Jonah Bae: Heart of Darkness opens with a setting in its first paragraph, upon the Nellie. The book states of the ship, “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.” (Conrad 65). The setting at this point is described as relatively peaceful and calm, seeming to have only just made it out of a flood or series of strong winds. However, the Heart of Darkness does not stop with its description of setting here. The next paragraph continues on describing the setting—but not of the Nellie anymore. The setting continues to “zoom out,” with the book stating, “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…A haze rested on the low shores that ran out to sea in vanishing flatness….and the greatest, town on earth.” (Conrad 65). With a strict focus on the physical locations described rather than the adjectives attached to them, Conrad first introduces the location of the ship as the first setting, before pulling out to the river the ship rests in, then to the ocean that the river flows into, then to the shores along that ocean, and finally out to the town that populates those shores. Additionally, by introducing the ship as the first setting, it frames the “other settings” from the point of view of the ship, as though the entire scene was viewed from the Nellie. However, the setting of the opening scene extends well beyond just the locations themselves. Early, it was seen that the Nellie was described as a calm and still vessel. The other locations (river, ocean, shore, town) have similar descriptors attached to them. The rivers and ocean are described as vast and expansive, however, the description of the town and fog/air that rests over it is the most interesting. The text states, “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.” (Conrad 65). There is a strong dichotomy and juxtaposition in the way that the setting is described here; for the air is described as dark, gloomy and almost suffocating, while the town is described as a large and great town, spurring into the imagination scenes of lights and sprawling cities. This juxtaposition both serves to highlight the town as a center of civilization against the town and sea it rests near, especially during the night, but also to separate the large and sprawling town from the still and small ship that it is being observed from, leaving behind and air of dissonance as the two settings do not relate to each other that well—already foreshadowing the plot and how it highlights the differences between colonists and natives. In the next scene, a name and further, more succinct descriptions, are given to the settings described in the first scene. The text states, “”The water shone pacifically; the sky, without a speck, was a benign immensity of unstained light; the very mist on the Essex marshes…” (Conrad 65). It is clear now that the story is set in the English town of Essex, and not London (as what could have been derived from the description of the city as a vast and great city by the River Thames), and in one word the book reveals the environment of the setting: a marsh. However, the important information is not in the town names or the specific terrain of the story, but its focus on the ocean and sea again. The book started on a boat, described a river, then an ocean, and has now once again focused on the shining waters, adding up to the narrator’s position as a sailor. The text also continues its trend of juxtaposing different aspects of its setting, stating, “...the very mist on the Essex marshes 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 west, brooding over the upper reaches, became more sombre every minute, as if angered by the approach of the sun.” (Conrad 65). The waters being described as “shining” is more reminiscent of a bright beach and ocean, however, the descriptions of gloom, mist and a marsh are less jubilant, suggesting a theme that the setting may not be exactly as it seems. A shift in the setting happens quickly in the next section. The text begins this scene by stating, “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 if about to go out suddenly, stricken to death by the touch of that gloom brooding over a crowd of men.” (Conrad 65). The shift observed here is the beginning of a more dreary shift, as the text begins by describing a factor of its setting rather than a location. Additionally, the text shifts from just mentioning adjectives like “gloom” into outright saying that the Sun was stricken to death and its rays dulled. The next sentence states, “Forthwith a change came over the waters, and the serenity became less brilliant but more profound.” (Conrad 65). A shift is observed again here as what appeared to be a clearly depressing description of fading light is turned into something “profound” and “tranquil,” again reemphasizing the theme of the sea being a point of brightness in the story. It is constantly the subject in the setting that is described with the most hope and positivity, advising the idea that the narrator may have some affinity for it (which may set up future themes). This affinity for the sea is confirmed in words when the narrator states, “And indeed nothing is easier for a man who has, as the phrase goes, 'followed the sea' with reverence and affection” (Conrad 65). One question I have is why the narrator seems to be so conflicted on their opinion/view of the setting; one moment it is dark and gloomy and misty, and the next it is perfectly sunny. Ye ok wow Jonah I agree with your very detailed interpretation of the story on Heart of Darkness on how you thought the words “sombre” and “gloomy” meant something like depressing or dull because that’s also how I interpreted the way the narrator seemed to add on to the story. Along with your shifts of the setting and everything else great job jonah! |
|
|
|
Post by Tiffany Chen on Nov 2, 2022 22:07:55 GMT -8
In the book Heart of Darkness, the first few pages of the story start slowly as the narrator spends a lot of time describing the setting rather than the elements or dialogue of the story. When the narrator is describing the setting of the story in which that being the sea, the book places special emphasis on the sea. For example, as the story starts off on a boat, it says, “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.” (Conrad 65). The setting here is characterized as very calm and peaceful. It also talks a lot about the sea here, which it does again when the book says, “Lights of ships moved in the fairway— a great stir of lights going up and going down,” (Conrad 71), as well as “The water shone pacifically; the sky, without a speck, was a benign immensity of unstained light” (Conrad 66). The narrator constantly talking about the sea as the main setting reveals how important the physical location of the setting is to the narrator. And since he is a sailor, it is natural that he would like the sea and be biased or whatnot. Further adding onto this idea is how he describes other settings overall to seem rather gloomy or dull because the narrator is constantly describing things like the marshes, mist and city as “sombre” and “gloomy,” such as when he states, “...the Essex marshes 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 west, brooding over the upper reaches, became more sombre every minute, as if angered by the approach of the sun.” (Conrad 66). Hello Unice! I really like the quotes you selected. They're very telling of Conrad's unique writing style, and their highly descriptive nature allows the reader to truly immerse themself in the scenery. However, I do think it would be a bit more beneficial if you broke the longer quotes into smaller segments, as that would allow for more analysis of the text. I think that you should also further elaborate on perhaps the narrator's reasoning for creating a somber and gloomy atmosphere. How does such a tone help to form the story as a whole? I also think that you should address the second narrator of the section (Marlow), as his perspective brings a different insight into not only the sea but also other settings that are showcased throughout the novella. |
|
|
|
Post by Kayla Kim P1 on Nov 2, 2022 22:12:37 GMT -8
In the introduction to Heart of Darkness in Part 1, we are introduced to the Nellie, a sailboat that is placed in the sea-reach between a river and ocean. The setting is described in brilliance, “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 spirits. A haze rested on the low shores that ran out to sea in vanishing flatness.” The introduction of the setting in it’s brilliance and light transition to profundity,” forthwith a change came over the waters, and the serenity became less brilliant but more profound.” The setting begins to be described as a metaphor to life and fuller days, “not in the vivid flush of a short day tha.t comes and departs for ever, but in the august light of abiding memories.” The tide of the ocean is described as a to and fro of memories of men and ships “to the rest of home or to the battles of the sea.” The richness in culture and history that had taken place at sea is transcribed into the setting at which it is being described as. A description of the river setting shifts to the historical setting. “The dreams of men, the seed of commonwealths, the germs of empires.” Conquest of the earth is described as darkness, a blind strike against the power of men. The overall introduction uses vivid imagery and descriptive language such as metaphors and similes to compare the history of seamen and the sea-reach.
|
|
|
|
Post by Kayla Kim P1 on Nov 2, 2022 22:15:27 GMT -8
In the novel "Heart of Darkness & The Secret Sharer," Joseph Conrad creates a vivid imagery of illustration regarding the setting of the scene. It is evident that the setting takes place out on the sea as described in the text, "The Nellie, a cruising yawl, swung to her anchor without a flutter of sails, and was at rest," (Conrad 65). Additionally, the scene is described in more detail, giving the reader more familiarity as the text says "The sea-reach of the Thames stretched before us like the beginning of an interminable waterway," (Conrad 65). Not only does Conrad utilize vivid imagery of the scene, he moreover includes the description of time, allowing the reader to envision when actions of events occurred. The text mentions that "The sun set; the dusk fell on the stream, and the lights began to appear along the shore," (Conrad 67). To develop more sophistication, the setting plays a further role of characterization of the figures of the story. The individuals on the ship regard themselves as "seamen," in correlation with the setting. In reason of the story's plot revealing itself on the water, the characters tend to use the setting as personal character traits as well. In "Heart of Darkness," we see that the text instantly depicts the scene with much detail for imagery, however it also serves as the introduction to allow for character development. Inclusion of the elements of detail, vivid imagery, and the heavily nuanced diction produces an intricate story line later to be followed by the reader. From initially reading the text, one question I have is if the setting seems to be depicted more in a calm sense or rather in an eerie sense. I agree that much vivid imagery was used and your textual evidence. I would say the shift in setting from something of a retelling of history alongside the setting such as the sea and river meeting metaphorically being compared to men at war is something used often in the introduction of Part 1. I also agree that nuanced diction produces intricate story lines later as I believe the setting is both being told as calm and eerie, calm in nature but eerie in its history of men and war. |
|
|
|
Post by notyounice on Nov 2, 2022 22:15:32 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. Wow I also agree with your interpretation of how you interpreted the story Heart of Darkness especially when you said that the boat of the story moves at an awfully slow pace, because not only the boat moves at a slow pace, but it also allows the setting to move at a slow pace too. I also agree with how you say that the atmosphere of the setting is gloomy and dull. Great job! |
|
|
|
Post by Tiffany Chen on Nov 2, 2022 22:18:23 GMT -8
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. Hello Katrina! In my own analysis, I also noted and made light of Conrad's mentioning of the vast history of the River Thames. I found the shift in the text from describing the condition of the river to telling how it was the place where figures such as knights and members of royalties had fantastical adventures to be quite interesting. Perhaps this was a deliberate choice by Conrad to enforce a certain expectation or view of how British culture is portrayed in Heart of Darkness in the mind of the reader. I agree with your analysis of the contrasts prevalent throughout the section, as it is something that is not only relevant in the first unnamed narrator's perspective, but also that of Maslow's. I really like your prediction of the future themes of the novel and the connection made between prevalent symbolism. |
|
|
|
Post by Sydney Odron on Nov 2, 2022 22:35:39 GMT -8
Throughout the book "Heart of Darkness", the author uses vivid imagery to depict the setting of the story as somewhere at sea. Going into detail about the time of day, we can see that the sky is still dark but the sun will almost rise. This is shown when Conrad says “Only the gloom to the west, brooding over the upper reaches, became more somber every minute, as if angered by the approach of the sun.” This so-called "gloom" is repeated a lot throughout the text, describing the sky with the phrase "gloom brooding". This word choice gives the impression of a darkness or unhappiness along with this setting. However, the author contrasts this unhappy gloom with an appreciation for it by saying “enveloping the tale which brought it out only as a glow brings out a haze, in the likeness of one of these misty halos that sometimes are made visible by the spectral illumination of moonshine.” With this, it is as if the people on board this boat are favorable of the dark skies that are present when out at sea. There is another juxtaposition of setting when the author uses the word "yacht" to label this form of transportation. From the rest of the text, it can be inferred that these characters are aboard a ship, almost painting them off to be pirates. However, Conrad uses the modern term of a yacht to describe their voyage. Overall, Conrad uses vivid imagery to instill in the readers a dark and eerie setting of sailors at sea.
|
|
|
|
Post by Sydney Odron on Nov 2, 2022 22:46:29 GMT -8
In the introduction to Heart of Darkness in Part 1, we are introduced to the Nellie, a sailboat that is placed in the sea-reach between a river and ocean. The setting is described in brilliance, “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 spirits. A haze rested on the low shores that ran out to sea in vanishing flatness.” The introduction of the setting in it’s brilliance and light transition to profundity,” forthwith a change came over the waters, and the serenity became less brilliant but more profound.” The setting begins to be described as a metaphor to life and fuller days, “not in the vivid flush of a short day tha.t comes and departs for ever, but in the august light of abiding memories.” The tide of the ocean is described as a to and fro of memories of men and ships “to the rest of home or to the battles of the sea.” The richness in culture and history that had taken place at sea is transcribed into the setting at which it is being described as. A description of the river setting shifts to the historical setting. “The dreams of men, the seed of commonwealths, the germs of empires.” Conquest of the earth is described as darkness, a blind strike against the power of men. The overall introduction uses vivid imagery and descriptive language such as metaphors and similes to compare the history of seamen and the sea-reach. Hi Kayla! Yes I believe that it is very important how the author begins with describing the sailboat, the Nellie, in great brilliance. This affection and appreciation towards the ship is a direct contrast to the overall dark and eerie imagery that Conrad leaves us with. As he is describing the time of day and the look of the sky, he describes it in a negative fashion by using the words "gloom" and "brooding". However, the author still writes these characters as looking at this dark gloominess favorably and with much appreciation towards it. To further this idea, Conrad includes the words"..enveloping the tale which brought it out only as a glow brings out a haze, in the likeness of one of these misty halos that sometimes are made visible by the spectral illumination of moonshine.” The comparisons to the moon and luminosity shows that the characters are looking at this with awe and appreciation. |
|
|
|
Post by Leila Issa on Nov 2, 2022 22:59:30 GMT -8
In Heart of Darkness, Joseph Conrad creates strong imagery and vivid details regarding the setting of the scene. Right from the beginning of the novel, it is revealed that the setting is a boat out at sea, which seems to be in a calm and peaceful part of the sea. Conrad writes, “The Nellie, a cruising yawl, swung to her anchor without a flutter of the sails, and was at rest.” Also, the author is illustrating a peaceful and calm setting when he says, “the wind was nearly calm, and was bound down the river.” Additionally the characters' surroundings seem to be very dark and gloomy, with the sea described as “the colour of lead”, “the sky the colour of smoke”, and “a king of ship about as rigid as a concertina''. Conrad also indicates, “The air was dark above Gravesend, and farther back still seemed condensed into a mournful gloom, brooding motionless…” The ominous description of the sky, boat, sea, allows the reader to speculate that something mysterious and unknown may occur. Additionally, Conrad uses strong imagery to reveal the time that the scene takes place. This allows the reader to picture when events are occurring in the text. The author writes, “The sun set; the dusk fell on the stream, and lights began to appear along the shore.” Overall, the setting in Part 1 of Heart of Darkness was successfully fabricated as strong imagery and vivid details paved the way for a mysterious and ominous setting. From initially reading the text, one question I have is why does the tone of the text shift?
|
|
|
|
Post by Leila Issa on Nov 2, 2022 23:07:35 GMT -8
In the "Heart of Darkness" the author Joseph Conrad applies different uses of imagery and figurative language to his text to share vivid mental images to the readers. These uses not only help add detail to the setting but add to the story itself. "...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 quote states the surrounding area and gives the reader an idea of the setting, but as the story continues Conrad gets more detail oriented nites. "...A haze rested on the low shores that ran out to sea in vanishing flatness..." This quote uses imagery and personification to give a marine layer a mysterious tone. Stating that it is vanishing is just another way to state it has vastness, using certain diction can help the reader imply that there is more to the story, that the sea adventure is not a lighthearted trip, but one that is a challenge. This can be referred back to HTRLAP to chapter "Every trip is a quest". Examples of physical blocks may allude to mere mental blocks, this can help one to understand that there is more to be gained from the trip. Perspectives alter the story, certain things change in accordance to our own beliefs, if the sea is intimidating then the story may share a coming of age message, where overcoming the sea storm is really overcoming the obstacles of life. I agree with this discussion! Great Job!! I agree that the vivid imagery that Conrad utilizes is creating an image in the readers minds. The setting of the sea in particular is described vividly in the text with strong diction and details. It sets the scene of the novel for the reader. I love how you tied in the book "How to read literature like a professor" to the novel. It reveals even more significance and importance of this text! Overall great job  |
|
|
|
Post by Mia Espinoza on Nov 2, 2022 23:13:44 GMT -8
In the book “Heart of Darkness” by Joseph Conrad, he gives vivid imagery and figurative language to help bring insight to his novel. Conrad first starts describing his experience on the ship called Nelle. He demonstrates how relaxing and calming it was to be on the 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.” This imagery gives the readers more details and information and an idea on what it is like. He also goes into the setting of night and how he had observed it and what it felt like to him. “ 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.” Furthermore, we see Conrad telling us about his bond with his crew. The characters he introduces to the audience brings what type of environment it was like on the ship rather than outside the ship. “Besides holding our 4 hearts together through long periods of separation, it had the effect of making us tolerant of each other’s yarns—and even convictions.” Conrad tells the audience about a Director of Companies, The Lawyer, The Accountant and Marlow. The different people all together, helps create the setting on the boat and perhaps outside of the boat as well.Setting doesn’t always mean the background information but what is happening right then and there.
|
|
