HOD Intros
Babienko AP English
#1 – Intro and Conclusion:
In Joseph Conrad’s Heart of Darkness, the balance of man’s savage nature and the suppression of his natural
desires by “civilization” is explored. Conrad asks “what is civilization?” and uses Kurtz’s experiences to define it
as a façade of society designed to repress man’s natural desires. This conclusion helps to bring to light the pitfalls
of colonialism, the necessity of civilization, and Kurtz’s genius in realizing these truths in his deathbed. ***
Kurtz’s stay in the jungle helps him to understand his natural state. And in his final words he understands the pitfalls and
façade of “civilization.” This helps shed light on the central question, “What is civilization.” Marlow’s decision to keep
the secret reveals (is driven by) society’s necessity, and the irrationality of colonialism shows itself when “civilization” is
removed. The question “what is ‘civilization’ shows the paradox of society.
#2 – Intro and Conclusion:
Joseph Conrad questions the value of Imperialism in his novella, Heart of Darkness. Marlow, the protagonist of the
novella, discusses the madness and monstrosities he has seen in his journey up the Congo River. Conrad never
provides the reader with a clear-cut answer to the value of Imperialism, because Marlow narrates on both the
benefits and disadvantages of the European conquering system. This ambiguity forces the reader to see the inner
darkness in everything and, with this knowledge, pass judgment. ****
While Marlow narrates about the obvious fallacies and monstrosities of Imperialism, he also shows the necessities of it.
The women’s “beautiful world” proves he need for saving illusions and lies, yet this perpetuates the erroneous view of
European “civility” though which Imperialism is deemed justified – both of which create opposition to the central
question of the value of Imperialism. Conrad never answers the question definitively, forces the reader to make his own
judgments.
#3 – Intro and Conclusion:
Joseph Conrad’s Heart of Darkness takes place on the fringes of European civilization, where it comes in contact
with the savage, uncivilized jungle. The inherent conflict that exists between the two states is used by the author to
ask the question of whether or not civilization really holds any intrinsic value at all. Conrad answers this question
by showing that civilization does not actually make us civil, or provide any real progress; however it does hold
utility as a guiding ideal, to lend some purpose to life. This treatment of the question leads towards Conrad’s
central message that perseverance is necessary in the face of human futility.***
Throughout the novella, Conrad continually challenges assumptions about the superiority of the civilized over the
uncivilized. The events of the novella serve to show how corrupt the civil world actually is, but ultimately the fact that
civilization provides man with a purpose makes it necessary. This leads towards the book’s central message: that of
overcoming the failings of the world through dedication to an ideal.
#4 – Intro and Conclusion:
In Joseph Conrad’s Heart of Darkness, the reader is confronted both by the cruelties which flourish when released
from the repressing forces of civilization (embodied by Kurtz), and the equally cold and inhumane dishonesty that
occurs when civilization is left intact. Through the presentation of these, Heart of Darkness asks which is better –
the honest atrocities of the uncivil, or the corrupt and deceitful façade of civilization. Conrad’s tentative answer
that the civil is preferable facilitates the over-arching claim that the truth of human nature is unbearable.***
In Heart of Darkness, Conrad explores the similarities between the civil and the uncivil. By balancing the two, he
challenges the reader to pick between the two evils. Through Marlow’s way of living with his new understanding of man
and his society, Conrad suggests that civilization is the only choice. Man, he claims, cannot face his own brutality; best
instead to cover it up.
#5 Intro & 1st paragraph:
In Heart of Darkness, Joseph Conrad raises the following question: what role does language play in repressing or
concealing the truth? Conrad’s piece works on two levels to answer this question: first, by using character
description and dialogue to show the power of words, and second, by collapsing within Marlow’s very narration
the binary oppositions that language promotes.
Foremost in understanding the wisdom Conrad offers on the subject is Kurtz’s own speaking ability. Description of
Kurtz’s “magnificent eloquence” is used often in conjunction with words like “folds” and “veil”. Both imply an innate
ability to conceal and muddle the language. The correlation often made between language and truth is seriously
compromised by Conrad’s portrayal of Kurtz, who uses words instead to glass over and distract from the truths of the
horror being committed against nature in their imperialistic attempt to civilize the Congo.
HOD Intros
Babienko AP English
#6 – Intro and Conclusion:
Confronted with a savage society, seemingly opposite of his own, Marlow, in Heart of Darkness, struggles to break free
of his imperial society. Throughout the novel, society and man, as an individual, interact as separate entities. Men attempt
to keep women protected from the truths of the outside world, but these roles intended for women are creations of an
imperialistic society. Marlow seems unable to release himself from the ingrained bonds of his society, but in his lie to the
Intended, he chooses to actually perpetuate the imperial way of life. Kurtz, being absent of any European influence in the
bush, seems to form a society of his own among the savages, but the reintroduction of imperialism replants ideas of
narcissism and grandeur. The central question of the novel pertains to these relationships: does society shape man or
does man shape society? The conflicts within women, Marlow and Kurtz all contain proposed responsibilities,
morality and the impact of one’s environment.***
Women, Kurtz and Marlow are all confined and trapped by society, unable to break free of their responsibilities to the rest
of mankind. Marlow sees his decision to lie as protecting society, but society defines his choice. Women have no say
whatsoever, and urtz creates a similar society in th absence of his home environment. Conrad seems to ascribe to society
shaping man, which broadens an understanding of the weight of societal constraints upon the minds of men in the form of
responsibilities and ingrained beliefs.
#7 – Intro:
Throughout Joseph Conrad’s Heart of Darkness, the character Marlow struggles to distinguish between the traits
of “civilized” and “savage” men. After his time in the Congo he comes to realize that “civilization” only masks
man’s inner “savage”, and that there is a basic set of primal instincts inherent in all men that makes the terms
“savage” and “civilized” no different from each other.
#8 – Intro:
In Joseph Conrad’s Heart of Darkness, Marlow’s journey into the uncivilized Congo and his encounter with Kurtz,
formerly the model of the idealistic European colonization effort, raises a question central to the novella: what
value has civilization? Conrad’s treatment of the “civilized and the “savage” characters in the work suggests that
civilization serves as restraint on man’s savage urges, but simultaneously corrupts its members and prevents them
from seeing its true, malicious nature. However, in light of the ending of the novella, Conrad’s final answer to this
question is that, despite a recognition of civilization for what it is, the institution will continue to exist and corrupt,
because man cannot break it down.
#9 – Intro:
In the portrayal of the natives of the Congo and the agents of the Company, Conrad’s Heart of Darkness raises a
central question: what is civilization? The contrasting illustrations that Conrad presents of the native “savages” as
more civilized than the agents of the Company and other so-called civilized men allows him to explore the concept
of the inner savage within every man, and what it is that makes a man civilized.
#10 – Intro:
In Joseph Conrad’s Heart of Darkness, Conrad begs the question, “what is civilization?” Though never answering
this question directly, Conrad speaks of civilization using a negative tone. In fact, as Marlow journeys into the
Congo, he discovers the white man’s society to be ignorant and futile. He also discovers, through his meeting with
Kurtz in the wilderness, that there is a primal darkness within the hearts of all mankind. This suggests that
civilization is simply an institution used to tame and ignore man’s inner darkness. Through Marlow’s experiences
in the wilderness, Conrad infers that civilization is a device of repression.