1. Four Universal Themes from the Novella
- Madness occurs when people become over-obsessive of an object and can't get enough of it, resulting in a downfall.
- Some people want more and more of a certain item that they end up hurting themselves from their greed.
- Exploration allows people to make new discoveries although some obstacles can get in the way.
- Finding new things can be great, but sometimes things can get in the way that we need to get passed first.
- Imperialism causes damage to colonizers and natives resulting in chaos.
- Imperialism of a region causes too much madness and overpower for a leader.
- Power causes people to take control over others and results in corruptness.
- Having too much power can cause someone to take it too far and abuse the power that they hold.
2. Top 10 Quotes from the Novella that are Meaningful Today
- "'And this also,'" said Marlow suddenly, 'has been one of the dark places of the earth'" (Conrad 55).
- Some places on the earth are just not the best to be in.
- "The immutability of their surroundings the foreign shores, the foreign faces, the changing immensity of life, glide past, veiled not by a sense of mystery but by a slightly disdainful ignorance..." (Conrad 56).
- Being in one place for so long seems like it has almost no effect on life or anything around.
- "You can't judge Mr. Kurtz as you would an ordinary man." (Conrad 56)
- People should not be judged by how they look or be compared to other people.
- "Moreover, I respected the fellow. Yes; I respected his collars, his vast cuffs, his brushed hair" (Conrad 73).
- Later Marlow finds out this accountant is not as good as he appears. People should not just judge others by their appearances, but should get to know them first.
- "You know I hate, detest, and can't bear a lie..." (Conrad 85).
- Lying makes people feel very guilty. It is not a good thing to do, but people do it to get what they want.
- "I don't like work - no man does - but I like what is in the work - the chance to find yourself" (Conrad 88).
- Nobody likes to work, but if you love what you do, then it is worth it.
- "The mind of a man is capable of anything..." (Conrad 98).
- Anyone can do anything that they put their mind to.
- "...there was a scandalous murmur at my heartless promptitude" (Conrad 119).
- Sometimes people just don't care for the actions you take and wish you had done something differently.
- "...never before, did this land, this river, this jungle, the very arch of this blazing sky, appear to me so hopeless and so dark..." (Conrad 125).
- Marlow had just realized that these things that he had totally looked forward to, weren't really of much interest to him anymore.
- "Droll thing life is - that mysterious arrangement of merciless logic for a futile purpose" (Conrad 144).
- Sometimes our lives can seem pointless, but really everyone has meaning in their life.
3. Three Images from Conrad's Congo
4. Three Images from Today's Congo
5. Link to a 20th or 21st Century Song that Parallels the Novella
- "Where is My Mind" by Pixies
- https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7ut52Szpd-w
- Oh - stop
With your feet on the air and your head on the ground
Try this trick and spin it, yeah
Your head will collapse
But there's nothing in it
And you'll ask yourself
Where is my mind? [3x]
Way out in the water
See it swimmin'
I was swimmin' in the Caribbean
Animals were hiding behind the rock
Except the little fish
But they told me, he swears
Tryin' to talk to me, to me, to me.
Where is my mind? [3x]
Way out in the water
See it swimmin'
With your feet on the air and your head on the ground
Try this trick and spin it, yeah
Your head will collapse
If there's nothing in it
And you'll ask yourself
Where is my mind? [3x]
Way out in the water
See it swimmin'
Oh
With your feet on the air and your head on the ground
Oh
Try this trick and spin it, yeah
Oh
Oh - This song relates to Heart of Darkness in a way that describes Marlow. The opening line, "With your feet on the air and your head on the ground," relates to Marlow and his love for seamanship and how its all he thinks of while traveling. Sailing the sea is what he wants to do and he loves the water; he doesn't really care where he is as long as he can pursue his passion. The book about seamanship that he found in the hut is what he began to read and got lost in. This also contributes to the opening line. Next, the line "Way out in the water" is the perfect line to describe Marlow's love of the sea. That is essentially where his mind is, thinking about the water. He travels down the Congo to each station even though obstacles may occur, he is still doing what he wants.