General
1. The main character of the story is Marlow and ever since he was a little boy he loved looking at maps. He wanted to travel to Africa when he grew up. Thanks to his aunt's connections Marlow finally gets his chance when a European captain is killed by the natives in Africa. Marlow takes a ship to the Congo where his new steamship awaits him and quickly finds out that the ship needs a couple of months to repair. Marlow overhears a conversation about a man named Kurtz who is rumored to hold significant information about the Congo. On Marlow's search for Kurtz, Marlow is ambushed by natives which leads to the killing of men on Marlow's ship. When, Marlow finds Kurtz he learns that Kurtz is thought of as a god by the natives because of what he has accomplished in his raids. Eventually, Marlow and Kurtz become good friends, however, Kurtz dies onboard the ship going back to Europe, but before he does he releases essential documents to Marlow about the Congo. The author gets his point across by beginning and ending Marlow's journey in darkness.
2. The theme of the novel is provided in the name, darkness. Marlow's journey literally begins and ends in darkness. Besides the setting which is dark and gloomy, there is also the imaginary darkness that is spread throughout the novel. Darkness is present in Kurtz more than anyone else because of the environment he has lived in. It has taken away his morale and natural being shown by his savage acts against the natives.
3. The novel has a dark tone which is implied through Marlow's constant use of the words. There is not a single person in the novel who just has a good vibe to them; everyone in the book is complemented darkness. Here are three examples that support my claim of the author having a dark tone:
“I couldn't have felt more of lonely desolation somehow, had I been robbed of a belief or had missed my destiny in life...”
“But his soul was mad. Being alone in the wilderness, it had looked within itself and, by heavens I tell you, it had gone mad.”
“I seemed to hear the whispered cry, “The horror! The horror!”
4. Syntax: The author’s sentences more or less feel like run on sentences; however, they are just really long descriptions. For example, “It seems to me I am trying to tell you a dream-making a vain attempt, because no relation of a dream can convey the dream-sensation, that commingling of absurdity, surprise, and bewilderment in a tremor of struggling revolt, that notion of being captured by the incredible which is of the very essence of dreams…”
Diction: The author’s word choice is significant to the story because if Conrad didn’t use a wide and advanced vocabulary then it would have taken away from the stories great explanation and expression of darkness through the characters. An example is, “We were cut off from the comprehension of our surroundings; we glided past like phantoms, wondering and secretly appalled, as sane men would be before an enthusiastic outbreak in a madhouse.”
Simile: Conrad uses similes throughout the book and here is an example, “Here and there a military camp lost in the wilderness, like a needle in a bundle of hay.” In this Conrad compares a military camp with a needle in a bundle of hay.
Imagery: Conrad's imagery is frightening because he is a master of the darkness and he does it constantly throughout the novel. For example, “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.”
Cliché: Conrad doesn't use many clichés in the novel; however, there are a couple who are constantly used in the novel, and they arr “The horror! The horror!” and “as far as the eye could see .”
Personification: An example of personification is used in the following quote, “The tidal current runs to and fro in its unceasing service crowded with memories of men and ships it had born to the rest of home or to the battles of the sea.” Running and containing memories signifies human qualities.
Symbolism: Conrad uses symbolism to compare the natives to machines and pilgrims. For example, “They wandered here and there with their absurd long staves in their hands, like a lot of faithless pilgrims bewitched inside rotten fence.”
Mood: The author's mood is the same as the tone which is cynical and dark. The mood comes across dark because every character in the book seems to have a dark vibe surrounding them. For example, “Marlow sat cross-legged right aft. He had sunken cheeks, a yellow complexion, a straight back, an ascetic aspect, and, with his arms dropped, the palms of hands outwards, resembled an idol.”
Foreshadowing: The author uses foreshadowing when talking about Marlow's memories and what he wants to forget because he is narrating this story. For example, “There is a taint of death, a flavor of mortality in lies-which is exactly what I hate and detest of the world-what I want to forget.”
Characterization
1. The first example of direct characterization is when Conrad describes Marlow at the beginning of the novel. “Marlow had sunken cheeks, a yellow complexion, a straight back, an ascetic aspect, and, with his arms dropped, the palms of hands outwards, resembled an idol.” Another example of direct characterization is when Conrad describes the Director of Companies. “He resembled a pilot, which to a seaman is trustworthiness personified. It was difficult to realize his work was not out there in the luminous estuary, but behind him, within the brooding gloom.” My first example of indirect characterization is when Conrad describes the Lawyer. “The Lawyer-the best of old fellows-had, because of his many years and many virtues, they only cushion on deck, and was lying on the only rug.” Another example of indirect characterization is when Conrad describes Kurtz. For example, “It seemed to me I had never breathed an atmosphere so vile, and I turned mentally to Kurtz for relief-positively for relief.” Conrad's use of both direct and indirect characterization give hints to the reader about the characters traits.
2. The author doesn't change his syntax and diction when he is describing a character because he uses formal diction and syntax throughout the book and not just when describing characters. In this excerpt from the novel it explains how the darkness had engulfed Kurtz in what he does and how he acts.
3. Marlow is a static and flat character because his goal throughout the book stays the same. He is static because throughout the novel Marlow changes the way he is trying to accomplish his goal, but he is a flat character because his goal remains the same from beginning to end.
4. At the end of the book I felt like I met a person because I have met people like Marlow and Kurtz. They are very relatable characters.
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