summary Hearth of darkness, Appunti di Inglese

Scarica summary Hearth of darkness e più Appunti in PDF di Inglese solo su Docsity! HISTORICAL CONTEXT 19th century the king used to send agents to civilise the natives and expunge barbarism (CONCESSION COMPANIES). Civilisation was a duty for these people who were sent faraway in the colonies to spread education and civilisation but also to exploit land and people. HEART OF DARKNESS Summary: Marlow is a seaman who goes to Congo to get to know the uncivilised country. He comes across the brutality of civilisation which is turned to exploitation by the white men who govern the natives. He meets Kurtz, a coloniser whose civility has been taken over by the wilderness (darkness). Kurtz is seriously ill and Marlow aims to take him back to Belgium but the man dies before arriving at the harbour. CHAIN-GANG Marlow describes what he sees in the Company station where the natives are being exploited and are starving. Natives: skinny, fragile, weak, impersonal, indifferent Man on top: rifle, rude, bad Marlow then reaches a cave where he sees plenty of men who look like ghosts (description of their physical conditions: bones). Black shadows, moribund shapes, black shapes. He gives a biscuit to one of them who has a sparkle in their eyes: only contact. NARRATOR: OMNISCENT AND OBTRUSIVE Makes comments on what he sees and criticizes colonisation and imperialism. THE HORROR Summary: Marlow is on his way back to Belgium with Kurtz but the man dies. Kurtz is lying on the deck dying slowly and mumbles things randomly. Visions of his future (job, money, girlfriend, recognition of being a coloniser). Marlow goes in the cabin to have dinner and, in the meantime, Kurtz dies. (different reactions between the companions). References to darkness: muddy hole, dark outside -> unconscious got the better of rationality (wild). Marlow realises of having lived a meaningless life, Kurtz has respected his duty (colonisation). NARRATOR: OBLIQUE NARRATION: talks to the reader through the characters.