In Joseph Conrad’s Heart of Darkness, Conrad’s representation of survival, as well as mental and physical illness, demonstrate the immense power needed to create an inhumane society. Marlow, from Western Europe, is introduced as the “second” framed narrator who descends from a contrasting society likewise to the well known, Mr. Kurtz. While only being in the Congo for a short time, Marlow observes his surroundings. He allows himself to take in the abstract alterations from the European society, to the society that lies before him in Africa. As Marlow looks around, he comes across a group of scrawny looking men coming from behind him. He glanced back, and stated how he “could see every rib, the joints of their limbs were like knots in a rope, each had an iron collar on his neck and all were together with a chain whose bights swung between them, rhythmically clinking” (Conrad 14). This moment helped bring Marlow into the new environment more. Not only was he ready to take on his job in gathering ivory, but most inquisitively, to finally meet Kurtz and explore what the rest of this area was about. In this Novella, the Heart of Darkness is broken down into three of the most prominent themes: fear, civilization and self-restraint.
Particularly in this novella, cannibalism is a subject that gives off a tedious glow; unlike reality. Just like other outsiders of the Congo, visitors would come to believe that cannibals have no control. Besides the thought of there being no control, the fear of their surroundings became an overwhelming factor. Just the feeling of moving farther and farther away from civilization as they know it, intertwined with the eerie silence and depth of the Congo, sets a scene that is best described as horrific. The battle with the natives had given the Europeans a small taste of the type of an environment they were soon approaching. However, after finally arriving and vaguely studying the cannibals, Marlow develops a distinct sense of interest. His previous thoughts of cannibals attacking or possibly losing their own self control were no longer existent. The cannibals began to stick out towards Marlow more. The most remarkable aspect were how the natives had the strength to restrain themselves, these moments came across as one of the only shining lights in the darkness of the Congo.
In the ‘society’ that exists in Africa, people are treated as if they are not human. Savages are chained by the neck as they struggle walking up hills and carrying heavy materials. The main concern that takes place is making sure that the company’s material and ratings are kept up to an acceptable level. For a human, being able to overcome the tease of letting loose at any time can be a remarkable asset to gain, as well as having the constant strength to hold back while living in the worst conditions. Marlow develops an interest in how amazing the cannibals behavior truly is. Furthermore, he states, “Don’t you know the devilry of lingering starvation, its exasperating torment, its black thoughts, its sombre and brooding ferocity?” He continued, “It takes a man all his inborn strength to fight hunger properly” (42). Being able to prosper the consistency to not turn to cannibalism or allowing oneself to become ill, is a task that is nearly impossible to handle. As Marlow continues to journey his way to the office, he comes across an additional incident by a nearby site where men are nearly dying at his feet. While he watched the men gradually dying, he thought back to a prior incident, where in his mind he reminisced on how the natives “had an alert, naturally interested expression, but their faces were essentially quiet, even those of the one or two who grinned as they hauled at the chain” (40). The thoughts running through his mind began to come together like two puzzle pieces creating one. The way the men are treated in the Congo are a deliberate symbol of how poorly structured the society is. The harshly enforced rules had however, over time, created a positive influence on the men themselves, thus resulting in restraint. Restraint can be used as an underlying theme which demonstrates a man’s “civilized” mentality. One of the most shocking points in this novella, are Marlow’s views of Kurtz’s room. As he approaches the room, surprisingly Marlow was not completely taken back, as he saw human head’s on steaks through out the room. This setting best exemplifies Freud’s studies of I.D., ego and superego. For an individual to have willpower, are other words for saying how an individual has backbone. The main issue that eventually comes along, is an individual who is in need of a backbone, but yet does not have one. In difference, the I.D.factor, or desire, represents the lust and feeling of wanting something so badly, where restraint is left as something not so important to hold on to.
For an individual to conquer the challenge of self-restraint furthermore, leads to a larger picture; civilization. In Europe, citizens roam the streets freely, and feel as though survival is not an issue to have to worry about. The Europeans mental state is average, and no major pressure is being pushed on anyone. Although as Marlow arrives and meets with the accountant for the station there in the Congo, he was astonished. The way the accountant had spoke and dressed gave Marlow his respect for the gentleman. “Yes. I respected his collars, his vast cuffs, his brushed hair” Marlow continued, “ his appearance was certainly that of a hairdressers dummy, but in the great demoralization of the land he kept up his appearance. That’s backbone” (18). After coming across the men with the iron collars earlier, then meeting with the accountant, who in contrast, was a well cleaned up man, created a sense of unsystematic civilization that came over Marlow. In my personal opinion, there is no set definition for civilization. Every community and country come together in different ways, if any at all. However, it is a vast transformation from the high end type of civilization, down to a place that consists of poor structure and organization, as it is left as a deep darkness. This darkness that is unintentionally constructed, is one that no individual can surpass. The feeling that is common among most people, is the feeling of having no escape. Kurtz becomes a prime example of how the human structure transforms from the European lifestyle, to a lifestyle that is lived in a place such as Africa. There in Africa, is where mental and physical illness develop so often, that it is ‘inhumane’ for someone not to go insane while spending time in the Congo. Fear is a large factor that deals with civilization as a whole. While constantly surviving in the surroundings that the individuals are put in, the mind creates the drive to do foolish things. Thus the novella infuses not only terror, but moral disturbance as well. In most gatherings of either animals or human beings focused on survival, a leader is chosen and looked upon for guidance and support. In this scenario, Kurtz is the primary leader as to why the natives had attacked the Europeans ships. The drive and motivation the natives had to attack the incoming pilgrims had showed that in a society as broken and weak as theirs is, that there is a strength used together to demonstrate what civilization is still existent. As intense as the battle was, it had shown through as a high point for the natives in taking all of their individual identity’s and qualities to come together as a one. Having a figure likewise to Kurtz is an important aspect to focus on, as it similarly demonstrates the order of survival.
Survival can be a devastating obstacle to overcome, especially when being put into a risky situation. The study of human beings after living in a new environment over time, can come off as either positive or negative. For the instance of Kurtz, his time gradually went downhill. Marlow had heard so many uplifting bits and pieces about Kurtz before his arrival and grew very eager to meet with him. Nonetheless, the combination of fear, difference in civilization, and self-restraint can together, create a power that turns a society from average, to inhumane. Throughout this particular novella, Kurtz is used as a prime example of the transformation. The living environment as well as the actions of people in the Congo, induce terror upon any visitors. Yet, as those visitors develop a permanent home there, not only is terror visible, but a strike of moral disturbance hits. Kurtz is described as “ the lone white man turning his back suddenly on the headquarters, on relief, on thoughts of home perhaps, setting his face towards the depths of the wilderness, towards his empty and desolate station” (32). After spending far too much time in the Congo, Kurtz’s life has deteriorated into barely anything. His skillful expertise and thoughts have diminished and left him to give up on all he had, and face the reality of having to live in the Congo for the rest of his life. As marlow comes forth and notices that Kurtz is reaching his death, he observed him and saw an expression of “sombre pride, of ruthless power, of craven terror-of an intense and hopeless despair”(69) on Kurtz’s face. Marlow continued, questioning if he had “ lived his life again in every detail of desire, temptation, and surrender during that supreme moment of complete knowledge?” (69). Just as he finished his thoughts, a disturbing thought came over Kurtz as he cried out multiple times. No more than a breath, he left his life screaming, “The horror! The horror!” (69). The craziness of the inhumane society due to fear, change in civilization, and lack of self-restraint, innocently attacks and kills the lives of those who once carried dominant skill.
