Intro

With the evolution of man came a social hierarchy that set apart primitive instincts from communal behavior. When faced with danger and the need to survive, no matter how high of a social pyramid created, man is biologically wired to resort to its ancestral instincts to survive, behaviors that have been fined tuned over centuries to ensure the survival of the next generation. Conrad's Heart of Darkness explores the capacity of man to resist this change and also his ability welcome it. Along with Frederick Carl and Freud's psycho analysis, the human mind is further explored with its checks and balances, suppressors that clearly define the conscious and sub-conscious. Thus, Conrad's heart of darkness gives a front row seat in the observations of how man kind is able to adapt and survive when placed in unforgiving environments that tests our very own humanity (working on this).

#11

Marlow finds Kurtz to be a peculiar person because no only is he repulsed by his pure brutality, but he is also galvanized at its existence. Kurtz has show the capacity for man to adapt to new environments. He out of most people has figured the way to survive in Africa, which is why Marlow admires him. Although the means of his survival out quite outlandish, and indeed brutal and insensitive to humanity, Marlow cannot help but be attracted to the contrasting character that makes Krutz the epitome of man's capacity to express primitive, instinctual behavior to survive.

Essay

Marlow seems to be unable to describe his story in a fluid format, partly because his story is like no other. It's like one of those war tails where you get the response "you weren't there man," something like that. So im thinking of focusing on his speech aspects along with one of the major themes of "dual worlds." Marlow's from England; however, he's taken back to the past in Africa where he experiences a whole new perspective on life. I'm thinking about talking about Krutz or the cannibals, aspects that show change in humanity as well as people on the individual scale....... still brainstorming

psychological significance of journey

Upon entering the Heart of Darkness, Marlow is overwhelmed with what he sees. It is a complete paradigm shift from his perspectives at home. He's taken back to the past to man kinds raw form, and he sees for the first time the true wilderness. Marlow's first hand experience is one of adventure, journeying deeper into the unknown. As he discovers more about africa, he also discovers more about the nature of man. By taking away all material necessities from england, Marlow gains greater insight into his self being, as well as understands the truth behind "carrying the torch" and civilizing the savages of the land.

TORCH #6

The lady blindfolded holding a torch is a play on the god lady justice, who is depicted holding a scale instead. The main concept behind this is that justice is blind, hence the blindfold, but the torch says something else. I believe the torch represents the unknown, that the intentions of the english in africa are so multidimensional, that there can be no one specific cause. The dark background contrasts the light, which can be shed in many ways. Whether the english arrival is good or bad, I believe that Marlow's  perspective is darker, hinting at the tragedy of his countries interference with the people and the land.

AFRICA!!!! #2

I believe that Marlow sees potential in Africa. England prior to Roman interference was much like Marlow's modern africa: baron, tribal, and not colonized. This along with his sense of adventure is the driving force behind his pursuit of adventure. If the Romans could colonize england, and that colony could grow into the prosperous empire it is today, then Africa is a gold mine in Marlow's eyes. He is in a sense, reliving the greatness of history.