In Heart of Darkness unfolds the story of Marlow’s search for Mr Kurtz, the company agent whose “unlawful soul” has been “beguiled beyond the bounds of permitted aspirations” in his dealings with the natives of the Belgian Congo. Witnessing the colonial activity that Conrad elsewhere described as “the vilest scramble for loot that ever disfigured the history of human conscience”, Marlow’s adventure involves him, as it had involved Conrad, in a crucial reappraisal of his own values. It is Kurtz, however, who in his hour of “moral victory” attains to a vision of the inexpressible, terrifying reality of the heart: a vision that has disturbed the thoughts of writers and poets throughout the 20th century.
Displaying masterful technical dexterity in his use of the fallible narrator and the continual testing of the possibilities of language, Conrad makes us fully aware of the deep mystery of truth in this extraordinary exploration of human savagery and despair.
Conrad’s classic novel follows Marlow, an ambitious man who decides to join the Colonial scramble for Africa and seek his fortune by working as a river boat captain in the Belgian Congo. When he finally succeeds in getting there his illusions are swiftly shattered by the inept bureaucracy, petty internal politics and naked self-interest that he finds. His hopes are soon placed in one man, the mysterious Kurtz who works in a settlement further up stream and whose success in plundering the local resources have made him a figure of fear and envy for those in the company seeking to secure their own position. Sent to relieve Kurtz from his post, Marlow soon finds himself in the dark heart of Africa where everything, including his sanity is at risk.
First published in 1902, this novel is very much a product of its time and the overtly racist attitudes towards the Congolese (including liberal use of the ‘n’ word) is very disturbing and makes for an uncomfortable reading experience. Perhaps the most horrific scene in the book is the attitude of African villagers to Kurtz and their worship of him as a god. If there is a defence, then it is that Conrad is as scathing about the westerners and their venal interest as he is denigrating about the Africans.
Despite the fact that it’s a short book, the slim story is slow to unfold and the leisurely place and interior monologues and reflections on the scramble for Africa may not be to modern tastes. I’ll admit that there were times when I found it hard going and skipped ahead.
It’s an interesting book to read, but it is very much a product of its time and the attitudes espoused within its pages aren’t acceptable today.
The Verdict:
A product of its time, the racism in this book makes for an uncomfortable reading experience (notwithstanding that Conrad is scathing about the westerners as well) and the slow pace takes some getting used to.
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books and bookworming.