What is it that makes up darkness in one's heart? Does everyone have darkness? Or are people lucky enough to escape it? Are sin and darkness the same thing? In Joseph Conrad's Heart of Darkness, Marlow is continually consumed in darkness. Is this darkness eternal, or can he escape it?
Heart of Darkness opens up so many ideas and concepts, that i could never have dreamed of considering. There are so many ideas and curiosities, that I begin to question what MY darkness is. Do I have darkness, or have I not aquired it, do to lack of exposure? I like to think that i'm 100% dark free. I mean i'm a happy go lucky girl. My friends can't imagine a frown on my face. Does that mean my heart is consumed in nothing but light? I know that hard to believe, so i have to question my darkness, as to where it came from and most imoportatnly WHAT it is. Am I lucky enough to not suffer? I have lost grandparents, family. I definatley have lost good friends do to a big move, but does that direct my heart into the darkness. I know that word is used a lot, but its so complete and absolute. A shadow means there is light around casting the black splotch; however darkness is consuming, like a black hole. Sorry back to my 'black hole'. So i haven't experienced a tradegy yet, so does that mean i'm free from the darkness that exhists in the world, or am i just exempt for the time being, or better yet, is the darkness there just waiting to attack?
There are so many questions, and theory only leads to question. I don't think my mind can fully grasp the concept of my heart being in darkness. Could I just be avioding the bigger picture of a small irritation or problem? Is darkness even tragic? Can it be the sin that builds up over time? I'm a very honest person, I admit I have my flukes here and there, but they always seem to be addressed in the end. I don't know what I could have done in my life time that is considered sinful. I may sound vain, or just one of those other people think that they've done no wrong; but i'm just saying I haven't murdered anyone, stole anything, cheated...you know the criminal ones. So does that mean criminals are subject to the darkness, maybe they serve the darkness, but can all people who have committed crimes be completly in the darkness? Can we save them?
What's my opinion you ask? I don't know what it is. There are SO many ifs, ands or buts, that i don't know waht to believe. However it fastinates me to speculate everything at different angles. Its amazing how much thought and input can be pulled from one book. To me though, darkness = dust (The Golden Compass), Heartless/Nobodies/Ansem = Kurtz (Kingdom Hearts) and Sin (Final Fantasy X...it think) As I read the book these are the other novels/stories that came to mind. All of these novels/stories relate to the consuption of one's heart into darkness.
I loved Heart of Darkness...I thought it was an amazing representation of how we lose ourselves in life...I felt like Marlowe develops a heart of darkness literally throughout the story b/c he loses sight of his goals...ironically this happens as the scenery changes to the "heart of darkness" the uncharted African wasteland...my favorite part is the "fascination with the abomination" b/c it's really true today...look around we are completely enthralled with all the bad things in life...that's what makes us stir and pay attention...it's like Conrad know how our society was going to become
but bottom line I love the book
I suprisingly loved the book too. I just found my brain wrapped into the storyline, and all that it meant. I had trouble in the beginning, but soon i found myself underlining every other line. I loved the imagery, it was thrilling, to feel like I could see through Marlow's eyes, and see the darkness. However i dont' believe we are is enthralled in the bad in life, as we are oblivious to it. I mean there are children dying in Africa every second from disease, and the Iraq war must be horrible to experience, yet nothing has effected us. I mean we still go to school, and yet the kids over there are just trying to survive. I dont' think we're as conserned about the evil around us as we think we are. I mean yes we see evil, but not to its copasity. Just an opinion.
Thanks for your insight. :-h
well I'm glad you liked it...and I totally agree we don't see evil to the fullest...but I mean that we are enthralled by it...it's like when you drive by a car accident and you know it's so terrible but you can't help but to look
No kidding, that's happened to me when I SAW IT HAPPEN, i couldn't keep my eyes off, until I was forced to cause the light turned green....I get the whole enthralled thing now. =)
yeah I thought that was a better example and way of putting it into perspective...I mean think about it...it's the same principle as to why we watch scary movies...we know they are going to scare us but we do it anyways...fascination with the abomination at its finest...haha
Since I hate scary movies, let's use the example of Bungee jumping or skydiving. I know it will scare me, but i enjoy the thrill. ;D
just wanted to add that. :D haha
do you remember the scene on the boat where everyone was being attacked and all the guys died...I really like that scene b/c I think it's more like modern action compared to the rest of the book...plus the gory description is kinda neat...also it shows the true savagery experienced by that uncivilized area
Yeah I know what you mean. It also shows how manipulative Kurtz is, because he orders these people around, instead of letting them CHOOSE for themselves. It was a good scene, the imagery was intense. I hated that his henchman died though. :(
His death was def. not worth the retrieving of Kurtz. That was the part that brought you back to the reality of everything that was going on. It was not just a dream/nightmare it was really happening.