HEART OF HEART OF DARKNESSDARKNESS

JOSEPH CONRADJOSEPH CONRAD

TOPICTOPIC

MARLOW’S JOURNEY MARLOW’S JOURNEY INTO HIS SUB-INTO HIS SUB-

CONSCIOUSCONSCIOUS

MARLOW’S JOURNEY IN HIS MARLOW’S JOURNEY IN HIS SUB-CONSCIOUSSUB-CONSCIOUS

Heart of Darkness is a novel Heart of Darkness is a novel which clearly shows the which clearly shows the influence of “psychology” influence of “psychology” which was emerging as full-which was emerging as full-fledged sciences at the time fledged sciences at the time when this novel was written.when this novel was written.

Heart of Darkness certainly Heart of Darkness certainly gives us vivid descriptions of gives us vivid descriptions of Marlow's outward experiences Marlow's outward experiences in the Congo; but it also gives in the Congo; but it also gives us a vivid description of the us a vivid description of the thoughts and ideas which thoughts and ideas which crossed his mind during his crossed his mind during his stay in that country.stay in that country.

Marlow appears as a keen Marlow appears as a keen observer, and he also observer, and he also appears as a thinker who appears as a thinker who reflects upon everything reflects upon everything that he observesthat he observes. .

In the text we can find In the text we can find many examples of many examples of

Marlow’s Inner reactions to Marlow’s Inner reactions to outward things.outward things.

When Marlow is sailing When Marlow is sailing towards the Congo on a towards the Congo on a

French steamer, he French steamer, he records his thoughts.records his thoughts.

, Marlow sees half a dozen , Marlow sees half a dozen black men linked together black men linked together with a chain, and each with a chain, and each wearing an iron collar around wearing an iron collar around neck , produce a deep effect neck , produce a deep effect on Marlow, giving rise to a on Marlow, giving rise to a chain of awful thoughts in his chain of awful thoughts in his mind. mind.

Marlow's encounter with Marlow's encounter with the manager of the the manager of the Central Station and the Central Station and the brick-maker there also brick-maker there also gives rise to many gives rise to many thoughts in his mind. thoughts in his mind.

Marlow says that the figure of Marlow says that the figure of Mr. Kurtz at this time was like a Mr. Kurtz at this time was like a dream to him. From this point dream to him. From this point onwards the narration centers onwards the narration centers round the deeds and the round the deeds and the personality of Mr. Kurtz; and, in personality of Mr. Kurtz; and, in telling us the facts about Mr. telling us the facts about Mr. Kurtz, Marlow also gives us his Kurtz, Marlow also gives us his own reactions to those facts. own reactions to those facts.

Then there are Marlow's Then there are Marlow's reflections upon the reflections upon the helmsman, who gets killed helmsman, who gets killed by one of the natives by one of the natives through his own folly.through his own folly.

Marlow's reflections upon Marlow's reflections upon his cannibal crew are also his cannibal crew are also noteworthy. Here again he noteworthy. Here again he records his mental records his mental reactions to an outward reactions to an outward situation .situation .

Marlow’s inner thoughts Marlow’s inner thoughts on discovering the book.on discovering the book.

Marlow speaks about his Marlow speaks about his work-ethic.work-ethic.

Through all these examples from Through all these examples from the text we can see that how the text we can see that how Marlow thinks about each and Marlow thinks about each and everything he sees. He observes everything he sees. He observes very deeply and through his very deeply and through his thoughts we can conclude that thoughts we can conclude that this journey of Marlow was not this journey of Marlow was not only a physical one but a only a physical one but a psychological one also.psychological one also.

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