Free Essays - Contemplation in Heart of Darkness :: Heart Darkness essays

Marlows whileifestation during his Journey In one of his novels, Heart of Darkness, Joseph Conrad depicts the tale of a man who reflects upon the meaning of life as well as all of its intricasies and implications. Indeed, Marlow, the main character of this story, questions several existential topics and explores his own personal curiosity rough the solidarity and darkness of the jungle he finds himself in. At one point in the storyline, Marlow and his crew depart towards the station where the enigmatic Kurtz resides. An interesting aspect of this instalment of the adventure is that Marlows crew is mostly composed of cannibals. Upon realizing how famished these natives are, Marlow contemplates how improbable it seems that the cannibals have restrained themselves from giving in to their hunger and eating the European men onboard. It is this speculation that will be the topic of discussion in the following paper. Marlows thoughts and perception of the native tribe will be examined in order to provide a more concise discernment of his compend of the cannibals. During their trip towards Kurtzs station, Marlow describes the inequality of power and discrimination that the natives must(prenominal) live with. They constantly receive unfair treatments, such as beatings and the omit of food and medical support, as well as being give in ridiculous manner that can only fuel their abhor towards the European conquerors. Upon suggesting that the cannibals on his crew are treated in a disingenuous way, Marlow truly questions why their motives have not been violent so far Why in the name of all gnawing devils of hunger they didnt go for us they were thirty to five and have a frank tuck in for once, amazes me now when I think of it (Conrad 37). Further analysis provided by Marlow explores the underlying reason why the natives refuse to attack their opressors. He manages to pinpoint one particular aspect that is responsible for such doings And I saw that somethin g restraining, one of those human secrets that baffle probability, had come into do here (37). The human act of restraint, according to our narrator, is the simple yet bafling consequence which he stipulates. But what truly surprises Marlow is the fact that there shouldnt be any logical reason for the starving cannibals not to attack, and consequently eat, him and his crew. He believes that hunger can by no means be deterred by any reasonalble explanation