1) Marlow seeks to pilot a steamboat up the Congo River. This s because he was “… tired of resting” (Conrad 5). He wishes to go on an adventure. An opening was created because of a conflict that occurred to the previous captain. He had gotten into an argument with a chief concerning two black hens. Angered by this, the captain started hitting the chief. Another man (perhaps his son) came to aid the chief by stabbing the captain. This incident may foreshadow future conflict between the whites and blacks.
2) Marlow’s aunt believes the Europeans should wean “… those ignorant millions from their horrid ways” (Conrad 9). The mission suggests that she views Europeans with high regards, believing they can change the Africans for the better. It also shows that she views Africans as an inferior race that requires change to become civilized people.
3) The company accountant thinks Kurtz is “… a very remarkable person” (Conrad 15). He continues to tell about Kurtz success in the ivory trade. The manager, however, has negative feelings towards Kurtz. The accountant has no problem with Kurtz because he is not competing for a higher position. The manager must feel like Kurtz is a major threat. The brickmaker claims “…Today he is chief of the best station, next year he will be assistant-manager…” (Conrad 21). If this prediction is true, he will surpass the manager in a matter of years.
4) The brickmaker assumes Marlow and Kurtz are in some way related. He states that “The same people that sent him specially also sent you” (Conrad 21). Marlow realizes that his aunt’s influential acquaintances bothered the brickmaker. Marlow decides not to explain himself to the man because he is bothered by the fact that he had read the company’s confidential mail (he doesn’t trust the brickmaker for this reason).
5) The Eldorado Exploring Expedition is a devoted band that robs Africa of its resources. Marlow compares them to “… burglars breaking into a safe” (Conrad 26). The men symbolize the future regarding Europeans who wish to gain wealth. The Europeans are not likely to be considerate of the land or the natives while obtaining their treasure.
6) When Marlow says women are “out of touch with truth” and live in a beautiful world of their own, he means they are shallow beings with little understanding of reality. He is being sexist, but not extremely. While modern day women speak their mind and clearly live in reality, women of his time were typically sheltered and uneducated. These women may have been as he described them. Although, it is possible that Marlow has stretched the truth.
7) In chapter 1, Marlow says, “The conquest of earth, which mostly means taking it away from those who have a different completion or slightly flatter noses than ourselves, is not a pretty thing when you look into it too much. What redeems it is the idea only … something you can set up, and bow down before, and offer a sacrifice to.” By saying this, he means world conquest is a frightening idea. The only thing that makes it okay is the fact that you can dedicate yourself to it. This passage is not a criticism of colonialism in general. Expanding territory is not what Marlow worries about. His true anxiety is that a single being might take the world for himself/herself. If this were to happen, Marlow would have no place to explore freely.
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