ENGL 260 Lecture 10: Notes 10 - Heart of Darkness.docx
12 Jan 2015
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Kurtz embodiment of colonizer, destructive instinct. In kurtz, marlow sees what is at the root of all exploitation. Sees imperialism for what it is (kurtz shows this) Focus on marlow, his psychology and his behavior as he tries to cope with experiences in africa. Opening dark continent to better things but ends up finding he is participating in brutal exploitation. Mind that is trying to find a way to understand and make peace with the ugly truth of imperialism. Engaged in marlow"s story, but more knowledgeable about him than he is. Western civilization is driven by the need to dominate and destroy others. That desire is caused by civilization itself perversion of repressed desires. Marlow anxiety surrounding that desire within himself transfers onto africans, sees them as corrupting influences. Blaming the africans he almost is trying to exonerate himself in case he loses control. Marlow runs away , continually confronted with reality of imperialism.
