A Study of Marlow’s Ambivalent Narrativein Heart of Darkness
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This study aims to examine the ambivalent narrative of Marlow in Heart of Darkness (1899). Conrad, with his mixed background in Poland and Russia, had a keen awareness of the hypocrisy and cruelty of the European imperialists. Nevertheless, his work reveals an imperialist point of view. In Heart of Darkness, Marlow recalls that when travelling up the Congo in search of Kurtz, he witnessed cruel activities committed by European imperialists. Marlow then suggests that people should treat the Africans with more humanity. However, Marlow contradicts his anti-imperialist point of view by insisting on European racial superiority. He says that Africans are independent and inferior to Europeans in intelligence. It turns out that Marlow does not perceive Africans as equal human beings in their own right. Marlow shows his biased attitude also in the case of Kurtz. This paper suggests that there are two main factors that caused the ambivalence in Marlow’s narrative. The first factor is Conrad’s mixed background; the second is Conrad’s conservatism. From this viewpoint, it seems that Conrad‘s mixed background made it possible for him to perceive the problems of European imperialism, but he rejected radical opinions in this regard because of his conservative inclination.
Abstract
This study aims to examine the ambivalent narrative of Marlow in Heart of Darkness (1899). Conrad, with his mixed background in Poland and Russia, had a keen awareness of the hypocrisy and cruelty of the European imperialists. Nevertheless, his work reveals an imperialist point of view. In Heart of Darkness, Marlow recalls that when travelling up the Congo in search of Kurtz, he witnessed cruel activities committed by European imperialists. Marlow then suggests that people should treat the Africans with more humanity. However, Marlow contradicts his anti-imperialist point of view by insisting on European racial superiority. He says that Africans are independent and inferior to Europeans in intelligence. It turns out that Marlow does not perceive Africans as equal human beings in their own right. Marlow shows his biased attitude also in the case of Kurtz. This paper suggests that there are two main factors that caused the ambivalence in Marlow’s narrative. The first factor is Conrad’s mixed background; the second is Conrad’s conservatism. From this viewpoint, it seems that Conrad‘s mixed background made it possible for him to perceive the problems of European imperialism, but he rejected radical opinions in this regard because of his conservative inclination.
참고문헌 (13)
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