Examine the attack of the natives against the people on the steamer.What observations do you have about the attack?What’s significant about the death of Marlow’s helmsman?
One of the observations I had about the fight had to do with how the pilgrims drove the natives away. Marlow notes that the natives' "retreat...was caused by the screeching of the steam whistle" (47). Those on the boat, however, could not believe that a simple whistle, which they had heard daily, scared the natives into leaving. One passenger bragged to Marlow that they "must have made a glorious slaughter of [the natives] in the bush" (47). Unable to find another reason, this man attributed the success to his shooting, rather than attempt to understand the situation from a native's point of view. Likewise, the natives did not seem to know anything about the whites' culture except for the sound of rifle, signifying other white men had tried to shoot at them at an earlier time. The fact that neither group can understand the other and that they do not attempt to realize the other's culture is seen elsewhere in the book. When Marlow's helmsman is breathing his last breath, Marlow states that the man "looked as though he would presently put to us some question in an understandable language; but he died without uttering a sound" (42).The barriers presented by the numerous differences in the groups likely led to this man's death; if he had been able to tell Marlow how to help him, his life may have been spared.
I thought that the aftermath of the steam whistle scene better represented the battle, which suggested that at the basis of human behavior is desperation and sadness. Right after the whistle stops the attack, the natives let out "such a tremulous and prolonged wail of mournful fear and utter despair as my be imagined to follow the flight of the last hope from the earth" (42). The mournful state of the natives is also described when Marlow recounts the battle; "it was undertaken under the stress of desperation, and in its essence was purely protective" (39). These inhabitants, who are stripped of all modern civility, represent the basis of human nature, which evidently is desperate and sorrowful. This observation is mirrored in a different way when the helmsman dies; "He looked at me anxiously, gripping the spear like something precious, with an air of being afraid I would try to take it away from him" (42). This man has been exposed to modern society, unlike the natives, but he is on the brink of death, representing his most basic behavior. The anxiety and desperation that he displays towards Marlow proves that this distress is the foundation of humanity.
I agree with Will in saying the whistle represents the despair and saddness Marlow feels after his helmsman is killed. I related the whistle to "taps" at mililtary funerals. I think Marlow sounded the whistle to reconize the death of his friend/helmsman. You can see the saddness later on in the page when Marlow says, "For the moment that was the dominant thought. There was a sense of extreme disappointment, as though I had found out I had been striving after something altogether without a substance"(42). This shows how Marlow now thinks what he is doing isn't worth the sacrifice. He feels he has been living a lie, and his occupation is worthless after the native's ruthless attack. I feel Marlow had a deep relationship with his helmsman and was deeply saddened with his death. I believe he burried him as he did to honor his friend. Marlow says, "If my late helmsman was to be eaten, the fishes alone should have him"(47). I felt Marlow had so much respect for his helmsman he did not want him to be mutilated by the cannibles. I believe the death of Marlow's helmsman represents Marlow's complete entrance to the savage world. Will's last remark regarding the helmsman shows that the helmsman was Marlow's last link to civilization. Marlow's emotions show deep distress and saddness as he no longer has any connection to the modern world.
I agree with Christy and Will's comments about how there is a barrier between the natives and the pilgrims. Another example of this is shown when the helmsman dies. After Marlow describes the actions that took place immediately after the helmsman's death, he said "To tell you the truth, I was morbidly anxious to changed my shoes and socks." (42) Although Marlow did go on to speak highly of the helmsman, like Ray stated, he did not view him as an equal man, but more of a tool. When Marlow was describing the helmsman, he even said, "I had him at my back-a help-an instrument."(46) These two events prove that although Marlow respects the helmsman's work, he does not view him as an equal, which leads to an understanding barrier between the "savages" and the Europeans.
I completely agree with Eddy, Christy, and Ray on the fact that there is a barrier between the natives and the pilgrims. When the natives attacked, the helsman jumped into action to protect the boat. In doing so he left the wheel of the boat. Marlow stated, "the fool nigger had dropped everything, to throw the shutter open and let off that Martini-Henry. He stood before the wide opening, glaring, and I yelled at him to come back, while I straightened the sudden twist out of that steamboat"(41). Even in a surprise attack, when people usually run and hide frantically, the helsman took up a gun and defended Marlow, yet Marlow still depicted him as being stupid. Even though Marlow respects him, he will always think less of him no matter what he does. Another example of demonstrating that barrier is how Marlow misunderstands the natives, and consideres them inferior. He thought that "what made the idea of attack inconceivable to me was the nature of the noise-of the cries we had heard. They had not the fierce character boding of immediate hostile intention. Unexpected, wild, and violent as they had been, they had given [him] an irresistible impression of sorrow"(39). Marlow did not understand them, thus showing that there was a barrier between the two sides that has not been broken. This misinterpretation leads Marlow to the surprise attack, and to the helsman's death. From Marlow's lack of knowlegde about the natives, more problems were created for the pilgrims, and the natives became even worse savages in the pilgrims' eyes, leading the two sides to a further misunderstanding.
I agree with Will. I also thought that the aftermath of the steam whistle scene better represented the battle, it showed that at the basis of human behavior is desperation and sadness. It didn't only demonstrate desperation and sadness but it clearly showed how humanity in general will react to certain events. Marlow has been exposed to modern society, unlike the natives. This not only shows how Marlow has desperation, but it shows how modern civilization and uncivilized people react differently to everyday conflict.
Gewd job. We believe that the significance of the attack on the steamer had to do with the fact that the natives and the white men did not understand eachother. This point was especially obvious when Christy said, "Unable to find another reason, this man attributed the success to his shooting, rather than attempt to understand the situation from a native's point of view". When it comes to the death of the helmsman, we think that the significance of it was that Marlow saw the helmsman as simply a tool used to satisfy his needs as an explorer, as Eddie clearly stated when he said, "although Marlow respects the helmsman's work, he does not view him as an equal, which leads to an understanding barrier".
What could be the reasons for Marlow's lack of an attempt to understand the savages?
As to the first question, I believe that Marlow was following the other white men who used the natives as devices to get richer. At the start, Marlow is surrounded by people whose "only real feeling was a desire to get appointed to a trading post...so that they could earn percentages" (21). Because these men want as much money as possible, they use the supposed inferior race of natives that already resides in Africa. Marlow recognizes it soon enough, noting how the white men were "strong, lusty, red-eyed devils that swayed and drove men" (13). From the beginning, Marlow witnesses the natives being treated as animals by the men who believe their own needs to be above humane treatment. Since this is his only model of how to treat the natives, Marlow uses the same techniques. As Eddie mentioned earlier, Marlow regarded his helmsman as "an instrument" (46). While Marlow may not have the same motives as his comrades, he treats the natives with the same arrogant disregard toward their culture as all the other white men did.
I completely agree with christy in response to ryan's group's question. Basically I believe that Marlow, along with the other Europeans, believe they are superior to the natives. I think Conrad made this a main topic in the book to show how most of imperialism was like this, where one group of people regarded themselves as higher up. However, i would say that Marlow serperates himself from the typical European in Congo because he went there for discovery, not ivory and money.
I definitely agree with Christy and Eddie that he acts partially on a belief of superiority, though he changes his views on it throughout the book. However, I do think that he is motivated by selfishness as well. In the instance of the helmsman's death, all Marlow can concentrate on is his bloody shoes. The man died without speaking in an "understandable language" while Marlow was "tugging like mad at the shoelaces" (42). Marlow's preoccupation with his own petty problems distracts him from his understanding of the natives, so this selfishness is just another cause of their miscommunication.
I too agree with all of your comments to Daly's group's question. I think Marlow questa through the savage lands for the sole purpose of gaining weath. He shows no regard for the savages especially after his Helmsman is killed. As Will explains using his evidence on page 42. I agree Marlow is very selfish and shows it by being more concerned with his shoes than his Helmsman. I believe Marlow does not attempt to understand the natives because he only wants to gain money and he doesn't care about the natives at all. To answer Daly's Group's second question, I believe we are doing this blog to enhance our skills on the world wide web while expanding our knowledge about Joseph Conrad's magnificant novel, Heart of Darkness.
I agree with Christy, Eddie not Eddy, Will, and Ray on the fact that Marlow does not attempt to understand the savages because he uses them for his own gain and truly just does not care for them, as Will demonstrated. Even though Marlow states that he is different from everyone else, he is still similar to his white brothers in the fact that he allows the "savages" to become servants to him. He feels that they are of lower value than he is, which explains why he does not attempt to understand the natives. All he wants to do is control them. In response to Ryan's spectacular second question. I feel that we are conducting this blog to explore our english capabilities while at the same time learn how to use this world's great technological products.
12 comments:
One of the observations I had about the fight had to do with how the pilgrims drove the natives away. Marlow notes that the natives' "retreat...was caused by the screeching of the steam whistle" (47). Those on the boat, however, could not believe that a simple whistle, which they had heard daily, scared the natives into leaving. One passenger bragged to Marlow that they "must have made a glorious slaughter of [the natives] in the bush" (47). Unable to find another reason, this man attributed the success to his shooting, rather than attempt to understand the situation from a native's point of view. Likewise, the natives did not seem to know anything about the whites' culture except for the sound of rifle, signifying other white men had tried to shoot at them at an earlier time. The fact that neither group can understand the other and that they do not attempt to realize the other's culture is seen elsewhere in the book. When Marlow's helmsman is breathing his last breath, Marlow states that the man "looked as though he would presently put to us some question in an understandable language; but he died without uttering a sound" (42).The barriers presented by the numerous differences in the groups likely led to this man's death; if he had been able to tell Marlow how to help him, his life may have been spared.
I thought that the aftermath of the steam whistle scene better represented the battle, which suggested that at the basis of human behavior is desperation and sadness. Right after the whistle stops the attack, the natives let out "such a tremulous and prolonged wail of mournful fear and utter despair as my be imagined to follow the flight of the last hope from the earth" (42). The mournful state of the natives is also described when Marlow recounts the battle; "it was undertaken under the stress of desperation, and in its essence was purely protective" (39). These inhabitants, who are stripped of all modern civility, represent the basis of human nature, which evidently is desperate and sorrowful. This observation is mirrored in a different way when the helmsman dies; "He looked at me anxiously, gripping the spear like something precious, with an air of being afraid I would try to take it away from him" (42). This man has been exposed to modern society, unlike the natives, but he is on the brink of death, representing his most basic behavior. The anxiety and desperation that he displays towards Marlow proves that this distress is the foundation of humanity.
I agree with Will in saying the whistle represents the despair and saddness Marlow feels after his helmsman is killed. I related the whistle to "taps" at mililtary funerals. I think Marlow sounded the whistle to reconize the death of his friend/helmsman. You can see the saddness later on in the page when Marlow says, "For the moment that was the dominant thought. There was a sense of extreme disappointment, as though I had found out I had been striving after something altogether without a substance"(42). This shows how Marlow now thinks what he is doing isn't worth the sacrifice. He feels he has been living a lie, and his occupation is worthless after the native's ruthless attack. I feel Marlow had a deep relationship with his helmsman and was deeply saddened with his death. I believe he burried him as he did to honor his friend. Marlow says, "If my late helmsman was to be eaten, the fishes alone should have him"(47). I felt Marlow had so much respect for his helmsman he did not want him to be mutilated by the cannibles. I believe the death of Marlow's helmsman represents Marlow's complete entrance to the savage world. Will's last remark regarding the helmsman shows that the helmsman was Marlow's last link to civilization. Marlow's emotions show deep distress and saddness as he no longer has any connection to the modern world.
I agree with Christy and Will's comments about how there is a barrier between the natives and the pilgrims. Another example of this is shown when the helmsman dies. After Marlow describes the actions that took place immediately after the helmsman's death, he said "To tell you the truth, I was morbidly anxious to changed my shoes and socks." (42) Although Marlow did go on to speak highly of the helmsman, like Ray stated, he did not view him as an equal man, but more of a tool. When Marlow was describing the helmsman, he even said, "I had him at my back-a help-an instrument."(46) These two events prove that although Marlow respects the helmsman's work, he does not view him as an equal, which leads to an understanding barrier between the "savages" and the Europeans.
I completely agree with Eddy, Christy, and Ray on the fact that there is a barrier between the natives and the pilgrims. When the natives attacked, the helsman jumped into action to protect the boat. In doing so he left the wheel of the boat. Marlow stated, "the fool nigger had dropped everything, to throw the shutter open and let off that Martini-Henry. He stood before the wide opening, glaring, and I yelled at him to come back, while I straightened the sudden twist out of that steamboat"(41). Even in a surprise attack, when people usually run and hide frantically, the helsman took up a gun and defended Marlow, yet Marlow still depicted him as being stupid. Even though Marlow respects him, he will always think less of him no matter what he does. Another example of demonstrating that barrier is how Marlow misunderstands the natives, and consideres them inferior. He thought that "what made the idea of attack inconceivable to me was the nature of the noise-of the cries we had heard. They had not the fierce character boding of immediate hostile intention. Unexpected, wild, and violent as they had been, they had given [him] an irresistible impression of sorrow"(39). Marlow did not understand them, thus showing that there was a barrier between the two sides that has not been broken. This misinterpretation leads Marlow to the surprise attack, and to the helsman's death. From Marlow's lack of knowlegde about the natives, more problems were created for the pilgrims, and the natives became even worse savages in the pilgrims' eyes, leading the two sides to a further misunderstanding.
Lauren says...
I agree with Will. I also thought that the aftermath of the steam whistle scene better represented the battle, it showed that at the basis of human behavior is desperation and sadness. It didn't only demonstrate desperation and sadness but it clearly showed how humanity in general will react to certain events. Marlow has been exposed to modern society, unlike the natives. This not only shows how Marlow has desperation, but it shows how modern civilization and uncivilized people react differently to everyday conflict.
Dear Prompt 4,
Gewd job. We believe that the significance of the attack on the steamer had to do with the fact that the natives and the white men did not understand eachother. This point was especially obvious when Christy said, "Unable to find another reason, this man attributed the success to his shooting, rather than attempt to understand the situation from a native's point of view". When it comes to the death of the helmsman, we think that the significance of it was that Marlow saw the helmsman as simply a tool used to satisfy his needs as an explorer, as Eddie clearly stated when he said, "although Marlow respects the helmsman's work, he does not view him as an equal, which leads to an understanding barrier".
What could be the reasons for Marlow's lack of an attempt to understand the savages?
Why are we even doing this in the first place?
Love,
Clara, Ryan, Andrew, Kevin, Jen
As to the first question, I believe that Marlow was following the other white men who used the natives as devices to get richer. At the start, Marlow is surrounded by people whose "only real feeling was a desire to get appointed to a trading post...so that they could earn percentages" (21). Because these men want as much money as possible, they use the supposed inferior race of natives that already resides in Africa. Marlow recognizes it soon enough, noting how the white men were "strong, lusty, red-eyed devils that swayed and drove men" (13). From the beginning, Marlow witnesses the natives being treated as animals by the men who believe their own needs to be above humane treatment. Since this is his only model of how to treat the natives, Marlow uses the same techniques. As Eddie mentioned earlier, Marlow regarded his helmsman as "an instrument" (46). While Marlow may not have the same motives as his comrades, he treats the natives with the same arrogant disregard toward their culture as all the other white men did.
I completely agree with christy in response to ryan's group's question. Basically I believe that Marlow, along with the other Europeans, believe they are superior to the natives. I think Conrad made this a main topic in the book to show how most of imperialism was like this, where one group of people regarded themselves as higher up.
However, i would say that Marlow serperates himself from the typical European in Congo because he went there for discovery, not ivory and money.
I definitely agree with Christy and Eddie that he acts partially on a belief of superiority, though he changes his views on it throughout the book. However, I do think that he is motivated by selfishness as well. In the instance of the helmsman's death, all Marlow can concentrate on is his bloody shoes. The man died without speaking in an "understandable language" while Marlow was "tugging like mad at the shoelaces" (42). Marlow's preoccupation with his own petty problems distracts him from his understanding of the natives, so this selfishness is just another cause of their miscommunication.
I too agree with all of your comments to Daly's group's question. I think Marlow questa through the savage lands for the sole purpose of gaining weath. He shows no regard for the savages especially after his Helmsman is killed. As Will explains using his evidence on page 42. I agree Marlow is very selfish and shows it by being more concerned with his shoes than his Helmsman.
I believe Marlow does not attempt to understand the natives because he only wants to gain money and he doesn't care about the natives at all.
To answer Daly's Group's second question, I believe we are doing this blog to enhance our skills on the world wide web while expanding our knowledge about Joseph Conrad's magnificant novel, Heart of Darkness.
I agree with Christy, Eddie not Eddy, Will, and Ray on the fact that Marlow does not attempt to understand the savages because he uses them for his own gain and truly just does not care for them, as Will demonstrated. Even though Marlow states that he is different from everyone else, he is still similar to his white brothers in the fact that he allows the "savages" to become servants to him. He feels that they are of lower value than he is, which explains why he does not attempt to understand the natives. All he wants to do is control them.
In response to Ryan's spectacular second question. I feel that we are conducting this blog to explore our english capabilities while at the same time learn how to use this world's great technological products.
Post a Comment