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The Device of Appearance VS. Reality in Conrad's Heart of Darkness The device of appearance versus reality is employed throughout Conrad s Heart of Darkness; and this relates specifically to the experience and to the main character himself, who is Marlow. His character and experience throughout the story always relates to a central issue that is pervaded by appearance versus reality: the purpose of the European presence in Africa. The consciousness in Europe is that the white man is there to incorporate his values and culture onto the native population.
As the events of the story unfold, however, the reality of the white man s appetite for ivory shows through. Marlow, thus, is left with a moral decision as how to deal with this critical issue of appearance versus reality. When Marlow introduces his story, he tells us something important about himself. He admits to being shallow, more or less, and determined to get to Africa by hook or by crook.
which suggests a superficial purpose. When Marlow reaches Africa and sees the reality that ivory is the attraction, we realize that Marlow is really not different from these men because he too is there under false pretenses. Remember that his aunt s politicking is the reason that he is able to go in the first place. The first significant scene in Africa is when Marlow encounters the dying savages under the shade of a tree. This is the point where Marlow begins to be filled with the horrible veracity of the proceedings. When he learns of Kurtz s legend and finally meets the man, he has come full-circle in his understanding of Africa.
By the time he meets with Kurtz s intended he recognizes the appearance that she has believed. She wants to know what her fianc e s final words were and Marlow does the most controversial thing that takes place in the story. He feeds her the same lie that he himself had earlier believed. However, Kurtz, who he had dedicated himself to, was not thinking of his intended at the time of his death. He had a much higher purpose that of justice. Marlow had the chance to at least symbolically achieve justice by telling Kurtz s intended that Kurtz had whispered only, The horror, the horror!
Therefore, he would have exposed the reality of the situation and possibly end the period of horror and darkness altogether. This inexorably provokes the question of why Marlow is sitting so resolute on a yawl in London telling this old story to other people that only half-listened. Perhaps the tremendous guilt, as it seemed to him that the house would collapse before he could escape, is the reason that he must tell this story. He must get this anguish of escaping moral responsibility to expose the truth off his chest.
Another connection can be made to the appearance versus reality device. It appears that Marlow is morally superior to Kurtz when we see the skulls on poles, etc. In the end, Kurtz is thinking about justice and the essential message that the European presence brings darkness. Marlow hasn t really changed all that much from when we first met him. His idea of morality is trying not to make Kurtz s intended feel bad. Marlow, through his experience, is filled with reality but is even more hollow.
Thus, the challenge is not so much to uncover the truth, as Marlow was so obsessed with in relation to Kurtz, but to what purpose the truth is used. In this case, Marlow squandered his knowledge and really didn t help anyone. Conrad therefore seems to feel that the physical setting of the dark and impenetrable jungle is a rather poor moral justification for the proceedings that take place. Marlow had a heart of darkness throughout the entire story, while in the end, Kurtz attempted to end the horror and lift the darkness.
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Research essay sample on Appearance Versus Reality Conrad Heart Of Darkness
