Heart of
Darkness
Characters:
Marlow:
Main narrator, captain of steamer up the Congo River
Kurtz: Manager of the Inner Station
General Manager:
Company employee, manager of the Central Station
Unnamed listener: Narrator of frame story
Section – 1
1. Marlow’s early life and new employment
2. Marlow’s trip to the Mouth of the Congo and arrival in Africa
3. Marlow’s time at the Middle station
The novel starts on seashore. There were five men on the boat called
“Nellie”. Among them there is a protagonist Marlow. They were waiting for tide
and none of them were talking because all were in a meditative mood. After some
time Marlow broke the silence and he talked about the sailors who sailed upon
the river Thames. Marlow also mentioned names of many great sailors and their
adventures.
The movement Marlow started talking about river and sailors; we easily
can assume that Marlow must be deeply interested in rivers, because Marlow was
not only a sailor but a wanderer. Marlow then talked about the country which
had colonized many other countries. He said that one time, Britain was also ‘A dark
country’. Marlow talked about the strength of those people who came from
different culture and ruled in various regions.
Marlow then told the listeners that he was also ‘A fresh water sailor’.
He told that he never cared what would happen with him in those adventures but
he just wanted to get new experiences during his journey on the river. After
talking about all these things Marlow has told the story of his adventures from
the time he took job in the Belgium trading company to sail upon the river
called ‘Congo’.
As a boy Marlow was very fond of looking at maps, he used to look at
maps of Africa, specially the places which were not discovered and marked with
black spaces on map. Marlow used to imagine him discovering such places. When
Marlow grew up, those blank spaces on the map were no longer blank spaces,
because other explorers had already explored such places. As a grown up man,
Marlow was very curious about one particular river on the map, it was a mighty
huge river resembling a huge snake, this was a ‘Congo’ river of African
country. This river fascinated Marlow a lot just as
“A snake
fascinates a bird’
Marlow wanted a job in Belgium trading company because he wanted to
reach on his destination. For this job he contacted all his relatives but all
replied that they have no contacts in that company. Fortunately his one aunt
told that she had a friend and his husband has a high post in that company and
she can recommend his name and finally he got an appointment letter from the
company.
Marlow went to the interview and there he saw two ladies sitting on a
bench, one of them was fat and another was thin. A thin girl was escorting
employees from the waiting room to the manager’s cabin and a fat lady was
sitting on a chair and was knitting a cloth and because of her way of looking
he felt uncomfortable and strange. She was looking at everybody as she knew all
the secrets of people around her. Finally Marlow got the job and was sent for
the medical examination.
Marlow then went to the company doctor for the medical examination.
Marlow initially was sceptical about the examination but the secretary consoled
Marlow and promised him that medical examination was just a formality and then
Marlow got relaxed. The doctor, who was supposed to examine Marlow, was an old
man and first he checked the pulse and told Marlow that it is normal enough
travel to Africa. Doctor also checked the head of Marlow and said, he noticed
some changes inside the head of men during the travel and then he asked Marlow
if his family members have any madness in past or present. Hearing this
question Marlow felt insulted. Doctor apologized for this question. Doctor
informed that he is the first Englishman who has examined medically for Africa.
Doctor advised not feel irritated during travel and expose his skin to sun.
Now all the formalities were done and he went to say "good
bye" to his aunt. Marlow went to her and asked for the permission to go to
Africa, his aunt praised Marlow and his dedication. Aunt was thinking that
Marlow would carry the torch to the dark religions. Marlow was aware with that
his aunt is thinking in such way, but he also knew that the company is not
sending him to enlighten the natives of dark religion but for the purpose of
trade. After the meeting with his aunt he comes to know about the general view
about women that,
"They
live in a world of their own, the world which is completely opposite from the
harsh reality of the life."
For Part 2-3 Click here
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