The End...

The ending was very surprising yet disappointing. I really don't like how his own sister the one who actually took care of him now refers to him as it. So in my opinion I really don't like the ending. The way his family has treated Gregors is simply despicable. The ending car only be described as aggravating.  

Hod essay analysis

I was very pleased with my heard of darkness essay. I feel like my writing really improved on this essay. I feel like this is due to the fact that I did not over Annalise the essay when I would go in to correct it i think I have found my downfall because of this essay. I feel like I am one step closer to college level writing. I feel like my essays have only been improving and I look forward to writing my next.

P35

Gregors seems to slowly realize that his family all along was taking advantage of him, now that he is sick he can not work or support the family. One of the best examples of this is Gregors father is saving his money. The family is also discussing moving all the furniture out of the house to make it more comfortable so gregors can have his own space however this causes problems amongst the family.

Page 25

Gregors is almost lifeless, he is unable to work and is almost forced to be bedridden. However Gregors does have someone to take care of him. His sister. It its clear that his sister cares very much for him however with Gregors being bed ridden he cant work or make money for the family. It is unclear how the sister feels about the metamorphosis.

In class discussion

I feel as though at first zach brought up most discussions however the role was quickly passed on to Alexa. From that point on Alexa and zach had control Alexa would present the middle ground and zach would take the conversation to the extreme Danny would also present the middle ground Jonah did not really say much however when he did speak his thoughts were clear and precise

The metamorphosis

Gregors wakes up and realizes he is a giant bug, he seems to be not concerned in any way when he wakes up. Its almost as though he wakes up and acts like this is completely normal, Its almost as though this situation has happened to Gregors before. However his manager is at the door and he does not no what to do, he has never dealt with this situation before.    

Done

Steven Simantob

English

Dr. Forman

 February 10,13

Civilization in the Darkness

Joseph Conrad’s Heart of Darkness tells the story of what it was like for the main character, Marlow, to experience imperialism in Africa. Marlow experiences many feelings during his trip: from horror to astonishment to understanding. Much of what happens in the novella can be looked psychoanalytically. In Freud’s work, “Civilization and its Discontents,” he discusses man’s libido and his tendencies towards aggression. Freud states that culture and civilization can bind members of a community to one another. He also explains that men are no gentile creatures looking for love, but are aggressive and savage in nature. In Joseph Conrad’s Heart of Darkness, without the barrier of civilization and culture man will allow his aggression to overpower his imposed nature.

The first division that arises in the book between civilization and aggression is when Marlow first reaches his company in Africa. The evidence of society is the decaying machinery on the path leading up the hill when Marlow reaches the company station: “I came upon more pieces of decaying machinery, a stack of rusty nails” (19). Like the civility of the white man, the machinery is eroding away.  Juxtaposed with the examples of civilization, are the natives, who are being held as criminals.  Marlow is struck by how unlike enemies they seem. Freud explains that man has a powerful temptation to use aggressiveness on his neighbor when civility does not act as a barrier. In this case, as the white man’s gentility disappears he takes the black man captive. Evidence of society still remain in representation on the white man’s garments: “I saw a high starched collar, white cuffs, a light alpaca jacket, snowy trousers, a clean necktie, and varnished boots” (21). Marlow’s reaction to the way the chief accountant is dressed is relief. Since Marlow represents civilization, he feels like he just found his kindred spirit. Unfortunately the accountant’s dress is just a façade; before he and Marlow part ways, the accountant tells Marlow how much he hates the savages “hates them to the death.” Freud says that culture has to call up reinforcements against aggression in men. The way the accountant is dressing is a form of reinforcement, but it can only do so much to hold back his aggression.

 As the story continues, Marlow gradually comes to represent Freud’s civilized society. Marlow is on the steamboat and he is heading towards Kurtz. On the way there, the steamboat penetrates into the heart of darkness. It’s almost like Marlow is transported to prehistoric earth: It’s quiet, there is a curtain of trees, and Marlow’s surroundings seem heavy and motionless. Marlow comments about the men on the shore and his suspicions of them being inhuman. Marlow is offering commentary on Freud’s belief that man, when given no other option, will give in to his urges: “In circumstances that favour it, when those forces in the mind which ordinarily inhibit it cease to operate, it also manifests itself spontaneously and reveals men as savage beasts to whom the thought of sparing their own kind is alien.” Marlow comprehends why the white man would give up his social responsibilities and succumb to the darkness. Furthermore, Marlow completely understands how it could happen to him, and acknowledges that the barriers of society would not be enough to hold back the urges: “He must meet that truth with his own true stuff – with his own inborn strength. Principles won’t do. Acquisitions, clothes, pretty rags – rags that would fly off at the first good shake” (44). While Freud suggests that man erect barriers as possible reinforcements to hold aggression in check, Marlow emphasizes that once man is in the heart of darkness these small barriers are not enough. For Marlow to maintain his civility, he holds ground on the steamboat worried for the worst.

            Opposing to Marlow, Kurtz has been swallowed by the darkness; he exemplifies Freud’s example of the aggressive man. When Kurtz first arrived in Africa he was more like Marlow, he came to his job and was a civilized white man. However in a seventeen page report that he left behind, it becomes clear that he fell to the ways of the natives with there midnight dancing and there unspeakable rights. While his report began from the point of view that the white man must appear as deity, his report with the phrase: “exterminate all the brutes!” (62). Marlow explains how Kurtz slips into the dark side by explaining when all you have is silence and no one to point you in the right direction, you have to rely on yourself to avoid the devil. Unfortunately the wilderness grabbed ahold of Kurtz: “the wilderness had patted him on the head, and behold, it was like a ball – an ivory ball; it had caressed him, and – lo! – he had withered; it had taken him, loved him, embraced him, got into his veins, consumed his flesh, and sealed his soul to its own by the inconceivable ceremonies of some devilish initiation. He was its spoiled and pampered favorite” (59). Kurtz lost all remnants of civilization and became one with the wilderness and the natives. His bond with the native community allowed him to turn his aggressive nature towards the white man. Kurtz portrays Freud’s aggressive man with a powerful desire for aggression and the need to act as a savage beast.

Even by the end of the novella, Marlow gives into his true nature; confirming Freud’s belief that all men are not gentle and friendly but powerful and instinctual. Freud acknowledges that primitive man is probably better off then civilized man because civilization requires more sacrifices. Heart of Darkness demonstrates this theory as the white men remove the barrier of civilization and culture and choose to succumb to their true nature.            

Conrad, Joseph. Heart of Darkness. 1902. Charlottesville: Feedbooks,  2012. E-book.

Martel, Yann. Life of Pi. Orlando: Harcourt, Inc., 2001.

Murfin, Ross C. Heart of Darkness: A Case Study in Contemporary Criticism. New York: St. Martin's Press, 1989. Print.

New second body ...

 As the story continues, Marlow gradually comes to represent Freud’s civilized society. Marlow is on the steamboat and he is heading towards Kurtz. On the way there, the steamboat penetrates into the heart of darkness. It’s almost like Marlow is transported to prehistoric earth: It’s quiet, there is a curtain of trees, and Marlow’s surroundings seem heavy and motionless. Marlow comments about the men on the shore and his suspicions of them being inhuman. Marlow is offering commentary on Freud’s belief that man, when given no other option, will give in to his urges: “In circumstances that favour it, when those forces in the mind which ordinarily inhibit it cease to operate, it also manifests itself spontaneously and reveals men as savage beasts to whom the thought of sparing their own kind is alien.” Marlow comprehends why the white man would give up his social responsibilities and succumb to the darkness. Furthermore, Marlow completely understands how it could happen to him, and acknowledges that the barriers of society would not be enough to hold back the urges: “He must meet that truth with his own true stuff – with his own inborn strength. Principles won’t do. Acquisitions, clothes, pretty rags – rags that would fly off at the first good shake” (44). While Freud suggests that man erect barriers as possible reinforcements to hold aggression in check, Marlow emphasizes that once man is in the heart of darkness these small barriers are not enough. For Marlow to maintain his civility, he holds ground on the steamboat worried for the worst. 

New First body ...

The first division that arises in the book between civilization and aggression is when Marlow first reaches his company in Africa. The evidence of society is the decaying machinery on the path leading up the hill when Marlow reaches the company station: “I came upon more pieces of decaying machinery, a stack of rusty nails” (19). Like the civility of the white man, the machinery is eroding away.  Juxtaposed with the examples of civilization, are the natives, who are being held as criminals.  Marlow is struck by how unlike enemies they seem. Freud explains that man has a powerful temptation to use aggressiveness on his neighbor when civility does not act as a barrier. In this case, as the white man’s gentility disappears he takes the black man captive. Evidence of society still remain in representation on the white man’s garments: “I saw a high starched collar, white cuffs, a light alpaca jacket, snowy trousers, a clean necktie, and varnished boots” (21). Marlow’s reaction to the way the chief accountant is dressed is relief. Since Marlow represents civilization, he feels like he just found his kindred spirit. Unfortunately the accountant’s dress is just a façade; before he and Marlow part way the accountant tells Marlow how much he hates the savages “hates them to the death.” Freud says that culture has to call up reinforcements against aggression in men. The way the accountant is dressing is a form of reinforcement, but it can only do so much to hold back his aggression.     

New Topic ...

Without the barrier of civilization and culture man will allow his aggression to overpower his neighbor.

HOD intro

The story of Marlow is one that is based on a true story it is based on the life story of Joseph Conrad. Marlow heads to Africa to conquer the Africans to exploit them for there resources. Conrad is a firm believer in the works of Freud. Freud is well known for his highly controversial works on the way humans think. Marlow follows in the footsteps of one joseph Conrad.