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The reoccurring symbol of light and darkness throughout Joseph Conrad’s Heart of Darkness reaches both a literal and figurative level when illustrating interaction externally between humans and, very similarly, internally within ourselves. Darkness is defined as the inability to see what is around you. The reader is able to identify this motif as it more simply applies to the gloomy and ominous settings of Brussels, England, and Africa. More abstractly, however, is the darkness where a person hides their internal self to the outside world. In doing this, a person does not allow others to see them fully, and therefore, puts on a façade that differs from their internal self. Traveling from the outskirts of an African jungle all the way inward to the human mind, the symbol of external light differing from internal darkness creates a contrast of what a person shows to others or, more often, keeps in the dark.

Karl's Criticism

In Frederick Karl's psychoanalytical criticism he states "But not before we are filled with a sense of the absurd- a sense of the absurd gap between what we profess to be and what we are, a sense of our consequently and inevitably skewed relationship with objects, with our milieu, with the universe itself." Karl brings to light the evident disconnect humans face with their surroundings and more frightening, themselves. Karl believes that everyone has their true self and then their facade that they must put on in front of others. However true this may be, one must then examine how the world would be if it wasn't. If everyone simply said exactly what they were thinking all the time and acted on every impulse one had, chaos would ensue. Who we are and what we think are two completely different things and molding them into one would not only result in a blatant lack of personal privacy, but also a lack of mental stimulation. 

Murfin

One important idea that Murfin's Psychoanalytic Criticism explains is how human's mind's allow them to experience books through their own eyes. What this means is that instead of simply viewing a book as a character's journey through hardships, humans put themselves in the shoes of the main character, which helps them further understand the hardships and emotions that character goes through. This explains why most people are drawn to stories that don't necessarily match up with their own life, because our ordinary daily  problems aren't interesting; however, exploring uncivilized Africa, THAT'S interesting.  

Heart of Darkness: Question 1

All of the characters in Conrad’s Heart of Darkness don’t have any names except for Marlow, Kurtz, and Fresleven the Dane. Most are referred to by their occupations proving Conrad’s view on identity and how society unfairly categorizes people based on occupations rather than character. Some examples of the occupations Conrad names characters are Accountant, Lawyer, Brickmaker, Manager, and Fireman. Another reason Conrad may do this is to provide more of an explanation of a character by using a word that better describes that person rather than a name which could be given to any person regardless of skill.  

Heart of Darkness: Question 2

Marlow begins his tale of a journey to the heart of darkness with an account of London in “very old times, when the Roman’s first came here” to not only provide an ominous background and a dark tone, but also to show a comparison of London in a darker time to the more upbeat people’s view of London. Also true with the English colonization of Africa, London was not always the thriving city it is today. The point made here by Conrad is that no city starts perfectly functioning, it takes time and work to get to the perfect perception true today. 

Reflection

My favorite past assignment was when we had to choose a book to read throughout the year just for pleasure. I have always wanted to read Accidental Billionaires but I haven't really had the motivation to actually go to the book store and buy it- but now I do! I'm really excited to start over winter break and hopefully finish pretty soon. Reading books in school is something I understand we're required to do, but for a long time it made me hate the idea of picking up a new book and starting to read. I think this project is teaching me how to enjoy reading as a form of entertainment, not just a homework assignment.

Prufrock

There are many images in "The Love Song of J. Alfred Prufrock" that provoke emotions within the reader. One image occurs at the very beginning of the poem, in the third line. Prufrock states, "When the evening is spread out against the sky/ Like a patient etherized upon a table." This biblical allusion makes for a somber tone in which the reader feels sympathy for the speaker and the environment he is stuck in. Also, the speaker makes reference to a patient laying dead on a table, which is a very similar to the image of Jesus dying on a cross. Prufrock makes many biblical allusions in his poem; however, this parallel is the most profound because the whole rest of the poem talk about how Prufrock does not live up to the ultimate human existence (or even a fulfilling one) by comparing him to a person who many people believe is not defined by his life, but instead, his death.