Question
The following question is based on your reading of “Heart of Darkness” by Joseph Conrad.
How does Marlow feel when he hears the tribesmen howl and watches them dance?
How does Marlow feel when he hears the tribesmen howl and watches them dance?
Answers
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In "Heart of Darkness," when Marlow hears the tribesmen howl and watches them dance, he experiences a mix of emotions, including discomfort, fascination, and a sense of alienation. The howling and dancing exemplify the primal and visceral aspects of life that contrast sharply with European civilization. Marlow feels a sense of unease and horror as he witnesses the raw intensity of the tribesmen's expressions, which starkly differ from his own cultural norms.
He is intrigued by the power and passion evident in their rituals, yet he is also acutely aware of the darkness and brutality that underlie such expressions of life. This moment reinforces the themes of civilization versus savagery, and the ambiguity of morality that permeate the novella. Marlow grapples with his own perceptions and the colonial mindset, leading him to reflect on the complexities of his experiences in Africa and what it reveals about humanity as a whole. Overall, Marlow's response is deeply contemplative, signaling a tension between admiration and repulsion.
He is intrigued by the power and passion evident in their rituals, yet he is also acutely aware of the darkness and brutality that underlie such expressions of life. This moment reinforces the themes of civilization versus savagery, and the ambiguity of morality that permeate the novella. Marlow grapples with his own perceptions and the colonial mindset, leading him to reflect on the complexities of his experiences in Africa and what it reveals about humanity as a whole. Overall, Marlow's response is deeply contemplative, signaling a tension between admiration and repulsion.