essay on light and dark imagery in HOD. and the conradian reversal.
As she gazed across the darkening horizon, she noticed a small pinpoint of light. Keeping her mind on the spot, she allowed her eyes to scan the ocean, and continued to find white lights spread across the deep green, almost black, sea. She held Harlow close to her chest and rocked her back and forth, all the while saying, “He’ll come home soon… daddy’s coming…” Watching as the lights grew more distant, she lost hope and called it a night. She laid Harlow in her crib, turned off the lights, and crawled under the covers as she had done so many nights before. Light and dark have a tendency to deceive. As mankind discovers light in this world, darkness continues to present itself in a threatening way. So often Joseph Conrad uses light and dark imagery to present truths. In Heart of Darkness Conrad takes reality into his own hands and twists it by reversing the meanings of the light and dark imagery.
“A dark figure obscured the lighted doorway of the manager’s hut, vanished, then, a second or so after, the doorway itself vanished, too” (Conrad 89). While in Africa, Marlow discovered a darkness capable of overwhelming all light and stamping out any flames. This darkness was caused by the corruption of the white pilgrims who came to the wilderness with selfish motives. Most of the evil brought into the Congo could be traced to Kurtz, found at the center of the Congo, the “heart of darkness.” Kurtz became the root of the problem without being present in most situations. His image became the model for every pilgrim in “the Company,” and kept any light from being visible through the darkness.
The darkness overwhelmed the light, and even when light was found, it was in such small amounts and was almost not visible at all. When Marlow’s steamboat traveled up the Congo toward Kurtz and the inner station, they encountered a dense fog. “When the sun rose there was a white fog, very warm and clammy, and more blinding than the night” (102). For a moment Marlow noticed the sun. The sun did not bring joy, however, as readers might have expected. The darkness in Africa, caused by the pilgrims, was so impenetrable not even the sun could break through.
Although Conrad was not the first to twist the roles of light and dark imagery in his writing, his messages were so advanced the concept has now become known as the “Conradian reversal.” In this reversal, light takes on a dark meaning, representing a “bad” idea, while the dark images become “good.” Conrad wrote, “Hunters for gold or pursuers of fame, they all had fone out on that streams, bearing the sword, and often the torch, messengers of the might within the land, bearers of a spark from a sacred fire” (55). The pilgrims in Africa brought an evil unknown to the natives. The light-skinned pilgrims came to the Congo selfishly, and the innocence of the dark-skinned Natives became more and more a desired trait. The hearts of the pilgrims, called “emissaries of light” (65) corrupted so many ideas in their society and the negative changes could not be reversed. Below the surface, the natives were, without a doubt, the lesser of the two “evils.”
Many nights, she sat, staring out into the darkness, and let the lights raise her hopes. Tonight, after turning off her lights and crawling in to her bed, she lay awake for awhile. Her eyes penetrated the darkness, and before long, she was able to see almost clearly. She heard a knock at the door. Heart racing, the girl cautiously peered out of her window. The porch light revealed the face of the man she had stayed up so many nights waiting for. She let him in and greeted him with a passionate embrace, planning to never let him go again. After so many nights of darkness, she was at peace. Before understanding Heart of Darkness on a deeper level, it seems to readers that Africa is the root of all evil. But after reading, it is evident that the evil comes from the heart of every man. The light in our lives is often blocked out by the overwhelming powers of darkness, but in Christ we can overpower evil. The only true light is that of Christ Jesus.
11.17.2009
11.16.2009
almost there! [i wish]
we are probably about halfway through with our projects...
this is a character sketch. i don't know what to tell you if you haven't read the book... i'll explain after it...
Article A: Entry from journal found near the body at the scene of the crime.
“[entry date smudged by water stains]
I havent’ written in a few days. In fact, I haven’t done much of anything since he came to visit me. Marlow, I believe was his name. I still don’t know exactly why he came. Maybe for closure? Who can tell… His cheeks were on the verge of sinking. He had a yellowish tint to his complexion.When he talked, his hands flew around wildly, with almost no control (Conrad 54). He did have a sort of radiating glow about him, though (56). But maybe that was simply an illusion. The weaknesses of his heart shone through in his words. He seems to be speaking only to please me (58). And I, I did not have the heart to let him know I could see through his lies. He told me of my Beloved’s last words. I simply could not believe him.
He brought me a stack of papers. And a picture. I remember giving that picture to my Beloved when… oh, nevermind. It doessn’t matter. I don’t even care anymore. Anyway, Marlow. He seemes to be talking only to make me happy. It was as if everything he had recently discovered meant nothing (154). He loved Kurtz. Not, of course, as I loved him. But he respected him, nonetheless (151). He was, though, a bit withdrawn whenhespoke of Kurtz, my beloved, and of the wilderness. His eyes became glossy. He just seemed… distant, I guess. A sense of panic would engulf him once in a while, before he came to his senses and gathered his thoughts (151).He was distracted by everything in the room. His eyes would wonder away from me as he remembered the happenings of their journeys (150).
He did, I am positive he knew my Beloved Kurtz better than anyone. If I am sure of anything, I am sure of that. He showed no sign of Kurtz’s love for me. It was not apparent. Marlow, bless him, did all he could to comfort me, and I thank him for this…
But now, I don’t think I can go on like this… I just can’t do it…
Goodbye.”
okay this is a journal entry written by a woman who was supposed to be married to Kurtz (a "main character" but really just an idea representing evil). Marlow, THE main character came to visit Kurtz's "intended." this was written afterwords.
the next few essays are the deeper ones: civilization essay, light/dark essay, gothicism essay, etc.
so yeah i'll finish sometime, i promise!
this is a character sketch. i don't know what to tell you if you haven't read the book... i'll explain after it...
Article A: Entry from journal found near the body at the scene of the crime.
“[entry date smudged by water stains]
I havent’ written in a few days. In fact, I haven’t done much of anything since he came to visit me. Marlow, I believe was his name. I still don’t know exactly why he came. Maybe for closure? Who can tell… His cheeks were on the verge of sinking. He had a yellowish tint to his complexion.When he talked, his hands flew around wildly, with almost no control (Conrad 54). He did have a sort of radiating glow about him, though (56). But maybe that was simply an illusion. The weaknesses of his heart shone through in his words. He seems to be speaking only to please me (58). And I, I did not have the heart to let him know I could see through his lies. He told me of my Beloved’s last words. I simply could not believe him.
He brought me a stack of papers. And a picture. I remember giving that picture to my Beloved when… oh, nevermind. It doessn’t matter. I don’t even care anymore. Anyway, Marlow. He seemes to be talking only to make me happy. It was as if everything he had recently discovered meant nothing (154). He loved Kurtz. Not, of course, as I loved him. But he respected him, nonetheless (151). He was, though, a bit withdrawn whenhespoke of Kurtz, my beloved, and of the wilderness. His eyes became glossy. He just seemed… distant, I guess. A sense of panic would engulf him once in a while, before he came to his senses and gathered his thoughts (151).He was distracted by everything in the room. His eyes would wonder away from me as he remembered the happenings of their journeys (150).
He did, I am positive he knew my Beloved Kurtz better than anyone. If I am sure of anything, I am sure of that. He showed no sign of Kurtz’s love for me. It was not apparent. Marlow, bless him, did all he could to comfort me, and I thank him for this…
But now, I don’t think I can go on like this… I just can’t do it…
Goodbye.”
okay this is a journal entry written by a woman who was supposed to be married to Kurtz (a "main character" but really just an idea representing evil). Marlow, THE main character came to visit Kurtz's "intended." this was written afterwords.
the next few essays are the deeper ones: civilization essay, light/dark essay, gothicism essay, etc.
so yeah i'll finish sometime, i promise!
next
close reading
"Going up that river was like travelling back to the earliest beginnings of the world, when vegetation rioted on the earth and the big trees were kings. An empty streams, a great silence, an impenetrable forest. The air was warm, thick, heavy, sluggish. There was no joy in the brilliance of sunshine” (94).
Allusion: a reference, within a literary work, to another work of fiction, a film, a piece of art, or even a real event. An allusion serves as a kind of shorthand, drawing on this outside work to provide greater context or meaning to the situation being written about. The allusion to the Garden of Eden at the beginning of time creates a mental image of a utopian landscape and social harmony. The image Marlow is describing, however, is not a peaceful one at all. Empty streams, silence, forests, and thick air are all mentioned in these few sentences. These words create a completely different image: one of darkness, rather than one of light.
Connotation: the associated or secondary meaning of a word or expression in addition to its explicit or primary meaning. Riots are chaotic. They are evil. They hurt. The pilgrims were creating riots deep within the African wilderness. These men were selfish and filled with pride. The “rioting vegetation” goes hand-in-hand with the allusion to the Garden of Eden, where the Tree of the Knowledge of Good and Evil became the symbol of the fall of man. The native plants and resources, especially ivory, proved to be the root of the greed within the pilgrims in Africa.
Metaphor: a figure of speech in which an implied comparison is made between two unlike things that actually have something in common. A metaphor expresses the unfamiliar in terms of the familiar. The pilgrims, especially Kurtz, became like “big trees,” exalted above everything so all eyes could see. The goal of all men who went to the Congo was to become the “next big thing.” Their selfishness overruled any moral standards they may have held before embarking on their journeys. The pilgrims caused the air, or atmosphere, to be warm, thick, heavy, and sluggish. Their greed smothered every other emotion and thought, sweeping them under the rug.
Irony: a technique of indicating, as through character or plot development, an intention or attitude opposite to that which is actually or ostensibly stated; a technique of indicating, as through character or plot development, an intention or attitude opposite to that which is actually or ostensibly stated. Sunshine is often used to represent light emotions, especially happiness. Sunshine represents the beginning of a new day, shattering the darkness of the night. In the African environment, full of pain and punishment, not even the sunshine could bring the hope of a new day. The hardened hearts of the pilgrims created a fog, blocking the sunshine and preventing joy from reaching the hearts and minds of everyone else.
i would have spared you this... but it's probably the best close reading i've ever done... sad, huh? anyway. i'm basically okay with it. usually i hate stuff i write...
"Going up that river was like travelling back to the earliest beginnings of the world, when vegetation rioted on the earth and the big trees were kings. An empty streams, a great silence, an impenetrable forest. The air was warm, thick, heavy, sluggish. There was no joy in the brilliance of sunshine” (94).
Allusion: a reference, within a literary work, to another work of fiction, a film, a piece of art, or even a real event. An allusion serves as a kind of shorthand, drawing on this outside work to provide greater context or meaning to the situation being written about. The allusion to the Garden of Eden at the beginning of time creates a mental image of a utopian landscape and social harmony. The image Marlow is describing, however, is not a peaceful one at all. Empty streams, silence, forests, and thick air are all mentioned in these few sentences. These words create a completely different image: one of darkness, rather than one of light.
Connotation: the associated or secondary meaning of a word or expression in addition to its explicit or primary meaning. Riots are chaotic. They are evil. They hurt. The pilgrims were creating riots deep within the African wilderness. These men were selfish and filled with pride. The “rioting vegetation” goes hand-in-hand with the allusion to the Garden of Eden, where the Tree of the Knowledge of Good and Evil became the symbol of the fall of man. The native plants and resources, especially ivory, proved to be the root of the greed within the pilgrims in Africa.
Metaphor: a figure of speech in which an implied comparison is made between two unlike things that actually have something in common. A metaphor expresses the unfamiliar in terms of the familiar. The pilgrims, especially Kurtz, became like “big trees,” exalted above everything so all eyes could see. The goal of all men who went to the Congo was to become the “next big thing.” Their selfishness overruled any moral standards they may have held before embarking on their journeys. The pilgrims caused the air, or atmosphere, to be warm, thick, heavy, and sluggish. Their greed smothered every other emotion and thought, sweeping them under the rug.
Irony: a technique of indicating, as through character or plot development, an intention or attitude opposite to that which is actually or ostensibly stated; a technique of indicating, as through character or plot development, an intention or attitude opposite to that which is actually or ostensibly stated. Sunshine is often used to represent light emotions, especially happiness. Sunshine represents the beginning of a new day, shattering the darkness of the night. In the African environment, full of pain and punishment, not even the sunshine could bring the hope of a new day. The hardened hearts of the pilgrims created a fog, blocking the sunshine and preventing joy from reaching the hearts and minds of everyone else.
i would have spared you this... but it's probably the best close reading i've ever done... sad, huh? anyway. i'm basically okay with it. usually i hate stuff i write...
11.11.2009
2nd and 3rd legs
currently listening to: Imperfection by Skillet (throwback camp drama song).
these will be interesting one we get to the deepr stuff, but for now, this is what's going on...
2. vocab: we had to pick 20 words. define them. write down the text sentence. and create an origina setence. an example of one of mine:
17. stanchion - [stan-shuhn] – n.- an upright bar, beam, post, or support, as in a window, stall, ship
-“‘The boiler was in the fore-end, and the machinery right astern. Over the whole there was a light roof, supported on stanchions.’” (109)
-The stanchion upheld the glass separating the man from the frigid cold and biting winds of the night air.
BORING, RIGHT?! RIGHT.
3. universal quote/reponse
Quote:
“What greatness had not floated on the ebb of that river into the mystery of an unknown earth!... The dreams of men, the seed of commonwealths, the germs of empires” (55).
Response:
Throughout history, mankind has pushed past physical and mental limits to explore the mysteries of the world. For centuries, the desire to discover uncharted lands gripped the minds of explorers all over the world. Today, although the urge to explore new continents is not prominent, men and women pursue other mysteries, going out of their way to get everything they want. Society thrives on the discovery of the unknown: if humans didn’t take risks and step out into the unknown, societies would make little progress.
Marlow, after pursuing his own dreams, and traveling into the wilderness, realized something that many people don’t. He recognized the selfishness of men. He knew there was a problem. But Marlow came to this realization after it was too late. He witnessed so many tragic things in the African jungle and did nothing to stop them. Marlow fell into the mindset held by many if not all pilgrims to the Congo. They believed their skin color produced ultimate supremacy and they took all means necessary to get what they desired.
“Take delight in the Lord, and He will give you the desires of your heart” (Psalm 37:4). The Bible clearly commands us to follow God. He is thoroughly pleased when people desire to live for Him. If they desire to follow God and if their hearts are fully devoted to Him, their desires will be fulfilled. The pursuit of material items, the very pursuit that causes men to dream, is the seed of commonwealths, and corrupts empires is the pursuit the Bible so many times instructs men to avoid. It is true that societies should take risks, but many times risks taken don’t produce the results desired. Perhaps society should reevaluate the risks, their purposes, and ultimate goals.
these will be interesting one we get to the deepr stuff, but for now, this is what's going on...
2. vocab: we had to pick 20 words. define them. write down the text sentence. and create an origina setence. an example of one of mine:
17. stanchion - [stan-shuhn] – n.- an upright bar, beam, post, or support, as in a window, stall, ship
-“‘The boiler was in the fore-end, and the machinery right astern. Over the whole there was a light roof, supported on stanchions.’” (109)
-The stanchion upheld the glass separating the man from the frigid cold and biting winds of the night air.
BORING, RIGHT?! RIGHT.
3. universal quote/reponse
Quote:
“What greatness had not floated on the ebb of that river into the mystery of an unknown earth!... The dreams of men, the seed of commonwealths, the germs of empires” (55).
Response:
Throughout history, mankind has pushed past physical and mental limits to explore the mysteries of the world. For centuries, the desire to discover uncharted lands gripped the minds of explorers all over the world. Today, although the urge to explore new continents is not prominent, men and women pursue other mysteries, going out of their way to get everything they want. Society thrives on the discovery of the unknown: if humans didn’t take risks and step out into the unknown, societies would make little progress.
Marlow, after pursuing his own dreams, and traveling into the wilderness, realized something that many people don’t. He recognized the selfishness of men. He knew there was a problem. But Marlow came to this realization after it was too late. He witnessed so many tragic things in the African jungle and did nothing to stop them. Marlow fell into the mindset held by many if not all pilgrims to the Congo. They believed their skin color produced ultimate supremacy and they took all means necessary to get what they desired.
“Take delight in the Lord, and He will give you the desires of your heart” (Psalm 37:4). The Bible clearly commands us to follow God. He is thoroughly pleased when people desire to live for Him. If they desire to follow God and if their hearts are fully devoted to Him, their desires will be fulfilled. The pursuit of material items, the very pursuit that causes men to dream, is the seed of commonwealths, and corrupts empires is the pursuit the Bible so many times instructs men to avoid. It is true that societies should take risks, but many times risks taken don’t produce the results desired. Perhaps society should reevaluate the risks, their purposes, and ultimate goals.
11.04.2009
first update.
edit::
here it is... in all it's glory. this is the front cover. representing the "problem"
these words sum up the "problem"
last night i finished Heart of Darkness. it was decent. definitely very deep. like WOAH. um we took the test today so i don't have to worry about that anymore. PTL. hopefully the rst of the project will be a lot easier after that. so yeah anyway. the first step is to create a front and back cover for a one inch binder (that will hold the rest of the project). so that is what i'm starting right now. i'm really excited about this because it's creative. and i like to do that kind of thing. i'll post pictures as i get things done. ready, GO!
here it is... in all it's glory. this is the front cover. representing the "problem"
these words sum up the "problem"
last night i finished Heart of Darkness. it was decent. definitely very deep. like WOAH. um we took the test today so i don't have to worry about that anymore. PTL. hopefully the rst of the project will be a lot easier after that. so yeah anyway. the first step is to create a front and back cover for a one inch binder (that will hold the rest of the project). so that is what i'm starting right now. i'm really excited about this because it's creative. and i like to do that kind of thing. i'll post pictures as i get things done. ready, GO!
11.02.2009
Heart Of Darkness
during the next few weeks i am going to take you with me as i journey through Joseph Conrad's Heart of Darkness. my teacher told us before we started reading that this would be the hardest book we will ever read. many of you have probably read it sometime before in your life. and if not. well i'm not sure if i can say i recommend it yet. i'll get back to you on that after we finish. but anyway. there is a very in depth project to accompany this book that will take us multiple weeks to complete. (i don't know how long... the individual assignments are due at different dates.
so anyway. i am going to use this blog to... i guess share my thoughts on the book. fill you in on discussions from in class. share my project with you. i don't know. the book is very dark and deep and i'm hoping to get as much out of it as possible.
so i'm going to go read it now. 60 more pages. due wednesday. which normally would be a piece of cake. but this time it's different.
song for this post: "Again" by Flyleaf.
so anyway. i am going to use this blog to... i guess share my thoughts on the book. fill you in on discussions from in class. share my project with you. i don't know. the book is very dark and deep and i'm hoping to get as much out of it as possible.
so i'm going to go read it now. 60 more pages. due wednesday. which normally would be a piece of cake. but this time it's different.
song for this post: "Again" by Flyleaf.
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