Conrad and Prejudice

Though some what with reason, Marlow is a prejudiced man; he is the epitomeof colonialism. Going into the Congo, Marlow views the natives asprehistoric evils in desperate need of white influence and civilization.Throughout the physical journey, Marlow is confronted with the natives timeand time again, seeing them chained as slaves, living in a village andattacking his own steam boat. Marlow holds fast his prejudiced view of thenatives, referring to them as savages or even worse something as derogatoryas "niggers'" (Conrad 65), until halfway through his journey. Whiledrifting up the Congo, Marlow and his crew encounter a group of native onthe shore. Instead of demeaning the natives, Marlow wishes he could join thenatives in their primitive behavior. Such a desire is a great step in theprogress of Marlow's psyche. His desire to join the natives demonstrates hisconsumption by the heart of darkness, as he reverts back to a more savagedstate of being. Furthermore, Marlow encounters Kurtz's mistress, a native,and describes her with awe and respect.Finally, Marlow makes a radical change in his view of Kurtz in between hissetting off on the Congo and his arrival at the Central Station. Uponhearing of Kurtz, with all his credentials and successes, Marlow findshimself awed at Kurtz's profile, saying that Kurtz and his crew were "nocolonist; their administration was only a squeeze; they were conquerors. Itwas just robbery by violence, aggravated murder on a great scale, and mengoing at it blind-as is very proper for those who tackle a darkness" (Conrad63). Marlow, from the very beginning, develops a need to find Kurtz.However, as Marlow travels deeper and deeper into the jungle and furthermoreinto his own mind, Marlow hears of Kurtz becoming ill, lying and usingconniving methods to gain success. By the time Marlow reaches Kurtz, he isovercome with dignity and respect for Kurtz's ability to survive. Oncedisgusted by his unfair practices, Marlow finds himself respecting theepitome of all evil.
posted by Oscar P.