When Heart of Darkness begins we are introduced to the main character, Marlow, a sailor onboard the Nellie along with other crew members. So far the four men and the narrator are not named beside their professions and they remain a mystery. When Marlow begins to reminisce about the trip he took to Congo, Africa, as young man he becomes the narrator of the story.
As he tells the story he says, “They were dying slowly- it was clear. They were not enemies, they were not criminals, they were nothing earthly now- nothing but black shadows of disease and starvation.” He recounts how the Africans were treated by the whites. I though that this observation made Marlow different from the other members because he doesn’t view Africans as savages or harmful beings like the rest. Instead he is a little more sympathetic towards them and says “I stood horror struck”, like a true protagonist.
Grace O.
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What do you mean, "Like a true protagonist?" What is a "true protagonist"? Does a protagonist have to be likeable?
ReplyDeleteI agree, his reaction did strike me the same way.
ReplyDeleteAnd I think that by a "true protagonist," Grace meant that Marlow has heroic traits of a leader: an advocate for a good cause. Even though he didn't really DO anything, his feelings were those of someone who would/could.
I just wanna point out that a protagonist and a hero are two completely different things. A character does not necessarily have to possess the traits of a hero or a nice guy to be a protagonist. In "A Streetcar Named Desire" by Tennessee Williams, Blanche is the protagonist, but is portrayed as a selfish individual with an odious background that lies to get her way. Blanche also lets her libido take control of her actions at times; she even had relations with a 17 year old minor in the past, which led to her getting fired from her job as a teacher. Not exactly the most decorous protagonist if you ask me.
ReplyDeleteI also thought that Marlow was more compassionate than the other Europeans. But as I read on he begins to sound just like the rest. A product of his dark environment.
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