The word ivory has taken on a life of its own for the men who are employed by the Company. This passage, taken from the fourth section of part one, presents Marlow’s first impression of the Central Station. And outside, the silent wilderness surrounding this cleared speck on the earth struck me as something great and invincible, live evil or truth, waiting patiently for the passing away of this fantastic invasion. By Jove! I’ve never seen anything so unreal in my life. A taint of imbecile rapacity blew through it all, like a whiff from some corpse. The word ivory rang in the air, was whispered, was sighed. The narrator recalls great men from England's past who have sailed about the Thames.Literature Guides Heart of Darkness Quotes and Analysis In the beginning, the nameless framing narrator, three other guests, and Marlow are cruising quietly about the Thames aboard the Nellie. Seemingly no one-Marlow, Kurtz, the reader-is quite certain if any conclusions he draws over the course of the story are completely accurate.Ĭonsideration of the framing narrative is important in evaluating Heart of Darkness. The mysteriousness of the title is the first indicator of the mysteriousness of Marlow's journey into Africa. Watts validly concludes that the title offers 'a certain disturbing mysteriousness through the immediate possibility of alternative glosses' (55). If one attempts to answer any such questions, still more arise. Most critics believe 'the story is set in light and dark polarities' (Ong 61), but clearly, there is vagueness and ambiguity throughout the novel. The whiteness of ivory, therefore, cannot denote the positive, pure associations normally used by writers. Ivory, a constant presence in the novel, gains associations with the horrors of European colonialism and human materialism. Kurtz lacked restraint in the gratification of his various lusts,' says Marlow a few moments after he tells of his first glimpse of …show more content… But if one accepts the title as meaning, in essence, 'the heart which has the quality of being dark,' one has to consider the associations of 'darkness.' Though darkness ordinarily connotes evil, Conrad brings still more ambiguities about light and dark into the mix as the novel progresses. a tree swayed by the wind,' speaks Marlow of a slain helmsman amidst an attack by tribal savages (Conrad 52). 'Poor fool! He had no restraint, no restraint. filled those savages with unrestrained grief,' Marlow explains after recalling the cries of the natives seeing the steamer amidst a brief fog lift (Conrad 44).

'Restraint! I would have just as soon expected restraint from a hyena prowling amongst the corpses of a battle,' comments Marlow as he questions why the hungry cannibals aboard his steamer hadn't gone for the white crew members (Conrad 43).

Heart of darkness important quotes