Homework+tasks+and+questions

Week 1 - the early pages

1. What is the effect of the framed narrator?

**It makes you feel as if you are there, as if he is your friend telling you a story. It gives the effect of a story within a story. Makes it feel as if it is an unreliable narrator because it is coming from someone else and is not in the first person. UNRELIABLE NARRATOR? The framing makes it difficult for us to understand Conrad. It distanced both the author and Marlow.**

The author uses “framed narration” to created an unreliable narrator, distance between the narrator and the characters and also make the character more believable.


 * It can give a more realistic view of Marlow, the protagonist and a realistic view of what the audience of Marlow think about his narrations.
 * Unreliable narrator? We are seeing things filtered.
 * Makes the story seem more distant; for us and the narrator.

**﻿** Presents a first person view of what colonialism entailed; the many experiences that Marlow had; keeps the story interesting? Unreliable narrator, more distant from reality


 * The Framed narration also helps the reader to gain an insight on Marlow's personality. If the whole story was narated by Marlow, then it would be biased or in a single perspective. However with the addition of another narrator, we are able to get two different persectives. **


 * There are any possible effects of the 'famed' narration . One of them could be to give the contxt of narration, for example we know that marlow tells the story, but we don't know where marlow currently is or from where he's telling it and under what conditions **

By using framed narration the author gives us the events from only one point of view making us more connected to the narrator and eventually we learn to think the same way or at least to accept what he is saying.

The effect of the ‘framed ‘ narrative could also show a story inside a story - two coinciding pieces of literature in one expose of the colonisation of the Congo Free State. I think that the ‘framed’ narration is Conrad’s opinion or his voice trying to break through the barrier as he is setting up the scene, the content. Conrad’s voice as the ‘framed’ narration would give readers something to grip onto. They get to understand him as a person and show the world what he thinks though he is not saying much.

2. What is said about the river Thames?


 * In the beginning, river thames was descibed as “stretched before us like the beginning of an interminable waterway”, “the old river” and “the venerable stream” this gives an personified effect to the river. It almost suggests that the river has been there and watched all the land bering conquered or colonised. **
 * The river is also described as “the sleepless river”. This implies how nothing is missed by the river and its been awake since the beginning of generations. **
 * That the river is a transition between the city and the sea, where the city is described as gloomy and the sea is described as home.

The River Thames, in Heart of Darkness, is said to be ‘beginning of an interminable waterway’ and like ‘tanned sails of the barges drifting up with the tide.’ The Thames is also said to be a ‘great spirit upon the lower reaches of the Thames.’

3. What ideas or suggestions about colonialism are given by Marlow when he describes the river?

**Mournful, brooding, blood, spirits, these words all describe death and war. Colonialism causes wars and thus death; the description of the river could suggest the pain that is caused for colonialism. The river Thames could represent time; people through the years use it just as land is used for colonialism.**

The river is used as a symbol throughout the first section. Usually is used used to represent the road that the individual has traveled. In some places it is referred to in a positive even beautiful manner, like when Conrad writes “the luminous estuary” when referring to the Thames. but as the pages continue the view of the river seems to darken. When the river is described it is almost as if colonialism is a necessary step in the path of the narrator, and to some extent the men around him. They talk of the river and use it as a symbol for their life’s path. When they speak of the river and where it leads they are also, indirectly, saying that their path is up the river as well and colonialism lies up the river waiting to be put to the test with the native people there.

Colonialism brings sadness/depression to the land being claimed by imperialists. The river is limitless, could suggest that land up for taking is limitless? Brings war, Thames is time, observant, used by people but in fact older than them, Thames suggests a circle of events reoccurring, exploited by imperialists, (doubles – echoes – internal mirrors)


 * The River Thames is often described as "interminable waterway", "the old river", "the venerable stream". **
 * All these descriptions give the river a personified and ancient effect. It almost suggests the river being as old as time itself, and the river to have to seen the land being conquered/colonised by force and the natives to be bonded to slavery. **
 * there is also this hint of the __river (sea) being exploited for transportation__. This directly links to colonialism, as the __colonies (land) were also being exploited for resources (rubber).__ **
 * By this, we can see how the humans have __exploited the earth (sea+land) for their lust of power and wealth__ **

The river is mainly a spectator, watching over what is happening and not being involved. "crowded with memories of men and ships it had borne to the rest of home or to the battles of the sea"

Some of the ideas given about colonialism when the River Thames is being talked about in the novel shows that it, colonialism and the river, has some advantages like the trade and the help in their economy, education, military, etc. But there are some consequences, or disadvantages, like unable to choose your government, your leaders and control what they take from your country and use for profit and none of its for you. Another reason why maybe Conrad uses the River Thames to suggest things about colonisation is because a river, it doesn’t matter what river it is, is continuous and flows. It never stops, goes in stages and connects to everything.

4. What impression of colonialism is given by Marlow when he talks about the Romans?

**He looks at it positively that the Romans came there and colonized, but they brought death and illness, which were the negative aspects of it.** **﻿** Marlow seems to see colonialism as negative because when he speaks of the romans he talks about how hard their lives must have been, leaving their homes and everything that they are used to just to impose themselves on some strange, unwelcoming people. He seems to feel as though colonialism, or at least the dire to colonize, is what has been and is causing people to feel the way they do, suffer the way they must.

Colonialism is a tiring task for a nation to carry out; brings disease and death; taking land with brute force from the natives; show of power; robbing of the land, futile mission


 * Marlow descrbes the colonialism in Roman times as “darkness was here yesterday”. The darkness is given a personified effect here, stating how terrible the conditions were with the Romans. Another example, “As you can see, trying to conquer land in Roman times meant having to force death on a daily basis. **
 * Marlow also says that is wasn't colonialism, but rather forcefully conquering land. “They were no colonists...they were conquerors, and for that you want only brute force” This implies the harshness of the romans and their theft of the land, “they grabbed what they could get for the sake of what was to be got. It was just robbery with violence. **
 * Basically, it was just a massacre and politics with no rules. “Aggregated murder on a great scale and going at it blind as is very proper for those who tackle a darkness.” **

A negative impression. He talks about the cruel acts of the romans. "they were not colonists; they grabbed what they could get; it was just robbery with violence, aggravated murder on a great scale."

Marlow conveys a sense of gratitude when he talks about the Romans and their colonisation as even though they had to work for them and do what ever they were told to do by the Romans. The Romans taught them how to read, write, speak, and understand. Before the Romans, they seemed almost invisible but surviving whereas now they are in a colony they are being taken care of. For example, ‘they were a flicker’ and ‘darkness was here yesterday’ is suggesting they could only sustain current and previous situation but they needed more to and thanks to Romans they can grow. Continue.

Marlow talks about how the Romans didn't colonize but conquered land, and that the Romans committed acts of "robbery with violence" 