A White Lie?

What do you make of Marlow's decision to lie to Kurtz' "Intended" - do you agree with this decision or not? What does it reveal about Marlow's character?  About the "Intended"?  Do you see any of this relating back to Kurtz' painting that Marlow saw back before he met the man?

DON'T FORGET PERMISSION SLIPS TOMORROW!

"The horror! The horror!"

CHOOSE ONE:

1.) Marlow hates lies and at the edge of darkness seems to connect himself to the inexplicable nirvana (think back to the Buddha imagery) of truth.  How does this affect his loyalty to Kurtz?

2.) What does Kurtz' attempt to escape off the boat and back into the jungle demonstrate about his "sickness" and its impact?  Is this connected to Marlow's sickness in any way?  If so, how?  If not, why not?

3.) Marlow feels compelled to give up all that remained of Kurtz - "his memory and his Intended" to the past.  Why does he feel this way? Do you believe Kurtz deserves to have his memory passed on to his Intended?  Why or why not?

"A Voice! A Voice!"

Kurtz at last materializes and ceases to be more than just a voice to Marlow.  How is this "atrocious phantom" a foil to the Russian?  The natives? Marlow?  What seems real about him? Unreal?  Who could love such a man? (Choose a couple of these for your response - you don't have to answer EVERY question).

Kurtz - The Man, The Myth, The Legend

We examined Kurtz' character closely today.  What do you find most condemning?  Most redeeming?  Besides the connection to Gatsby & Breaking Bad that we looked at, where else do you see Kurtz-like characters?  Applying literature and making connections! :)

Reaction to Death

What do you make of Marlow's reaction to the Helsman's death?  And what about Marlow's fear that Kurtz, too, is dead?  I'm leaving this fairly open ended, but I DO think it's important for you to reference the text.  While some of you have SUPERB answers, others have rather vague responses (these don't receive full credit!).

The Landscape

Analyze Conrad's description of the landscape as Marlow voyages "deeper and deeper into the heart of darkness" (31).  What does the diction reveal?  What seems to be the tone of these passages that discuss the landscape?  How does the landscape take on qualities of an actual character?

The Enigma of Kurtz

DUE MONDAY: Kurtz is somewhat of an enigma thus far in the story.  What do you make of his character?  What do you think he represents/symbolizes?  Why is he of such relevance to Marlow?  Kurtz's station is in the "heart of darkness" - what might this hint at (You may choose to respond to a variety of these questions or zoom in on one)?

Scramble for Africa

The Scramble for Africa (1800-1900): Research the factors that led to this & explain why this rush occurred.  Rank the causes from most significant to least significant based on what you think motivates a country to become involved in foreign exploration/colonization.  Check out the various links below to help you with this:

Scramble for Africa #1

Scramble for Africa #2

Scramble for Africa #3

(come ready to talk about the enigma of Kurtz tomorrow)

King Leopald II #1
King Leopald II #2

Examine the two cartoons depicting King Leopold II and his influence on the Congo.  How does this affect the "darkness" of the region into which Marlowe is about to embark?

Reading Conrad's Heart of Darkness will require some deep thinking and insightful discussion, and this is the forum to do just that.  Each night of reading will require a post on here.  You will need to respond to 2 of your classmates responses, as well.  This way, you are not only thinking on your own but also responding to others' thinking.