Monday, February 1, 2016
What is the purpose of making Marlow the main speaker?
It is stated at the beginning of the novella that there is a narrator and Marlow, yet Marlow has done most of the speaking. As we have learned in previous books, this is not done by mere accident or coincidence. There is a reason for a character as inconsistent as Marlow is. The reason for this is to show us the juxtaposition within ourselves, as a species. Marlow represents man itself as he is constantly debating between right and wrong. He begins contemplating whether or not the Romans were good or evil, and cannot sustain an answer. He argues with himself saying that they are peace bringers who brought us democracy, but at the same time they rape and pillage in the process. He fails to determine if they are in the right or in the wrong. He also evaluates the death of a general who started a fight with the African elder, dying in the process. He describes this event as a calm mishap, as if this sort of thing happens everyday. He also once again fails to realize who is in the wrong in this instance. He explains the story just as it happens, but through Marlow's eyes, it is the elder's fault. The author does this to show us the true juxtaposition: humans. Humans have misjudged and wronged people for as long as time goes back. We have been taking from those who can't defend themselves for our entire existence. From back when the Romans and were raping and pillaging villages, taking the little they have for themselves, to now, where the rich take from the poor and keep it for themselves. We have always praised and worshiped these people, although if you step outside of the box and look in, then you can obviously see what is going on. Just as Marlow allows ignorance in the form of racism get in the way of his better judgement, we all allow ignorance to happen without batting an eye. Marlow represents the human species as a whole, as we often cannot tell right from wrong yet still become the president of our country. The author shows us this juxtpaosition to show us that it is in our nature to be indecisive and not know the tight from wrong. Marlow is simply a mirror of our true self.
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ReplyDeleteMarlow can also be seen as somewhat of a religious figure head in the sense that when he speaks to the people on the ship, marlow speaks as if he is preaching to the people on the ship. As Jalen stated, we can see that marlow is an unreliable author in how when he speaks about the Romans, and the company in his stories, we as the readers can see that marlow seems to jump back and forth, from how both the company, and the Romans can be seen as good, or bad. This helps to show that Marlow is scared of being wrong in his stories, so instead of just taking one side, he states both to assure to whoever is listening that he is neither wrong, or right, but in how you receive his story. - Trevor Denny
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ReplyDeleteI think that it is worth mentioning that Marlow sets up the framed narrative of the story. This is important to understand because it distances the author from the racism and consensus with society that is observed from Marlow.
ReplyDeleteI would like also to point out the way in which Marlow tells his story. As it shows a lot of irony in his storytelling. Leading to division between himself and the Congo.
ReplyDeleteAlso, making a specific person the narrator strays away from other perspectives. With this, we are forced to read through Marlow's perspective instead of one from a native.
ReplyDeleteWhat point is Conrad trying to make by letting Marlow tell the story though? He is biased and sees all black people as savages so why let someone that lived in the Congo and witnessed first hand what the Company is actually doing narrate?
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