Let's discuss Part 2
Additional discussion questions
1. At the Central Station, continued (38-41). What does Marlow learn by overhearing the manager and his uncle? What do they say about Kurtz and what is happening upriver?
2. Note what Marlow says on the bottom of page 40 about "the profound darkness of its heart." Watch for appearances of some version (such as this one) of the book's title.
3. The Journey Up the River (41-45). How does Marlow describe the river? Why does this cause him to insult his companions on the boat in the Thames and thus to create another break in the narrative? How does Marlow go on to describe the journey as "we penetrated deeper and deeper into the heart of darkness" (43)? How does he describe the native Africans (see especially page 44) and how does he describe his company’s mission (“wanderers on a prehistoric earth”)
5. What does Marlow think of his crew? Who are they? What does he think of the fireman (45)?
6. Approaching the Inner Station What does Marlow find when the boat stops for wood (46)? What is the value of the book, according to Marlow? What does he find written in it? What do you make of Marlow’s sudden despondency as he says, “it occurred to me that my speech or my silence, indeed any action of mine, would be a mere futility”(47). How might this reflect Conrad’s doubts about his work? About imperialism and stopping the horrors induced by the powers that be? Existentialism connections?
- Quick plot summary
- What questions or passages do you have?
Additional discussion questions
1. At the Central Station, continued (38-41). What does Marlow learn by overhearing the manager and his uncle? What do they say about Kurtz and what is happening upriver?
2. Note what Marlow says on the bottom of page 40 about "the profound darkness of its heart." Watch for appearances of some version (such as this one) of the book's title.
3. The Journey Up the River (41-45). How does Marlow describe the river? Why does this cause him to insult his companions on the boat in the Thames and thus to create another break in the narrative? How does Marlow go on to describe the journey as "we penetrated deeper and deeper into the heart of darkness" (43)? How does he describe the native Africans (see especially page 44) and how does he describe his company’s mission (“wanderers on a prehistoric earth”)
5. What does Marlow think of his crew? Who are they? What does he think of the fireman (45)?
6. Approaching the Inner Station What does Marlow find when the boat stops for wood (46)? What is the value of the book, according to Marlow? What does he find written in it? What do you make of Marlow’s sudden despondency as he says, “it occurred to me that my speech or my silence, indeed any action of mine, would be a mere futility”(47). How might this reflect Conrad’s doubts about his work? About imperialism and stopping the horrors induced by the powers that be? Existentialism connections?