In paragraph 83 in the Heart of Darkness, Marlow continues to ponder his deeper journey into the unknown, contemplating on the strangeness of the natives. Ironically stating that "the earth seemed unearthly", he fears being unfamiliar with the natives. Though he perceives them as monstrous savages, he hesitates to describe them, demonstrating that he cannot grasp the mystery and unknown danger they pose to him in this unknown land. Yet, he also mentions that by looking into himself, somewhere in his unconscious, traits remain that reflect the savagery of the primitives, despite the differences between the white man and the natives. Interestingly, his observation resembles Freud's belief in the id, ego, and the superego. The traits that Marlow mentions belong to the id, and the principles of mankind and the "cloak of time", the progression of civilization and its benefits, belong to the superego.
Afterwards, he observes the "savage" fireman working on the boiler as if he was an inferior species. He comments on how the native is a much more improved kind than the natives on the bank simply for the training and knowledge the native received from the white men to work. As the fireman works, Marlow describes the fireman's actions and demeanor as if he were a frightened, extremely obedient servant. In describing the teachings the fireman had to fix the boiler, Marlow points out that the teachings were understood in terms familiar to the native- the appeasement of evil spirits, which highlights the balance between good and evil.
No comments:
Post a Comment