Chapter two encompasses a time span of several months, depicting Marlow's travel on the steamboat to Kurtz's station. Marlow has changed some in chapter two. He is more cynical, less innocent, and somewhat sarcastic, saying in reply to the pilgrim's rejoicing at repelling an attack that they "made a glorious lot of smoke" even if they did not kill any of the attackers. He also admits that he and some of the others began to lose touch with reality while in Africa, feeling that the truth was fading.
Everywhere in the extremely detailed descriptions of Marlow's surroundings lurks danger, treachery, and death. Yet there are men that are willing to risk it for nothing more than ivory. This drive for ivory is what makes Kurtz such an appealing person to know.
The imperialistic commentary of this novel is more apparent than ever in chapter two now that the greed of white men is even more evident. It is incredible that there are so many men who value money over their lives.
Marlow also holds a very low opinion of Kurtz, who he considers outrageously greedy, referring to everything as "my" ivory or "my" river etc. As it seems to me, though, Marlow has no esteem for anyone, including Kurtz and the pilgrims adn the manager.
Marlow's disdain for greediness and imperialism makes me even more curious about the purpose of the expedition traveling down the Thames.
Hm, I agree completely with your shock of the imperialism evident in the story, I love how you stated this: "It is incredible that there are so many men who value money over their lives." I wrote about this in my post also, I think the author does a really excellent job of persuading you to believe this trip really was life threatening, which makes you understand that these men are greedy beyond belief. Youre last statement f curiosity leaves me curious too, why is he even telling this stry? Something must happen, most likely with Kurtz since he has been so obviously foreshadowed in the rest of the book.
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