As I continued reading, I found myself attempting to look deeper into Marlow as a narrator rather than simply an individual within a story. The complexities of his descriptions and viewpoints are bold and detailed – all opinionated and within a variation of what one sees through their own eyes upon first seeing a person. Marlow is most interested in describing the appearance of the manager. Whether or not this is important to the story because he specifically described him or merely for storytelling exaggeration, the inclusion of the description amplifies the curiosity for the reader. “My first interview with the manager was curious. He did not ask me to sit down after my twenty-mile walk that morning. He was commonplace in complexion, in features, in manners, and in voice. He was of middle size and of ordinary build. His eyes, of the usual blue, were perhaps remarkably cold, and he certainly could make his glance fall on one as trenchant and heavy as an axe. But even at these times the rest of his person seemed to disclaim the intention….He was a common trader, from his youth up employed in these parts--nothing more. He was obeyed, yet he inspired neither love nor fear, nor even respect. He inspired uneasiness. That was it! Uneasiness. Not a definite mistrust--just uneasiness--nothing more.” (Page 18) The manager is described in a shady manner – providing another instance of darkness that isn’t blatantly spoken but hinted at through the eyes of Marlow. A feeling of distrust was somewhat imminent while reading from the beginning and further onwards – the beginning of the novella struck immediate worrisome feelings that seemed to foreshadow a darker undertone to come to the “dark continent” and those that control it and its resources especially.
I felt a familiarity at the moment of Marlow’s two hundred mile venture. “Paths, paths, everywhere; a stamped-in network of paths spreading over the empty land, through the long grass, through burnt grass, through thickets, down and up chilly ravines, up and down stony hills ablaze with heat; and a solitude, a solitude, nobody, not a hut. The population had cleared out a long time ago. Well, if a lot of mysterious niggers armed with all kinds of fearful weapons suddenly took to traveling on the road between Deal and Gravesend.” (Page 16) Paths brought back the thoughts of Dante and his wandering through the dark woods and the opportunities he has to take a different path (the right path) than the one he is presently traveling upon. Deal and Godsend shows the variation – godsend making me think of Beatrice as Godsend is defined by “Something sent by God; an unexpected acquisition or piece of good fortune.”
Marlow wanders a dangerous path and there are multiple directions for him to head along this unknown continent he is anxious over.
[ and sadly I’ve reached a limit, oops]
you're interest in the description of the warden is very intriguing to me. On one hand, I feel the same way that his sudden interest in the warden himself is very important, but he is simply describing him.
ReplyDeleteI had an idea about the paths...however I was not fully able to flesh out any thoughts on that passed it being representative of the choices that could have been made.