I quickly realized about half-way through the second page that I was going to enjoy part 2 much more than I had part 1. I found the conversation between the manager and his uncle so interesting that I was intrigued to continue on with the rest of this section. Marlow got an even more detailed sense of what he can expect if/when he meets Kurtz.
Finally Marlow begins his journey down the sea towards Kurtz. Along the way, Marlow and his crew hear the shrieks of the natives of the land they were passing, but they were unable to see who the people were because of the thick fog surrounding them. Marlow initially hesitates whether he and his crew should be prepared for an attack by the natives, but decides that they will not attack. We discover, though, that the natives do attack Marlow’s ship because they are afraid of what he and his crewmen may do to them or may even take from them. This situation can represent the uncertainty that Marlow has been experiencing since the first chapter. The fog is an obstacle that hinders Marlow’s ability to see what is in front of him which forces him to continue onward with what he either knows or believes to be the case; the assumption that the natives will not attack is also a representation of Marlow’s uncertainty of what people are actually capable of. These two representations of uncertainty lead me to believe that they are connections to Marlow’s “blind” following of Kurtz. Marlow has never met actually met Kurtz, but the descriptions he hears of the unknown man throughout the story are enough for him to create a figure of whom he is anticipating to meet eventually.
The wait to meet Kurtz creates a lot of anxiety for Marlow and leads me to believe that this man of thought has made Marlow lose his mind. He interrupts his narration to tell the men that Kurtz is a thought that is terribly hard to get out of his mind. Maybe this is the madness the doctor warned Marlow of before his departure to Africa, and maybe Kurtz is the “Heart of Darkness.”
Finally Marlow begins his journey down the sea towards Kurtz. Along the way, Marlow and his crew hear the shrieks of the natives of the land they were passing, but they were unable to see who the people were because of the thick fog surrounding them. Marlow initially hesitates whether he and his crew should be prepared for an attack by the natives, but decides that they will not attack. We discover, though, that the natives do attack Marlow’s ship because they are afraid of what he and his crewmen may do to them or may even take from them. This situation can represent the uncertainty that Marlow has been experiencing since the first chapter. The fog is an obstacle that hinders Marlow’s ability to see what is in front of him which forces him to continue onward with what he either knows or believes to be the case; the assumption that the natives will not attack is also a representation of Marlow’s uncertainty of what people are actually capable of. These two representations of uncertainty lead me to believe that they are connections to Marlow’s “blind” following of Kurtz. Marlow has never met actually met Kurtz, but the descriptions he hears of the unknown man throughout the story are enough for him to create a figure of whom he is anticipating to meet eventually.
The wait to meet Kurtz creates a lot of anxiety for Marlow and leads me to believe that this man of thought has made Marlow lose his mind. He interrupts his narration to tell the men that Kurtz is a thought that is terribly hard to get out of his mind. Maybe this is the madness the doctor warned Marlow of before his departure to Africa, and maybe Kurtz is the “Heart of Darkness.”
Casey, thank you for your wonderful insight into the second chapter. I agree with you that the "hook" was the mysterious conversation which took place at the beginning of the chapter. I'm also really glad that you talked about the fog! I personally did not talk about it in my blog post nor did I give it too much thought as I was reading. But I understand know its significane as it pertains to the entire story.
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