Self-absorption in Joseph Conrads Heart of Darkness :: Heart Darkness essays

Self-absorption in Heart of Darkness  Ã‚     Ã‚   The story Heart of Darkness is a study in the benefits , and setbacks, of self absorption. Through out the story there is a constant emphasis on the fact that self absorption will get you what you want and help you to survive. At the same time there is the constant moral objection. Almost the entire book is spent showing the positive aspects of self absorption. The life it will give you and the ability to keep that life going as long as possible. This type of thinking, however, can catch up to you in the end.    The lesson that self absorption is the means of self preservation is one that is taught to the reader, and more specifically to Marlow, gradually as the story progresses. The very first lesson in this thought process comes very early in the story. I occurs as Marlow is going over in his mind exactly how he came to get the opportunity to be a river steamer captain. It appears the Company had received news that one of their captains had been killed in a scuffle with the natives. This was my chance, and it made me the more anxious to go...However, through this glorious affair I got my appointment, before I had fairly begun to hope for it.(Conrad 13)    Right away Marlow begins to think about himself and what this mans death can bring to him. He describes the incident, and every now and then throws in a "The poor fellow" so that he is not completely devoid of any compassion. This is Marlow's introduction into the way of the successful person in the Ivory trade, or any business for that matter.    The next lesson that Marlow gets in self absorption he actually has provided for him. As he is riding the french ship down to the belgian congo there are several stops made to let off soldiers at various posts up and down the shore.    We pounded along, stopped, landed soldiers; went on, landed custom- house clerks to levy toll in what looked like a God-forsaken wilderness, with a tin shed and a flag-pole lost in it; landed more soldiers to take care of the custom-house clerks, presumably. Some, I heard, got drowned in the surf; but whether they did or not, nobody seemed particularly to care. They were just flung out there, and on we Self-absorption in Joseph Conrad's Heart of Darkness :: Heart Darkness essays Self-absorption in Heart of Darkness  Ã‚     Ã‚   The story Heart of Darkness is a study in the benefits , and setbacks, of self absorption. Through out the story there is a constant emphasis on the fact that self absorption will get you what you want and help you to survive. At the same time there is the constant moral objection. Almost the entire book is spent showing the positive aspects of self absorption. The life it will give you and the ability to keep that life going as long as possible. This type of thinking, however, can catch up to you in the end.    The lesson that self absorption is the means of self preservation is one that is taught to the reader, and more specifically to Marlow, gradually as the story progresses. The very first lesson in this thought process comes very early in the story. I occurs as Marlow is going over in his mind exactly how he came to get the opportunity to be a river steamer captain. It appears the Company had received news that one of their captains had been killed in a scuffle with the natives. This was my chance, and it made me the more anxious to go...However, through this glorious affair I got my appointment, before I had fairly begun to hope for it.(Conrad 13)    Right away Marlow begins to think about himself and what this mans death can bring to him. He describes the incident, and every now and then throws in a "The poor fellow" so that he is not completely devoid of any compassion. This is Marlow's introduction into the way of the successful person in the Ivory trade, or any business for that matter.    The next lesson that Marlow gets in self absorption he actually has provided for him. As he is riding the french ship down to the belgian congo there are several stops made to let off soldiers at various posts up and down the shore.    We pounded along, stopped, landed soldiers; went on, landed custom- house clerks to levy toll in what looked like a God-forsaken wilderness, with a tin shed and a flag-pole lost in it; landed more soldiers to take care of the custom-house clerks, presumably. Some, I heard, got drowned in the surf; but whether they did or not, nobody seemed particularly to care. They were just flung out there, and on we