"They were dying slowly-- it was very clear. They were not enemies, they were not criminals, they were nothing earthly now-- nothing but black shadows of disease and starvation, lying confusedly in the greenish gloom" (26).
The first quote is a description Marlow gives of the native people. This is a haunting and disturbing truth that Marlow was forced to face. The human, living, aspect of the people is striped away with the use of "nothing earthly" to describe them. To go so far as to call breathing people, however close to death, "nothing earthly" is clearly expressing devastation and despair. Referring to the people as shadows alludes to a ghastly scene of phantom-like creatures. These people were not described as people of disease and starvation, but, rather, "shadows" of these things. To be a shadow of two horrible things is even more depressing than just being of the two things. The "greenish gloom" is effective in depicting a sickly fog of death.
"I saw a high starched collar, white cuffs, a light alpaca jacket, snowy trousers, a clean necktie, and varnished boots" (28).
Marlow, shortly after, meets the Company's accountant. The well kempt appearance of this man is shocking after witnessing the devastation of the "shadows." There is a definite point being made with the contrast of light and dark. The light and dark are representative of good and evil. The phantom-like shadows of people portray the evil and darkness of society. The white, beaming, starched appearance of the accountant portrays goodness. It is ironic because the Company is not working with the interests of the natives in mind. The natives are left in the darkness, victims to Colonialism and the Congo.
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1 comment:
Excellent job. So much of the novel deals with contrasting images.
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