Hod Essay 1

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Izzy Lorthioir Mrs. Morris AP English Lit September 28th, 2018 The Dark Side of Humanity Heart of Darkness, ​by Joseph Conrad, is a deep, detailed novel that explores the effect of the colonization and enslavement of the natives along the Congo River through the story told by Marlow, a recently inducted steam ship captain. As Marlow arrives at the station, he meets the prestigious Company’s chief accountant. The accountant’s need to keep a perfect composure, is kept in contrast to the gloomy environment, this is caused by the endless greed humans possess which can lead to a loss of humanity. The accountant is an immaculate, perfect being in Marlow’s eyes; and stops at nothing to keep his appearance, as well as preserve his book keeping, “in apple pie order,” (Conrad 17). Although his surroundings are filled with dark, sullen areas and people; the accountant continues to keep a clean image and spotless record; and even shows annoyance to those suffering around him. At the beginning of his description, the reader can contrast between the dark surroundings, with depressed and dying natives to the pristineness of the accountant. He is described as having a “high starched collar, white cuffs, a light alpaca jacket, snowy trousers, a clear necktie, and varnished boots,” (16). The accountant’s need to keep a clean composure is because he feels superior to his “dirty” and foreign surroundings and is wealthy enough to own these items and keep them in such good condition. The accountant’s need to be “a breath of fresh air,” (16), is driven by the dim gloomy setting of the station, where he works. This, however, goes deeper into

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the meaning of the work; the loss of humanity, as well as the endless greed humans possess that will make them want to make a profit, regardless of moral thoughts. The accountant's work is part of the machine that drives the Company to make a profit, and causes the natives around to suffer and turn into “creatures” (16). The first example of setting that affects the accountant’s appearance of feeling superior to the natives is seen as Marlow approaches near the station. “Black shapes crouched, clinging to the earth, . . . Half affair within the dim light in all attitudes of pain, abandonment, and despair.” (15). This scene gives a dark, death filled tone, describing the natives as “nothing earthly now,” and “ black shadows of disease and starvation” (15). These natives were brought here to work as slaves in the “greenish gloom,” and bring back precious ivory to the Company (15). Black is a recurring word in the description as well, describing “black bones, (16) . . . black shadows. . . (and) black shapes” (15). This scene shapes the accountant to feel the need to dress in white and keep clean, in order to combat the dark, dead outside and keep the sense of superiority. The “grove of death” outside of the station is not the only surrounding that affects his pretentious, superior mindset, but the description inside the station enhances the reason for his mindset as well (18). The station is described as in a “muddle” and “chao,” with flies that “stabbed” (17). The “narrow strips of sunlight,” described resemble jail bars, and how the station is a prison towards the natives (17). Again, contrast is seen as the accountant is described as “faultless” and “on a high stool” (17). The high stool parallels how he is put on a “pedestal” because the natives are inferior to the accountant. The loss of humanity is evident throughout the passage with poignant diction in describing the surroundings. The natives described around the station are no longer human, but

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sure compared to animals and the dead. “Phantom. . . contorted collapse. . . creatures. . .went off on all-fours. . . lapped out of his hands. . . woolly head” all show how the slaves are treated as not even human but creatures (16). This relates to the accountant, as that he is apart of the work that causes these slaves to be lesser than human and shows his greedy morals. “In the Great demoralization of the land he kept up his appearance. That’s backbone” (16). This supports the idea that the accountant keeps his appearance clean even though people are legitimately dying around him, this shows a loss in humanity not only in the natives, but in the accountant’s mind as well, for caring about his looks even when a man is practically dying in front of his own eyes: “the groans of this sick person. . . distract my attention (from my work).” (17). Finally, his kept up appearance, good bookkeeping, and lack of humanity lead up to one of the central meanings of the book: greed. Not greed in the sense of a child taking an extra cookie from the cookie jar, but rather greed, and hard profit for survival in the “jungle” that is the split of Africa and colonization. The entire reason the accountant is there is to tally supplies and profits from the work of the animalistic slaves, in order for him to keep up his good appearance and feel superior. “Manufactured goods, rubbishy cottons, beads, and brass wire set into the depths of the darkness, and in turn came a precious trickle of ivory”, (17). The “machine” drains the Congo of its resources and forces the natives to serve the colony, regardless of the fact that they are humans too. The human want is endless, and if it means being successful and safe financially, a person will not regard the well being of others but only themselves. Slavery destroyed humanity not only in the enslaved, but also in the minds of the captors, whether it would be they want to put

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food on their table, keep their safety and personal well being in check, or in the accountant's case, keep a clean, white alpaca jacket.

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Works Cited Conrad, Joseph. ​Heart of Darkness.​ Digireads, 2015.