Charlie Marlow as a Narrator in Heart of Darkness Essay

Some of the things you have discovered about Charlie Marlow as a Narrator in Heart of Darkness. In Heart of Darkness, the main story teller is Charlie Marlow. Based on a boat waiting for the turn of the tide on the river Thames, he tells his crew of his journey into the African Congo. In the opening pages Marlow is described as looking like some kind of idol; he had the pose of a Buddha preaching this relates to his somewhat philosophical way of recounting his tale, as a narrator Marlow often deflects from the story, he is vague and thinks very deeply about Imperialism- one of the main themes in heart of darkness. When Marlow states, I had got a heavenly mission to civilize you, he expresses his good intentions to help†¦show more content†¦Its clear that if he wants to get on well in his new job he must go along with what the company wants. Even though he points out their faults, he is accepting, although often sarcastic at the same time; the great cause of those high and just proceedings. There is something very believable about Marlow, in his observation of darkness or evil he is sympathetic towards the natives and disapproves of their treatment but at the same time he is reluctant to physically act upon his convictions and stand up for what he truly thinks. This idea is described as the fascination of the abomination and it is an excellent description because it shows how this is part of human nature. People are often captivated by scandal and pain, but reluctant to do anything about it when it does not directly affect them. This is what makes Marlow such a believable character. Another intrinsic part of Marlows character is his unabashed racism. He frequently uses terms such as nigger but at the same time he is very sympathetic towards the natives; especially in comparison with some characters; for example the accountant he first meets who appears to have no patience with anyone, especially the natives who are actually making him all his money. When one has got to make correct entries, one comes to hate those savages. Marlows racism can be seen as a product of Victorian society; he isShow MoreRelated Prejudice and Racism - No Racism in Heart of Darkness Essay1108 Words   |  5 PagesNo Racism in Heart of Darkness      Ã‚   Chinua Achebe challenges Joseph Conrads novella depicting the looting of Africa, Heart of Darkness (1902) in his essay An Image of Africa (1975). Achebes is an indignant yet solidly rooted argument that brings the perspective of a celebrated African writer who chips away at the almost universal acceptance of the work as classic, and proclaims that Conrad had written a bloody racist book (Achebe 319). 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