Heart of Darkness by Joseph Conrad | Part 2: The Manager And His Uncle

Summary

In Part Two of 'Heart of Darkness,' Marlow rests on a steamer, eavesdropping on the station manager's conversation about Kurtz, who sends an abundance of ivory but is rumored to be ill. The manager is troubled by Kurtz's disregard for the company's civilizing mission, viewing morality as an inconvenience. Marlow observes the manager's greed and the hypocrisy of colonialism, as the manager prioritizes ivory profits over Kurtz's well-being. The script critiques European colonial practices, highlighting the inherent darkness in the pursuit of wealth and power.

Takeaways

• 🌙 The setting of part two of 'Heart of Darkness' is at night, with Marlow resting on the steamer's deck.
• 👂 Marlow overhears a conversation between the station manager and his uncle, revealing their concerns about Kurtz.
• 📜 The station manager has been ordered to send Marlow to the inner station, indicating a sense of urgency.
• 🐘 Ivory is mentioned as a significant commodity, with Kurtz's shipments being particularly abundant and high quality.
• 🤔 There are rumors of illness and the climate possibly affecting Kurtz, hinting at the harshness of the environment.
• 🏰 The station manager values the idea of a civilizing mission, suggesting a colonial mindset.
• 💬 Marlow suspects that the station manager and his uncle are discussing Kurtz's impudence, showing internal conflict.
• 🚢 The Eldorado expedition sets off unprepared, with the manager's uncle in charge, foreshadowing potential problems.
• 🦄 News of the expedition's failure reaches Marlow, with all the donkeys carrying supplies dead.
• 🔑 Kurtz is a double threat, excelling in ivory production and challenging the company's ideals.
• 💰 The station manager's greed is highlighted, showing that it outweighs any moral considerations.
• 🌑 Marlow and Conrad critique the greed inherent in European colonial practices, represented by the uncle and nephew.

Q & A

What is the setting of part two of Heart of Darkness?

Part two of Heart of Darkness is set at night on the deck of a steamer where Marlow is resting.

What does Marlow overhear while resting on the deck?

Marlow overhears the station manager and his uncle discussing their concerns about Kurtz and the orders to send Marlow to the inner station.

What is the station manager vexed by regarding Kurtz?

The station manager is vexed by Kurtz's impudence and the fact that the only communication they receive from him is in the form of ivory.

What rumors are there about Kurtz?

There are strange rumors of illness surrounding Kurtz, and a discussion about the possibility that the climate may eventually do away with him.

What does the station manager believe about each station's purpose?

The station manager believes that each station should be a beacon on the road toward better things, serving as a center for trade and humanizing influence.

How does the station manager view Kurtz's talk about a civilizing mission?

The station manager finds Kurtz's talk about a civilizing mission to be outlandish and absurd.

What is the fate of the Eldorado expedition led by the manager's uncle?

The Eldorado expedition, which is unprepared, leaves the station with the manager's uncle in charge. Later, it is revealed that all the donkeys carrying their supplies died, but the ultimate fate of the uncle and his crew is unknown.

How does Kurtz pose a threat to the station manager?

Kurtz is a double threat to the station manager as he surpasses his output in ivory and also appears to express the company's high-minded ideals, which the manager finds inconvenient.

What does the manager believe is the main obstacle to his goals?

The manager believes that morality is an inconvenience and that greed outweighs any higher moral purpose, which is a reflection of the human darkness in the novella.

What does the script suggest about the European colonial practices?

The script offers trenchant criticism of the greed at the core of European colonial practices, suggesting that the pursuit of wealth often overshadows any noble intentions.

How are the characters of the uncle and nephew portrayed in relation to the theme of human darkness?

The uncle and nephew are portrayed as embodiments of the human darkness that runs through the novella, highlighting the moral complexities and ethical dilemmas of colonialism.

Outlines

00:00

🌌 Nighttime Reflections and Kurtz's Influence

In the opening of Part Two of 'Heart of Darkness,' Marlow is depicted resting on the steamer's deck at night, where he overhears a conversation between the station manager and his uncle. The manager is troubled by orders to dispatch Marlow to an inner station and by Kurtz's audacity, which is suspected by Marlow. The manager expresses frustration over Kurtz's ivory output and the rumors of illness, hinting at the possibility of the climate eliminating Kurtz. The conversation also touches upon the station manager's view of a civilizing mission, with Kurtz's words being seen as absurd. The station manager's greed is evident, as he prioritizes ivory production over moral values. The Eldorado expedition sets off unprepared, with the manager's uncle in charge, and later, news of the death of their donkeys carrying supplies reaches Marlow. The paragraph concludes with the implication that Kurtz is a threat to the station manager, both in terms of ivory output and expressing the company's ideals, and that the uncle and nephew represent the underlying greed and darkness of the European colonial practices.

Keywords

💡Heart of Darkness

Heart of Darkness is a novella by Joseph Conrad, which explores themes of imperialism, colonialism, and the darkness within human nature. In the script, it is the central work being discussed, and the narrative of Marlo's journey into the African Congo serves as a metaphor for the journey into the depths of the human soul.

💡Marlo

Marlo is the protagonist of the novella and the narrator of the story. He is a young sailor who is sent into the heart of the African jungle to retrieve Mr. Kurtz. In the script, Marlo's experiences and observations are critical to understanding the themes of the novella, particularly the exploration of the 'heart of darkness' within human nature.

💡Steamer

A steamer in the context of the script refers to a boat powered by a steam engine, which is the mode of transportation that Marlo is on as he travels up the Congo River. The steamer symbolizes the intrusion of Western technology and colonial ambitions into the African landscape.

💡Station Manager

The Station Manager is an administrative figure in the colonial outpost who is responsible for overseeing operations. In the script, he represents the bureaucratic face of colonialism and is shown to be vexed by Kurtz's non-conformity, highlighting the tension between individual ambition and colonial authority.

💡Ivory

Ivory is a key commodity in the novella, representing wealth and the driving force behind the colonial exploitation of Africa. The script mentions 'prime sorts lots' of ivory sent by Kurtz, indicating his success in the colonial endeavor but also his moral decline as he becomes a symbol of the greed inherent in the colonial project.

💡Impudence

Impudence refers to a lack of respect or a bold disregard for the feelings or rights of others. In the script, the Station Manager is vexed by Kurtz's impudence, suggesting that Kurtz has overstepped the boundaries of what is considered acceptable behavior within the colonial hierarchy.

💡Civilizing Mission

The 'civilizing mission' is a concept that was used to justify European colonialism, suggesting that it was the duty of the colonizers to bring civilization to the 'uncivilized' parts of the world. The script critiques this idea through the Station Manager's words, revealing the hypocrisy and self-interest behind such claims.

💡Pestiferous Absurdity

The term 'pestiferous absurdity' is used by the Station Manager to describe Kurtz's talk, which he finds both annoying and nonsensical. It reflects the dismissive attitude of the colonial authority towards the native people and their culture, viewing any resistance or divergence from colonial norms as absurd.

💡Eldorado Expedition

The Eldorado Expedition is a group sent into the African interior, presumably to find Kurtz. In the script, the expedition is described as unprepared, which foreshadows their likely failure and underscores the theme of the futility of the colonial endeavor.

💡Human Darkness

Human darkness refers to the inherent evil or corruptibility within human nature. The script suggests that the novella explores this concept through the characters of the uncle and nephew, who embody the greed and moral decay that are central to the critique of colonialism.

💡Greed

Greed is a central theme in the novella and is directly linked to the colonial exploitation of Africa. The script highlights the Station Manager's greed, which outweighs any higher moral purpose, illustrating the corrupting influence of material wealth on the colonial agents.

Highlights

Marlo is ordered to go to the inner station, indicating a central role in the narrative.

The station manager's vexation with Kurtz's impudence suggests underlying tension and conflict.

Ivory, as a symbol of wealth and exploitation, is frequently mentioned, highlighting its importance in the story.

Rumors of illness and the climate's potential impact on Kurtz foreshadow a grim fate.

The station manager's hypocrisy is exposed as he criticizes Kurtz's ideals while pursuing trade.

The concept of a civilizing mission is questioned through Kurtz's and the manager's contrasting views.

Marlow's suspicion about the conversation about Kurtz adds a layer of intrigue and mystery.

The Eldorado expedition's departure without preparation forebodes potential failure.

The loss of the donkeys carrying supplies symbolizes the expedition's vulnerability and impending doom.

Marlow's lack of information about the uncle and his crew creates a sense of uncertainty and loss.

Kurtz is portrayed as a double threat, excelling in ivory production and challenging company ideals.

The manager's view of morality as an inconvenience reflects the moral decay within the colonial system.

Greed is presented as the driving force behind the station manager's actions, overshadowing any higher moral purpose.

Marlow and Conrad critique the greed inherent in European colonial practices through the characters of the uncle and nephew.

The human darkness within the novella is symbolized by the uncle and nephew, representing the broader themes of the story.

Transcripts

part two of Heart of Darkness opens at

night with Marlo resting on the deck of

the steamer he overhears the station

manager in his uncle talking just below

him the managers put out that he's been

ordered to send Marlo to the inner

station and he's also vexed by Kurtz's

impudence or at least Marlow suspects

that they're talking about Kurtz the

only thing they hear from Kurtz now

comes in the form of ivory lots of it

prime sorts lots most annoying

there are strange rumors of illness and

they discussed the possibility that the

climate may do away with him part of the

station managers in bigness is because

Kurtz also seems to accept the idea of a

civilizing mission he complains about

the pestiferous absurdity of Kurtz's

talk each station should be like a

beacon on the road toward better things

a center for trade of course but also

humanizing and proving instructing that

Bass

he says finding Kurtz's words outlandish

shortly after this exchange the

unprepared Eldorado expedition leaves

the station with the managers uncle in

charge long afterwards word comes that

all the donkeys carrying their supplies

were dead Marlow never finds out what

happens to the uncle and his crew Kurtz

is a double threat to the station

manager surpassing his output in ivory

and apparently expressing the company's

high-minded ideals to the manager

morality is an inconvenience in him

greed outweighs any higher moral purpose

in this section Marlow and perhaps also

Conrad offers trenchant criticism of the

greed at the core of European colonial

practices uncle and nephew embody the

human darkness that runs through the

novella