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.