Parallels+&+Foreshadowing

Parallels and Foreshadowing

Parallels - On a large scale, the entire narration of the story takes place on a ship, a vessel for a journey. The story itself often focuses on journeying. The use of nautical imagery etc. contributes to the parallel structure.

Foreshadowing - The women knitting black wool and the ominous words said by the doctor (he rarely sees many of his patients after they leave) contribute to foreshadowing the troubles Marlow will face in the visit.

England was also a place characteristic of savagery before the civilization took over and led to development in the area upon the Roman’s arrival. According to Marlow’s explanation, the Romans, instead of truly bringing the civilization to the land of England and for the community, acted more like a “conqueror” (instead of being the ideal “colonist” who promotes the betterment of the community or the mankind in the colonies). The connotation of the conqueror, as amplified through Marlow’s employment of sinister tone when describing what he means through the word “conqueror”, is negative, implying that the locals have been exploited, the land has been essentially stolen, or taken away by the newcomers, who in this case would be the Romans. Such a negative view regarding misled colonialism expressed through this reference also ties in with the situation in Congo, where Marlow notes that violence and excessive exploitation take over the glorious ideal of colonialism since Marlow is establishing a direct parallel between the two cases. It is also foreshadowed through the parallel that the colonial business in Congo will also lead to unwanted consequences (i.e. Europeans influenced by the savagery, controlled by desire for wealth, power, and turning to unjustified violence) As explained, conquerors have negative connotations; it is suggested that the newcomers simply took advantage of the local community, place, resources (basically, they are the ‘stealers’). The misled, distorted ideal of ‘correct’, ‘justified’ colonialism surfaces through Marlow’s definition or use of “conquerors” when describing the Romans and making parallel to the colonial situation in Africa. Foolish, charmed “bird” seems to adequately describe and parallel with Marlow’s characteristic of being adventurous and his preference for exploring the hidden, the undiscovered because bird is often associated with freedom (to fly, travel to anywhere it wishes to go), but, the fact that he compared himself to a //foolish and charmed// bird seems to signify and even foreshadow that he had an idealistic illusion about Africa and the colonists living in Africa that soon became erased after he arrived there. His reference to the Congo River and parallel he builds with the river and a snake show that there is a ‘evil’ sense or atmosphere in Africa (considering snake’s symbolic meaning in biblical context), ominously foreshadowing Marlow’s discovery or realization of the cruelty, violence and greed found in Africa and the European colonists.
 * Guiding Questions: **
 * **In describing the Roman conquest of England, Marlow suggests parallels to the main story of __Heart of Darkness__: what seems to be foreshadowed? **
 * **How does Marlow define “conquerors” and what kind of “idea” might redeem such conquest? **
 * **Consider Marlow’s account of what drew him out to Africa. What is suggested by his likening the Congo River to a “snake” and himself to a foolish, charmed “bird”. **

These references are another point at which Marlow (or Conrad) makes note of the Company’s (or in a larger term, European colonists’) hiding of their darkness (i.e. evil, maltreatments, malpractices) behind the glamorous ideal of altruistic colonialism/imperialism which is meant to bring civilization to treat savagery. In biblical context (biblical Book of Matthew), “whited sepulchers” are something that are misleading, as they seem beautiful and fine on the outside, but contain horrors within the bodies of the dead. This parallel established between the symbolic meaning of “whited sepulchers” and Marlow’s comparison of the city to such show the superficiality and untruthfulness of the colonial practices that the Company is making in Africa. Marlow also notes that the physical structure of the city is reminiscent of Fresleven’s remains (city: “grass sprouting between the stones”, Fresleven: “grass growing through his ribs). The similarity between the two is evident through his parallel descriptions; this parallel is what suggests the morbidity of the area, foreshadowing the discovery of concealed darkness, corruption and evil that will follow as part of Marlow’s journey in Africa. The two women knitting black wool and guarding the door of Darkness builds connection between the black-Africa that he will encounter through his journey and foreshadow that he will uncover the hidden darkness (of colonialism, of the Company’s practices in Africa) that he had previously been unaware of before his journey.
 * **Consider the following: the case of Fresleven, Marlow’s comparison of the city of his employers to “a whited sepulcher,” the two women knitting black wool and “guarding the door of Darkness,” and the doctor. What type of experience, what type of journey, do these signs seem to predict? **