Europeans+in+Africa+and+the+Congo

"trading places--with names like Gran' Basam, Little Popo names that seemed to belong to some sordid farce acted in front of a sinister back-cloth. (16-17) Marlow compares the European presence, in naming places on the African coast, to a "farce", a theatre production. The comparison not only denotes a fictitious nature but also connotes that this act is ridiculous and improbable. Here, Marlow has suggested that the European presence is unnatural and wrong. Upon seeing a French man-of-war (warship), Marlow notices it is firing into the jungle "incomprehensibly". He remarks that "There was a touch of insanity in the proceeding, a sense of lugubrious drollery in the sight [...] somebody on board [was] assuring me earnestly there was a camp of natives--he called them, enemies hidden out of sight somewhere" (17) Marlow beholds this sight in disbelief. He states that Europeans are firing at an invisible 'enemy'. The insanity Marlow implies is that the Europeans attack at the unknown blindly. The Africans are only enemies so much as they are not understood by the Europeans, they are different.
 * Marlow's first impressions of the European presence in Africa:**

When Marlow sees the men in chains at upon arriving at the Central Station, while the cliff is blasted, he is reminded of the ship "firing into the continent. It was the same kind of ominous voice; but these men could by no stretch of imagination be called enemies. They were called criminals and the outraged law like the bursting shells had come to them, an insoluble mystery from the sea." (19) Marlow finds it ridiculous to call these men "enemies" and he takes pity on them. The Europeans compare them to their definition of society, but for the Natives themselves, European culture is just "an insoluble mystery from the sea" which has labelled them criminals.
 * Africans as "enemies" vs. Marlow's view:**

“faultless appearance (and even slightly scented)” (22) “The groans of this sick person,’ he said, ‘distract my attention.’” (22) The accountant embodies a preservation of European ‘civilization’ in Africa. Even with the dying agent next to him, he continues his work. The accountant doesn’t emphasize with the dying man, he disregards him as a minor distraction, like the natives whom the accountant has grown to “hate”. Marlow respects the accountant because while “Everything else in the Station was in a muddle” (21), Marlow can escape “the chaos” by visiting the accountant’s office.
 * Europeans at the Central Station**
 * -**//Chief Accountant://

//-General Manager:// “My first interview with the Manager was curious. He did not ask me to sit down after my twenty-mile walk that morning. He was common-place […] middle size and ordinary build. His eyes [were] remarkably cold [His glance could] fall on one as trenchant and as heavy as an axe.” (24) “He inspired uneasiness—that was it. Uneasiness” (24) Despite being average in all regards and having “no genius for organizing, for initiative, or for order even” (25), the Manager’s ability to “inspire uneasiness” has put him in a place of power. This ability, the Manger’s “faculty” in creating discomfort, discourages people from challenging his authority. Marlow regards the Manager as a “chattering idiot” (26)

//-"Faithless Pilgrims":// This term is oxymoric as pilgrims are typically travelers in the name faith. These 'pilgrims' worship ivory, their so-called religion is greed, a pursuit to which they devote themselves, travelling from Europe to Africa to seek their fortunes. //-"Manager's Spy" (Brickmaker):// “I let him run on, this papier-mache Mephistopheles, and it seemed to me that if I tried I could poke my forefinger through him and would find nothing inside but a little loose dirt, maybe.” (29) This ‘papier-mache Mephistopheles’ is ambitious, both he and the Manager feel threatened by Kurtz’ efficiency. Marlow views him as hollow, without substance. When the brickmaker alludes "constantly to Europe, to the people [Marlow] was supposed to know there--putting leading questions..." (27) we see that this man is trying to manipulate Marlow, "trying to get at something", to get information.

//-"Sordid Buccaneers" (EEE):// "This devoted band [...] were sworn to secrecy. Their talk however was the talk of sordid buccaneers. It was reckless without hardihood, greedy without audacity, and cruel without courage.There was not an atom of foresight or of serious intention" (32) "To tear treasure out of the bowels of the land was their desire, with no more moral purpose [...] than there is in burglars." (32-33) Marlow initially describes the Eldorado Exploring Expedition nobly, calling them 'devoted' and 'sworn to secrecy', evoking images of chivalrous knights, much like the image of noble explorers and warriors sailing down the Thames, alluded to before Marlow begins telling his 'yarn'. However, he immediately alters our perception by comparing them to cutthroat pirates. He finds them simple-minded, dedicated only to robbing Africa.

He examines Marlow's head using calipers and warns him that going to Africa changes many Europeans on the inside. He warns Marlow that "'In the tropics one must before everything keep calm.' He lifted a warning forfinger....'//Du clame, du calme. Adieu.'"// This French phrase translates to "calm, calm. Goodbye."
 * Other Europeans related to Africa (Part 1)**
 * -**//The Doctor//

//Swedish Captain// Starts talking to Marlow because of the 'bond of the sea'. He tells Marlow of a fellow Swede who hanged himself on the road. Neither Marlow nor the Swedish Captain can provide a satisfactory explanation. When asked, the Swedish Captain respond "Who knows! The sun too much for him, or the country perhaps." (18) This may be the 'changes' the doctor warned Marlow about.

//-Fresleven// Marlow's Danish predecessor. Fresleven is killed when he murders a village chief "about some hens. Yes, two black hens." (12) in order to assert "his self-respect". Afterwards both the Africans and Europeans are fearful of possible repurcussions, but nobody bothers about Fresleven's remains until Marlow.

a) the Company’s chief accountant – Why does Marlow respect him? b) The manager – Why is such a man in command? c) The “faithless pilgrims” – Why does Marlow call them that? d) The “manager’s spy” – Why kind of devil is this papier-mache Mephistopheles? e) The “sordid buccaneers” of the Eldorado Exploring Expedition – How does Marlow assess these men and their motives for coming to and remaining inAfrica?
 * Describe Marlow’s first impressions of the European presence inAfrica, captured in his observations regarding the French steamer firing into the coast and regarding the Company’s lower station.
 * Contrast the naming of the Africans as “enemies” to Marlow’s view of the Africans
 * Consider the Europeans that Marlow meets at the Company’s stations: