Narration+and+Story-telling

NARRATION AND STORYTELLING:

//Heart of Darkness// is narrated in first person, but for the most part the novel Marlow is the storyteller, so the reader sees through his perspective. Not much information is given on the narrator. The reader only knows that the narrator is aboard //The Nellie// and is amongst the men who are "bonded by the sea." The narrator is listening to Marlow's story and seems to be intrigued.

The setting of a circle of people sitting around on a boat listening to Marlow immediately puts emphasis on importance of storytelling and how Marlow's narration impacts the story as a whole. Traditionally, sailor's "yarns" put emphasis on danger and adventure (e.g. The Old Man and The Sea); however, Marlow's story seems more of a social commentary and puts the emphasis on the importance of what he sees instead of his own sense of adventure and bravery. The choice of narrators in the novel brings forth the issue of the reliability of storytelling. By presenting the perspectives of "I" and "Marlow," the bias and subjectivity of storytelling are increased. The storyteller adds in his own opinion of events and additionally, his choice of words also distorts the reality of events to some extent.

On page 30, Marlow beings to pause in his narration: "he paused again as if reflecting," and we see that the narrator is the only character on the Nellie still listening intently to Marlow's story: "The others might have been asleep, but I was awake. I listened, I listened on the watch for the sentence." These pauses build suspense for both the reader and the narrator; the reader can sense the narrator's anxiety as he waits to see how Marlow will develop the story. We see how the narrator appreciates Marlow's storytelling, even if the others do not, and this develops the reader's sense of privilege at being privy to the recounting of Marlow's tale.