Marlow ironically criticizes the essence of the relation between European and African. The narrator does so by creating a indifferent tone, in order to accentuate the banal manner in which cruelty took place during the colonialist period. As seen at the start of the chapter, Fresleven, a Danish sailor brutally murders a native individual for a feeble cause. The notions implemented within the narration relate to white men having incited acts of non-justifiable violence, which in return contradict the principles of their initial mission. Indeed, in the passage, several black men are chained up, seen through the usage of the term “chain-gang”. The black man was considered essentially portrayed as the “nemesis”, however Marlow demonstrates his skeptical vision of the situation by valorizing, the illogical faculty of this political system: “These men could by no stretch of imagination be called enemies. They were called criminals”, an emphasis on the corruption of the presumed order is created, as Marlow realizes the violation of all forms of justice. Above all, the man in charge of the chain-gang is European as well, an image of the perversion of white men as well as the immoral complicity, due to illusions of dominance and power, between them. This passage epitomizes Marlow’s first realization of the existing relation between both opposing groups of individuals. He does so by firstly, criticizing and mocking the essence of the white man’s principle: “After all, I also was a part of the great cause of these high and just proceedings”, in this citation he discovers the hypocrisy of Europeans as well as his by simply being a part of the imperialistic movement as well. Secondly, Marlow dictates a strong contrast between two types of devils in the world: the devils of violence, greed, and hot desire are an image of the white man’s utter immoral presence on the African continent, in the illogical nature of his acts, his want yet impossible control over all objective elements, as well as his dark desire to attain in. However, the narrator opposes this satanic entity to the flabby devil, an individual, characterized as being blinded by illusions of higher principles. Concretely, Marlow implies that such an individual has no use over his reason; therefore he lives in his lost sense of humanity which intensifies the actual bestiality of his perverted mind. Marlow however characterizes himself as being in complete disdain, the psychological mutation within him is taking place.
I find everything you have written really interesting, and it sheds a new light on this passage of this novel. I agree with everything that you have said, but there is one thing that must be corrected though. The leader of the chain-gang is not European, but on the contrary is African. I think it actually adds on to what you are saying. The white men have not only violated justice through their actions towards the africans, but they have further deepened the immorality by creating puppets of themselves within the black 'community'. It resembles in some ways what Nazis had done in Jewish ghettos and concentration camps, where they would assign certain Jews to be part of a police within the camp or ghetto. By doing so, one would be in a sense betraying his own kind, but potentially saving himself in the process. Of course it is less extreme here, but it is almost as wrong. It further accentuates the immorality of this place, of the white colonists.
ReplyDeleteIndeed, thanks, that was a mistake I had done when I first read the passage, I thought I had corrected it though, I guess not. Good looking out.
ReplyDeleteI have to agree with most of what Jacques says in this close reading but I do not think that Marlow “realizes the violation of all terms of justice” just YET. Of course, this is what will happen as his adventure progresses.
ReplyDelete”After all, I also was a part of the great cause of these high and just proceedings”, I think Marlow might be using irony here, something which Jacques forgot to mention but which was done indirectly, noticing the Europeans' hypocrisy. This could also at the same time not refer to irony but to Marlow's true feelings actually at this stage as he was still new at that point and was discovering day by day the real nature of both the natives and the colonists and when he says "this great cause", in which he refers to this exploitation by the colonists and it could seem like Marlow, with his role in this great cause, is echoing some of what his aunt told him. There is a strong hint that shows that it could be irony after all when Marlow says "I've seen the devil of violence, and the devil of greed, and the devil of hot desire...men, I tell you.", probably referring to the white men here, them being these turned creatures and the "devil of greed" part is what would really show their nature. I agree with the "criminals" analysis in Jacque's reader response as, even after starting the "critic" of the white colonizers, Marlow calls the natives criminals
I do also agree with what Jacques says concerning the "psychological mutation" and Marlow being in complete disdain as, even though Marlow was getting prepared psychologically to face what he was going to endure and see in Congo, he does start to change, mutate slowly though but not in the same way other white men in Congo would; other Europeans would change in the sense that they would become more savage, violent but Marlow on the other hand, was changing when it came to his point of view on the natives and whites as his sympathy would start switching camps slowly. Marlow at the top of page 19 with "after all...proceedings" tries to also try to fing justifications maybe the Africans' hate towards the whites.