“[“... ] Once, I remember, we came upon a man-of-war anchored off the coast. There wasn't even a shed there, and she was shelling the bush. It appears the French had one of their wars going on thereabouts. Her ensign dropped limp like a rag; the muzzles of the long six-inch guns stuck out all over the low hull; the greasy, slimy swell swung her up lazily and let her down, swaying her thin masts. In the empty immensity of earth, sky, and water, there she was, incomprehensible, firing into a continent. Pop, would go one of the six-inch guns; a small flame would dart and vanish, a little white smokewould disappear, a tiny projectile would give a feeble screech—and nothing happened. Nothing could happen. There was a touch of insanity in the proceeding, a sense of lugubrious drollery in the sight; and it was not dissipated by somebody on board assuring me earnestly there was a camp of natives—he called them enemies!—hidden out of sight somewhere."We gave her her letters (I heard the men in that lonely ship were dying of fever at the rate of three a day) and went on. We called at some more places with farcical names, where the merry dance of death and trade goes on in a still and earthy atmosphere as of an overheated catacomb; all along the formless coast bordered by dangerous surf, as if Nature herself had tried to ward off intruders; in and out of rivers, streams of death in life, whose banks were rotting into mud, whose waters, thickened into slime, invaded the contorted mangroves, that seemed to writhe at us in the extremity of an impotent despair. Nowhere did we stop long enough to get a particularized impression, but the general sense of vague and oppressive wonder grew upon me. It was like a weary pilgrimage amongst hints for nightmares. [..."]”
Explore This Quote Further
Reflection Questions:
Upon reading this excerpt from Joseph Conrad's work, consider the following questions for personal reflection:
- What emotions or thoughts does the description of the man-of-war firing into the continent evoke in you?
- How does Conrad use vivid imagery to convey a sense of unease and dread in the landscape he describes?
- What themes or ideas do you think Conrad may be exploring through this passage, such as imperialism, the impact of colonization, or the nature of human violence?
- How does Conrad's writing style contribute to the overall tone and atmosphere created in this passage?
Analysis
In this quote from Joseph Conrad's "Heart of Darkness," the narrator describes a scene where a man-of-war ship is shelling the African coast during a war. The imagery of the ship firing into the continent, with its "greasy, slimy swell" and "thin masts," creates a sense of incomprehensibility and insanity. The narrator is struck by the futility of the violence, as the projectiles give "a feeble screech" and "nothing happened." This scene highlights the sense of colonialism's brutality and pointlessness, as well as the dehumanization of the native people who are referred to as "enemies." The description of the coastal landscape as a place of "death and trade...as of an overheated catacomb" further emphasizes the dark and oppressive atmosphere of the setting. This passage reflects Conrad's critique of imperialism and the destructive impact it has on both the colonizers and the colonized.
Modern Relevance
Joseph Conrad's passage from "Heart of Darkness" sheds light on the destructive nature of colonization and imperialism. The portrayal of a man-of-war indiscriminately shelling the African continent, with a sense of absurdity and lunacy, highlights the brutality and folly of colonial expansion. This depiction serves as a powerful reminder of the consequences of unchecked power and the dehumanization of indigenous peoples.
Example of Usage
In this passage from Joseph Conrad's "Heart of Darkness," the narrator describes a surreal encounter with a man-of-war ship off the coast of Africa. The imagery of the scene conveys a sense of absurdity and madness, highlighting the destructive and incomprehensible nature of European colonialism.
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