¶ … Heart of Darkness by Joseph Conrad. Specifically it will discuss the self-discovery Marlow encounters on his journey through Africa. Marlow's journey from England to Africa and back to Europe is a journey of self-discovery and adventure. He encounters greed, savagery, and indifference along his journey, and he encounters prejudice, imperialism, and a new understanding of himself along the way, as well. In the end, he recognizes he is a changed man who no longer sees the world or himself in the same way.
Throughout the book, Marlow recognizes, as he looks back on his experiences, that he was on a journey of self-discovery on his trip to Africa. Literary critic Harold Bloom notes, "But Marlow reiterates often enough that he is recounting a spiritual voyage of self-discovery. He remarks casually but crucially that he did not know himself before setting out, and that he likes work for the chance it provides to 'find yourself . . . what no other man can ever know'" (Bloom 9). Early in the book, Marlow tells his companions the same thing. He says of his experience, "It seemed somehow to throw a kind of light on everything about me -- and into my thoughts. It was somber enough too -- and pitiful -- not extraordinary in any way -- not very clear either. No, not very clear. And yet it seemed to throw a kind of light" (Conrad). Conrad continues this theme of self-knowledge throughout the story, indicating just how much Marlow changes during his long journey through Africa.
Conrad sets the story as a journey across the continent to represent this theme of self-discovery. Another critic notes, "Within this conception, Marlow's journey only incidentally involves movement through physical space; in essence it represents a 'journey into self,' an 'introspective plunge,' 'a night journey into the unconscious'" (Griffith 4). His journey also represents the darkness of men's souls, as the title suggests. He encounters terrible things along his journey, such as the prisoners and slaves at the Company headquarters, who lay slowly dying in plain sight. These images disturb him, but even worse, there is no reaction...
Again, we see a strong, confident woman in Janie. She is also mature. Hattenhauer maintains that we can see this in they way Janie understands certain truths about life. She states that the "tragic truth, Janie has learned, is something no one could have told her, and something she cannot tell anyone" (Hattenhauer). While Janie may be in denial of her immediate death, it is clear that she knows
His final thoughts at the conclusion of the essay are significant because we know with certainty that Theresa would have accepted him had he been honest with her and himself. The narrator thinks of how things might have turned out between the two of them and, with a little sarcasm, he considers the meals they might have concocted had they remained friends over the years. Theresa is seared into
Discovery The opinions that people hold on an individual's behavior or their personality have great impact on the person. There are instances where one can underestimate or even overestimate how other people think of them and how the peers consider them or the social perspective they hold of him. I have been in a situation where I totally overestimated how much other people were thinking about me. This occurred during
Essay Topic Examples 1. The Evolution of Self-Concept Across the Lifespan: Explore how self-concept changes and develops from childhood through adulthood and into old age. Consider cognitive, emotional, and social influences that contribute to the shaping and reshaping of self-concept over time. Examine key theories and research that explain these changes and their impacts on individual behavior and relationships. 2. Cultural Influences on Self-Concept: Analyze how different cultures shape the self-concept of
Essay Topic Examples 1. The Role of Self-Concept in Personal Growth: Explore how an individual's understanding and evaluation of themselves can greatly influence their personal development. Discuss the importance of self-awareness in the process of setting and achieving personal goals, overcoming challenges, and making significant life changes. 2. The Impact of Social Media on Self-Concept Among Adolescents: Examine the ways in which social media platforms can shape and even distort the self-concept
Self-Directed Assessment Self-Assessment Research Finding a career path that is both financial rewarding and personally satisfying can be a trying process. While many workers find positions that are either financial rewarding, or personally satisfying, ultimately the two goals are subtly linked. When a person settles for a career path that is financial rewarding, but exists outside the scope of their personal values or talents, the career can produce feelings of unhappiness in
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