Heart of Darkness Part I

The following are questions generated by block 1 for the first section of Heart of Darkness; we will be discussing these questions in class on Friday (block 1) or on Monday (block 2).  Come prepared to discuss these issues in section I.

• What is the significance of Mr. Kurtz?
• What is the significance of Marlow?
• On page 6 the text addresses the history of Britain under the Romans, why is this passage included in the book?
• Marlow seems to be revealed and characterized by the actions of other people towards him. Is there significance to this?
• Why does the boat open with the scene on the yacht?
• Why is there a narrator through which we hear Marlow's story?
• Could we discuss the section of the book in which Marlow rants about the rivets?
• What is motivating Marlow to embark on this journey? Why is he there?
• What connections exist between this section of the novella and Dante's Inferno?
• Is Conrad expressing guilt or culpability, or is he just a narrator?
• Where is the sepulchral city?
• What role does the manager have?
• What is the significance of Marlow going to the office where the women meet him and the doctor examines him?
• What does "Ave! Morituri te salutat" mean?
• What is the significance of the Company's chief accountant (pages 17 and 18)?
• On pages 16-18 Marlow meets the dying man, what are we supposed to make of his behavior in this situation?
• How moral/immoral has Marlow been so far?
• Why is time never discussed?