Marlow's Modest White Lie in Joseph Conrad's Heart of Darkness - Book Report/Review Example

Expository Essay Length: 2000 words Referencing style: MLA Marlow’s Modest White Lie Introduction The reason as to why Marlow wished to lie in the narration has been contentious. As a matter of fact, the social and political aura that seemed to be revolving around the tale reflects or mirrors the invasion of India or British Raj where stories from soldiers, upon returning home, were in most cases altered in light of what they had gone through but concealing the natives. Conversely, when Marlow comes back home, he decides to bury the truth regarding Kurtz’s madness in Congo. This is compounded by the fact that upon return, he does so with a lie which manages to meet certain societal ideals of his time (Victorian age). By coining his story, Conrad attempts to bridge the gap between the Modernism and closing Victorian era---two thinking which is seen to be straddling the fence between realism and idealism. The point of departure in the analysis of this text is to establish why Marlow had to lie to Kurtz’s Intended regarding Kurtz’s last words. Indeed contemporary scholars believe that Marlow ought to have told her that Kurtz just lost words, rather than confirming her sentimental ideas. This is the point of departure in this task; critically assessing ways in which Marlow’s actual lies to the Intended is able to undermine or subvert the truths discovered during the time in Africa. A number of scholars have argued that the main motive that made Marlow lie to Intended in Joseph Conrad’s Heart of Darkness was to symbolize his intended official crossover to the side of immorality (Lynn, 21). In as much as the story outlines Marlow’s earlier avowal of a profound aversion to lying, there is evidence that Marlow admitted to sacrificing truth to expediency on different occasions (Conrad, 100). To make it succinct, when the author was asked by Kurtz Intended the meaning of Kurtz last words, Marlow says “the last word he pronounced was – your name” (Conrad, 75). Within this context, Marlow lies by telling Kurtz that the last name was her name while in the real essence the true last words as pronounced was “The horror! The horror!” (Conrad, 68). From this lie, it is apparent that the motive behind concealing the truth is that Marlow was in a situation where telling the truth to Kurtz the Intended would have been more devastating if not causing a severe grief and pain. In fact, this argument is pegged on statement from Marlow when he says, “There is a taint of death, a flavour of mortality in lies...” (Conrad, 29). Therefore the devastations in this case come in the sense that Marlow managed to lie to Kurtz’s Intended for the sake of her, not himself thus conceptualizing motive for this particular lie. Conversely, through the text, it can be revealed that Marlow decided to hide sensitive information about Kurtz’s beliefs and life. Other than being dishonest with Kurtz concerning issues raised above, Marlow also lied to Kurtz concerning his life and success in Europe. For instance, Marlow’s encounter with the brickmaker is a representation of a lie according to the statements he made to Kurtz. From the definition of Montag (96) about a lie, it means that Marlow definitely withheld information thus constituting a lie. Looking at this lie vis-à-vis the life and journey of the author in the text, the motive or rather ways in which this particular lie from Marlow to the Intended subvert the truths he discovered during his time in Africa come in the sense that it was directed to the Intended in order for the image of the lost or dead fiancé would not be jeopardized or destroyed. It is appalling that she has waited for at least two years to reunite with her lover from Africa but now such will not be possible because he is dead. In the process of waiting, she has been building his image up in her mind. Looking at this from a wider perspective, to her, Kurtz is a gentleman worth admiring. In fact, there is a feeling by her that it will be impossible not to love him because she was proud to have been engaged to Kurtz and therefore it will come as a shock to be told of the things he had done. It is to this extend that Marlow had to make a decision on whether or not to tell her the truth regarding Kurtz and in so doing, bring her more pain or let go thus making her believe he was a good man. Thirdly, scholars have cited that Marlow’s lie to the Intended was perhaps a breakdown of his personality or character (Dowden, 94). In actual fact, it is true to this extend that Marlow actually lied on a number of occasions. To understand this statement, definition of Montag about lie will help. According to this definition, a lie is "something meant to deceive or give a wrong impression" (96). With this definition, it is true to argue that rivet fiasco by Marlow with the brickmaker, refusal to divulge Kurtz’s shadowy life in the sepulchral city and conversation with Kurtz are all categorized as what Montag defines as a lie. This is not to mention how Marlow manages to mislead the audience concerning his post or position on imperialism especially at the beginning of the novella. Additionally, before the story even begins, Marlow is seen sitting in a position that represents inner peace. It is argued, "Marlow sat cross-legged right aft, leaning against the Mizzenmast” (Conrad, 4). This style of sitting was in itself a deception so as to fool the audience into believing that he was no longer a mere or a hollow imperialist. The main motive of these lies is to portray him and Kurtz’s fiancé as the nobles. The nobility in this sense was aimed at making people, including Kurtz be devoted to the mythology of Kurtz (in particular) as the best or great Christian who managed to go into the heart of darkness with an aim of transforming a savage civilization. As a matter of fact, some scholars have even argued that the reason why Marlow decided to tell the above lies is because he was just confused regarding his position on imperialism (Adams, 72). This statement does not add up especially when rivet fiasco with the brickmaker is put into considerations. The point is Marlow actually went back to England by the time. Secondly, after many years after leaving Congo, Marlow was still able to make decisions regarding his view on imperialism. The point of argument that still needs to be pondered is whether Marlow actually lied for noble cause considering the fact that he lied even before he started the journey. The story then leads the audience to a point where Marlow ultimately meets Kurtz in the heart of the Inner Station. In this situation, the reader is made aware that Marlow has been steered into a moral dilemma. Since Kurtz wanted his own reputation to be kept safe at all cost---and at this juncture it was Marlow to do it, Marlow says, "the brickmaker, will make a readable report for you" (Conrad, 105). The point of interest in this statement is the word ‘readable’. It symbolizes an act of immorality if not fact twisting. In point of fact, this report, as postulated by Marlow was not intending to disclose all the wrong doings as they would injure Kurtz’s reputation. From this behavior, it is worth noting that Marlow was deceitful about the people who were not aware of the true actions as well as intentions of Kurtz. To conceptualise the argument, Marlow was aware that this statement constituted a lie since he breathed an atmosphere so vile throughout the session. The main reason for this lie was due to the fact that Marlow was surprised about Kurtz’s profile. In fact, he shows this by admitting that Kurtz and his crew was not colonist instead, just conquerors. He says, "no colonist; their administration was only a squeeze; they were conquerors. It was just robbery by violence, aggravated murder on a great scale, and men going at it blind-as is very proper for those who tackle a darkness" (Conrad 63). Therefore ‘readable report for you’ as postulated on page 105 of the text was supposed to help Marlow cover the shame of what he earlier thought of Kurtz. On the same breath, it can as well be argued that the lie about the readable report as shown was forced into Marlow. This is so due to the fact that we are seeing Marlow vowing that he will protect the reputation of Kurtz. Therefore he was forced to lie to the public using the report or go the other way where he was to lie to Kurtz. Contrariwise, if indeed Marlow was opposed to lying there was no point of even making attempts to protect reputation of Kurtz as other critics have pointed to be the reason to why he lies (Adam, 62). In connection to the above argument, audience is made aware that prior to Marlow meeting the Intended, a number of people located in the sepulchral city in England questioned him. This information brings forth another aspect of lie as postulated by Marlow. He says, "I assured him Mr. Kurtz's knowledge however extensive, did not bear upon the problems of commerce or administration" (Conrad, 122). This statement cannot only be regarded as matter of opinion but also biased. As a matter of fact, Marlow was aware of the savagery and challenges that were present in the postscript. Instead, he made a decision to withhold that information. Consequently, Marlow knowingly misleads the company officials who were anxious to be told the truth. Additionally, other than the conversation that Marlow had with the officials, there is a revelation that Marlow decided to twist the truth by deceiving Kurtz’s supposed cousin when he (Marlow) actually failed to make clarifications that indeed Kurtz was not the universal genius as many thought of. Marlow went steps further to admit that he was unable to establish official profession of Kurtz. To this extend, it can be argued that the way Marlow's lie to the Intended subverts the truths he discovered during his time in Africa was based on his urge to succeed in the journey. Statements such as “I assured him Mr. Kurtz's knowledge however extensive, did not bear upon the problems of commerce or administration" as cited above indicates that the biased opinion as it is held shows that Marlow was subconsciously making attempts to lie so as to continue with his journey. Basically, the journey is long and Marlow needs success. More often than not the best strategy that can help open interpretive possibilities is actually to subvert the agreement or consensus that tends to be bridged regarding certain central pieces of literature. Giving practical example, the assumption that were there in lower levels of learning was that Hamlet’s ‘To be or not to be’ monologue or soliloquy was about suicide. The best way to understand the soliloquy was to that ‘what about if it was not suicide after all?” This is what Marlow tries to achieve with lies as argued in this context. That is, what if Marlow did not lie to the Intended and instead wanted to continue with the journey? This school of thought can be conceptualized by the fact that the fiancée is made to believe wholeheartedly in the nobility of Kurtz and alternatively completely believes and embraces the rationale for Western imperialism. Conclusion As identified earlier, from the time audience meet Marlow, they are made to believe that he is need of finding Kurtz. In as much, as he travels deeper and deeper he realizes a need to lie to survive in a number of ways. In fact, throughout the text the lie become more focused and intensified. Though he started to lie to survive, that becomes habit and is now done intentionally. While his previous deceptions can be seen as tangents of truth, his statements to the Intended are slowly seen as incontrovertible lie. It is for this reason that is motive to such lies cannot be pegged on agenda but intertwined reasons that such lies became clearer. Works Cited Adams, Richard. Joseph Conrad, Heart of Darkness. London: Penguin Critical Studies, 1991. Pp. 1-97 Conrad, Joseph. Heart of Darkness and The Secret Sharer. New York: Bantam Classic, 1981. Pp. 1-122 Dowden, Wilfred S. "I Start with Definite Images." Joseph Conrad: The Imagined Style Nashville: Vanderbilt University Press, 1970. Pp. 39- 102. Lynn, David H. " Heart of Darkness : Marlow's Heroic Cry." The Hero's Tale. Narrators in the Early Modern Novel. London: Macmillan, 1989. Pp. 1-27. Montag, George E. "Marlow Tells the Truth: The Nature of Evil in Heart of Darkness ." Conradiana 3, 2 (1971-72): 93-97. Read More