Muddy Water

People have always tried to categorize the human race as generally good or generally evil. Heart of Darkness shows people to be more complex than previously believed. Conrad shows that the actions that people take mirror the environment that they are in at the time. When someone is put into a different environment, they will begin to reflect the social and legal framework that is in place in that environment (or lack thereof). This process is affected by how clear of a sense of self the individual has, the time they are exposed to the new environment, and also by their will power. The colonial Congo environment has much fewer restraints on the people and so they take advantage of the fewer rules. Furthermore, because of the weak system in place in the European controlled parts of the Congo, some people are drawn to a more powerful system, the lifestyle of the savage. Marlow and Kurtz both face this test of will while in the Congo, and Kurtz essentially fails and submits to the tribal environment.

During the events of the novel, Europe is the peak of civilization. Most of the countries of Europe have strict social, moral, and legal codes set in place. The people in Europe mostly follow these rules and, in turn, are shaped by them. For example, a law and social rule against murder made it less likely for people to commit murder and planted that aversion to murder into their psyche. In this way, the morals of the people were shaped. With these strict laws and regulations, the people of Europe gain a nearly uniform set of values.

Once these same Europeans are put into the Congo however, they begin to lose the set of values that they have held on to. The environment of the Congo has much fewer social and legal restraints in place and so those who are there reflect that lack of restraint with “evil” acts. The Europeans then become the “flabby devil” which Marlow describes. The doctor who examines Marlow before he leaves for the Congo is aware of these changes and says, "It would be…interesting for science to watch the mental changes of individuals on the spot…” (Conrad 75). This statement shows that the doctor is fully aware that the changes occur once an individual is removed from their comfortable environment and also that he wishes to study those changes. Marlow is also aware that these changes are occurring in him while in the Congo. He remembers the doctor’s statement and says, “I felt I was becoming scientifically interesting” (Conrad 86).

It is evident that the amount of time that Europeans spent in the Congo was also of importance. The longer Marlow is in the Congo, the less his sense of self shows through. Marlow says, “You know I hate, detest, and can't bear a lie” (Conrad 94) but then he goes on to lie to the brickmaker in order to gain rivets (Conrad 96). The new, less moralistic environment of the Congo has begun to deteriorate Marlow’s once firm sense of self. Later, Marlow heartlessly dumps the slain helmsman’s body overboard (Conrad 124). Even the pilgrims and the manager are shocked at Marlow’s action. Such an action is in severe violation of English morals of the time and Marlow seems to be losing more and more of himself.

Kurtz is said to be “hollow” in the novel; this is possibly because he is being acted upon by two environments: the jungle and Europe. The clash of these two forces has rendered his core useless and now only his present actions have any meaning. This shows how Kurtz is stripped of any sense of self that he ever had and has become “hollow”.

Another force also strengthens over time in the Congo. Because of the lack of a strong legal and social code at the colonial stations, some Europeans are drawn to the closest society with rules, that of the savages. Even though their values are completely different from those of the Europeans and some of their practices are considered evil (cannibalism, human sacrifice, etc.), some people are still drawn to it. The effects of this attraction are present in Marlow when he hears the tribal drums. He hears the drums and says. “A sound weird, appealing, suggestive, and wild—and perhaps with as profound a meaning as the sound of bells in a Christian country” (Conrad 85-6). This shows that Marlow is beginning to actually credit the “savages” with a decent society and he also admits that it was “appealing”. Marlow also has to resist the urge to go and dance with the natives later in the story. He says, “You wonder I didn't go ashore for a howl and a dance? Well, no -- I didn't…I had no time” (Conrad 106). Marlow says that he is only saved from falling to savagery because he has to maintain the steamboat. This is a crucial moment for Marlow, as he could drop his responsibilities and join the natives, but he manages to restrain himself and