The idea of restraint comes up a lot in this section. For example, at the beginning Marlow mentions that the cannibals are on board, but they did not eat each other in front of anyone. (or at all, in fact). As we talked about in class, it wasn't really a logical reason that they didn't eat anyone; it was simply a moral restriction and restraint.
Also, as we talked about in class, there is a scene in which the steamboat passes screaming natives in the dark and fog. (The white mist, in fact, which is an interesting twist of symbols) The people that show the restraint in this scene are not the "civilized folk" but instead the cannibals. They are the ones that keep pushing the boat through and keep everyone moving forward as the Europeans are afraid. It is ironic that their goal is to "tame the savages" but the "savages" show more restraint and civility than the Europeans in times of trouble.
4 comments:
Tina, we both seemed to blog about the idea of restraint this week! I think it was a large focus of the section and exploited the minute amount in the Europeans.
When the boat is attacked, the European's completely freak out and don't know how to react. Marlow and the others, however, remain calm and static. I think you made a really strong point in this blog, Tina, that I did not make a complete connection with at first. The European's are in Africa to find ivory and it soon becomes a goal to "tame the savages". The savages though aren't the ones needing to be tamed, it is the Euro's - very ironic.
Great post!
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