The story is set in Congo, Africa.This story is very difficult to understand. I have to read it for so many times in order to understand the plot and the messages that are conveyed. It is about a seaman named Marlow who works with Belgian Trading Company as a river-steamboat. The novel narrates his journey up to Congo River to meet Kurtz, a chief of inner station; who is known as a man of talents. In the journey, he encounters the brutality in the company's stations whereby the natives of the region are treated badly by the company's agents. The story is told by two narrators; firstly by one of Marlow's friends in a ship on the Thames and secondly by Marlow.
Colonialism is one of the themes of the story. The colonialism is exposed as Marlow reaches the company's outer station. He sees 'a lot of people, mostly black and naked, moved about like ants'. These men are called called as criminal and the outraged law who are forced to build a railway by the whitemen. As Marlow approaches the Central Station, he witnesses how the company's agents treat the natives of Africa. In the name of trade, they are treated as they are animals. Marlow calls the company's agents as the pilgrims, which it is actually an irony. They are supposed to be benevolent and help the natives but they are opposite of that.
Approaching the inner station, where Kurtz is to be met, Marlow sees a different way of colonialism. Kurtz shows his ability as a man that knows the power of words and moreover as a genius, he manages to make the natives obey him and even worship him as a god. He does not trade but indeed takes ivory by force, for example as what he has done to the Russian trader. However, the Russian finally becomes one of Kurtz devoted disciples.
In my opinion, the novel is quite different from other novels that I have ever read. Even though the novel is only about one hundred pages, it took a month for me to completely understand the whole story. I have to explore the language and the style of the story narrated. Besides, the story is about something that is beyond my experience, knowledge and culture. However, it is a good experience for me to study this novel since it teaches me to think critically.
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