"Heart of Darkness" and the Failure of the Imagination Author(s): James Guetti Source: The Sewanee Review, Vol. 73, No. 3 (Summer, 1965), pp. 488-504 Published by: The Johns Hopkins University Press Stable URL: http://www.jstor.org/stable/27541341 . Accessed: 11/05/2011 15:32 Your use of the JSTOR archive indicates your acceptance of JSTOR's Terms and Conditions of Use, available at . http://www.jstor.org/page/info/about/policies/terms.jsp. JSTOR's Terms and Conditions of Use provides, in part, that unless you have obtained prior permission, you may not download an entire issue of a journal or multiple copies of articles, and you may use content in the JSTOR archive only for your personal, non-commercial use. Please contact the publisher regarding any further use of this work. Publisher contact information may be obtained at . http://www.jstor.org/action/showPublisher?publisherCode=jhup. . Each copy of any part of a JSTOR transmission must contain the same copyright notice that appears on the screen or printed page of such transmission. JSTOR is a not-for-profit service that helps scholars, researchers, and students discover, use, and build upon a wide range of content in a trusted digital archive. We use information technology and tools to increase productivity and facilitate new forms of scholarship. For more information about JSTOR, please contact support@jstor.org. The Johns Hopkins University Press is collaborating with JSTOR to digitize, preserve and extend access to The Sewanee Review. http://www.jstor.org "HEART OF DARKNESS" AND THE FAILURE OF THE IMAGINATION By JAMES GUETTI is apparently an account OF DARKNESS" *?"TjEART i 1 of one man's and the understand moral of another's of essentials and psychological degeneration to spatial and intellectual journey that the matter. A reader expects such a story will follow certain rules: the journey will be diffi cult, but at its end will be a meaningful disclosure in which the I shall be placed in a moral will framework. "degeneration" that "Heart of Darkness" try to show in this discussion, however, seen to of such a moral the be relevance may deny, particularly, to question, of mean the possibilities generally, as it is the itself?that narrative develops journey so as to deny it ap the basic assumptions upon which and framework for the ing redefined pears to be constructed. One of "darkness" the two is this: the has a "heart"; a reader penetrates the unknown to the known. Marlow suggests throughout and known partially assertions possible story that at the center of is pursuing this meaning. serves to emphasize inquiries In ambiguity. introspective assertion second and dominant composed and our known The of paradox most in this manner it is the "darkness," there implied be title often terms we takes or through in the title that the the the are left of form a hushed in particular above "heart," of the title in general: must progress to the unknown. the there is meaning and that he things And the Marlow's of yet intensity the inconclusiveness of his findings. the truth about Kurtz about to declare and again he seems Again and the darkness, but his utterance a thunderous either contradiction of Darkness" of with and the and "Heart all, that is darkness lies, or apparently partially the is nowhere real more obvious than at what is usually taken to be the "The The horror! cry, death-bed a response to the most but Marlow insists that of complete knowledge." not only with Kurtz's at world piercing ness." may large, private "wide they He center of the story: words These horror!" Kurtz's seem to the unknown itself, nightmare, a "moment are quite the reverse: asserts that "the the hearts this can be known horror" but history, unspeakable to embrace enough to penetrate all enough to resolve In attempting into what 489 GUETTI JAMES also the whole that beat apparent of Kurtz's has to do with the universe, in the dark contradiction, we history. of the "new gang once, an idealist of a kind, a member a man to Marlow, of the trading company; according come out who with moral ideas of "had apparently equipped a moral man some sort." A as of this of Kurtz view complication inquire He was, of virtue" is presented near the end of " 'He electrified the story by a sometime journalist He had faith? large meetings. " account From the journalist's had the faith.' see??he to accept the possible to this point, a reader might but be inclined colleague: don't you as a clear case of moral view of Kurtz degeneration; over-simple a reader may once infer "the the man faith," which possessed and and unambiguous be some high-minded then, creed, Africa, lost "the faith." Kurtz would have fallen, to in in these from moral of a traditional the framework scheme, terms, within a "heaven" his to a "hell." But as the journalist de continues, scription turns upon itself: " to believe could get himself '. .. the faith. He anything? a have been He would leader of an ex anything. splendid treme party.' 'What party?' I asked. 'Any party,' answered the other. 'He was an?an?extremist.' I not think Did so? I assented." Kurtz faith. this is characterized Marlow, and asks, like "What as a man a reader, who momentarily party?"?-implying all possessed does that or any faiths, not understand he too conceives 490 of "heart "the faith" self. But as a ideal to wrhich Kurtz dedicated him single moral some the matter becomes "the faith" is clearer; to believe that enabled Kurtz in any creed ability With this assessment Marlow agrees. then or quality darkness" whatsoever. The of the connection Kurtz's between problem moral Kurtz and himself?his unscrupulous facility more Marlow than any other. On ing?concerns of the voyage up of his "second-rate the to the river Inner in his helmsman" eloquent essential the with Station, shoes, he reflects and be last stage the blood this con cern in a feeling as though of disappointment, he is the man a substance." Mar without seeking were "something altogether not "as doing, you know, but as discoursing"; low imagines Kurtz it is Kurtz's that is the man's voice alone "real presence," "his to talk, his words." Even after the actual physical shock ability of Kurtz's of his death, Marlow insists: appearance and, finally, "The voice was gone. What else had been there? But I am of course aware hole." muddy as if Kurtz's that next the pilgrims buried in a something an buried anonymous pilgrims "something," were as Kurtz detached from reality completely day The defined by his voice. This self Kurtz's between separation is often in relation described Marlow station, contemplates he remarks: the human unvoiced speech and Kurtz's to his "degeneration." As heads upon posts near Kurtz's Kurtz that Mr. in the lacked restraint "They only showed of his various that there was gratification lusts, something in him?some small matter the press wanting which, when under his magnificent ing need arose, could not be found eloquence." The "whisper" of the wilderness "echoed loudly within him be cause he was found with hollow himself its externally at the core." in a world imposed which?in restraints It is thus that Kurtz suggested to civilization, comparison of law, social morality, and public opinion?was a man ties, where his "power Kurtz had and belief a world of enticing and dangerous "own his innate upon depend must ... of devotion no such devotion; left him "hollow was most he professed what or discard Kurtz morality: him were wholly But this, Marlow about essential possibili strength," business." to an obscure, back-breaking his capacity for arbitrary eloquence at the core." "The faith," we may not as a moral faith in himself, being, suppose, was Kurtz's but as a being who couJd use now if what 491 GUETTI JAMES to believe. as lived separate from insists, is not simply hypocrisy: I could not appeal I had to deal with a being to whom "... or in the name of anything I low. high had, even like the own to invoke exalted and him?himself?his niggers, was There incredible either above nothing degradation. or below him, and I knew it. He had kicked himself loose of the earth. Confound the man! he had kicked the very earth Kurtz's to pieces." is not "degradation" the traditional result of a moral failure; it is "exalted and incredible," perhaps god-like; it is the effect of his setting himself apart from the earth and the morality of the earth?apart, even, from which he had such magnificent What Kurtz tached himself has the the earth with facility. done has general the moral world, from of language consequences. but in doing least He has de so he has, at has he simply for Marlow, that world. Not destroyed himself loose of the earth," but "kicked "kicked the very earth to pieces." Kurtz's has amorality personal ramifications, public is shaken; he declares?looking to Kurtz's and Marlow ahead "The "no horror!"?that eloquence could have been so withering to one's belief inmankind as his final burst of sincerity." in mankind," very business himself only I think, in which implies Kurtz nature the moral could be so adept, from this general morality, Kurtz the possibility of such a release but also, "Belief of mankind, the and in releasing has illustrated not as Marlow suggests, 492 of "heart darkness" to all men. of morality the possible and irrelevance inadequacy and if it remains his achievement, Kurtz's thus becomes "failure" a in is none of the morality adequacy general partially failure, theless questioned. This The one in part, is a familiar moral man enters a world problem, imaginative, he struggles, ment; alone, of Darkness" But in "Heart to retain to readers of Conrad. of danger and entice he fails. Often his morality. is more the matter complicated, be restraint, may for seen the means of the possible moralities, to I have attempted to be less available?as unreal. alternatives, seen be in which morality of the manner show something may is an account what follows to fail Kurtz in "Heart of Darkness"; here of morality of the failure in more pervasive terms. kinds with various the story a reader is confronted chief account The that are clearly unsatisfactory. for ex his fastidious ant "accomplishes with dress, something" deceit and continual his envious masks and the manager ample, concern the "right a and doing for saying with hypocritical Throughout of "restraint" thing." The most obvious case of this false kind of discipline is native Marlow's "... unstable he helmsman; thought kind all the world of fool I had of himself. ever seen. He He was steered the most with no end of a swagger while you were by; but if he lost sight of the prey of you, he became instantly of a steamboat let that cripple would of him in a minute." In whom addition to restraint is unnecessary: "... even you may to know ... darkness. creature heavenly these pseudo-moralities, an abject funk, and the hand upper get there are men for dull of a fool to go wrong?too be too much are assaulted the of powers you by being a be such Or you may exalted thunderingly as to be altogether deaf sights and sounds." and blind to anything but None of these nor, to Marlow's 493 GUETTI JAMES to the wilderness responses Both for Kurtz. is possible are men mind, as morality of appearance do not to of sufficient course, possesses each, imagination to the "darkness." vulnerable dangerously falsehoods simpler Marlow "truth" that declares it, a man of belief." conception that when of restraint sounds was boat in one piece: watch the and steering, circumvent . . . There was snags. a to save Mar wiser man." low's it is founded of the Marlow may "find" to contradict himself, incidents ?fades. I felt As these upon surface. keeping that says at one moment his own "reality"; himself, "When however and "voice," "ashore those in these things enough as the that a man of "truth" kind idea, of the wilderness, the "truth" himself against surface-truth concern; to matters indeed. y him from going for a howl prevented his steam only that he was too busy keeping . . . "I had to mess about with white-lead that what a dance" fine to him appealed of his own. Im the wilderness asserting to every man?he had a "voice" to his own his testimonial following and the wilderness, his own his own true stuff?with won't do. clothes^ Acquisitions, Principles that would shake. fly off at the first good continues, it must mediately he admits him truth with this point Marlow's ?as the confronting rags?rags a deliberate you want pretty No; At in and appeal, render must meet that "... inborn strength. He for Marlow, to whom the oneself may use to defend is only a practical upon busy, it is in "work" later, however, attending that a man he appears remarks, you have to attend to things of that sort, to the mere the reality?the of the surface, I tell yon reality, The it all quotations the inner truth is hidden?luckily, same. . . ." indicate, Marlow uses the term luckily. "reality" But in 494 of "heart two ways: essence is the suggested reality that must remain hidden the primary the darkness wilderness, survive morally, darkness" of if a man the is to is a figurative the secondary reality reality the truly real is concealed reality by which of the that this reality admits And Marlow while an artificial like work, or even replaced. second sort is simply of things. account Marlow's a deluding activity, a fictitious over the reflects his play surface of his as a "wanderer"; nature own he as a fiction restraint is as morally rootless, as perhaps, Kurtz himself. In speaking of the "droll thing life is,"Marlow describes his difficulties in a way that is suggestive in terms of Kurtz's experience: con It is the most unexciting with death. "I have wrestled in an impalpable It takes place test you can imagine. gray with nothing around, without ness, with nothing underfoot, the great without without without glory, clamour, spectators, in a sickly the great fear of defeat, desire of victory, without atmosphere of tepid skepticism, without much belief in your right, and still less in that of your adversary. then life is a greater form of ultimate wisdom, than some of us think it to be." own is the Marlow death man suggests that at with or, perhaps, to see any reality certain moments?in a wilderness?it in a connection struggling difficult is most between If such riddle with for a moral "rights" are necessarily severe challenges a man's most and his experience; When of tepid in an "atmosphere encountered skepticism." to keep the steamer himself Marlow afloat, struggles struggles for his life, he replaces his own "tepid skepticism" with work; he is forced to do so by his physical danger. Kurtz's situation has by no means or so simple. he had no dominating Like Marlow, sense of did he have Marlow's but neither "idea," been saving danger with the reality. its consequent In this manner Kurtz activity?the appears even more work that vulnerable luckily hides than Mar him For low. the "tepid between the disparity viewed more reality sidered may loose himself experience the moment for conclude was earth" the of was skepticism" his moral more fictions he necessarily Why but if we are to rely starkly. in part, only insistence that Kurtz's we 495 GUETTI JAMES did he intense; and an amoral so, con I have at all upon Marlow's to his own, then corresponds act of "kicking that Kurtz's caused by his vision?the to inability vision save when Kurtz's which fictions; so to assumes to his own?destroyed the truth similar be Marlow and restraint, it also destroyed their availability. of morality himself with It is on this account a moral that Marlow refuses to condemn Kurtz in of the company remarks that Kurtz's The manager that but Marlow is "unsound," denies this, asserting was at that Kurtz all." The manager it is "no method conceives way. "method" a "remarkable once but that man" then since he has gone his method wrong. was Talk sound, perhaps, or of "sound" is a and Kurtz for Marlow, however, of the world because he has escaped exactly he has shown that these terms are because is irrelevant "unsound" man" "remarkable and unsound, as a measure inadequate sound of his experience. that he has managed Kurtz's crime himself off from the possibility of sin. At the moment conversation sympathy or for things badly then, is not a more in that he has sinned or, uniquely generally, an means act vision has cut of of he but that way, by achievement, the company horrifying when with with the manager, Marlow formally of this declares his Kurtz. the it is not simply "Heart of Darkness," again, Throughout nor that are shown to be ignoble, characters codes of the minor a tenuous fiction. Disci code that is proved is it only Marlow's in the story not is defined in general pline or intention?in of idea also as a singleness as restraint, but to of course, contrast, only something like Kurtz's multiple faith or to the infinite possi bilities of the wilderness. This kind of spiritual rigidity is the on his way to important quality of the book which Marlow finds 496 Inner the of "heart Station?"An Inquiry darkness" some into Points of Seaman ship": a very "Not but at the first glance you book; enthralling concern an honest could see there a singleness of intention, . . . The to work. for the right way of going old simple me with his talk of chains and made sailor, purchases, forget the jungle and the pilgrims in a delicious of having sensation come upon real." something unmistakably concern with work, its single-minded of the book, "reality" or secondary that is clearly I have remarked, the artificial reality to note here such reality that when but it is more interesting so only seems possible, in terms that are anomalous it seems out of that this book is totally It is apparent in the wilderness. The place book in the jungle, that despite Marlow's as a symbol this of moral reality, grasp on the desperate is rendered false reality and unreal by means of the very quality by which he declares it established: its irrelevance In a similar deny singleness As Marlow ity. his journey, manner, of purpose he to the wilderness the wilderness proceeds encounters may or its equivalents, the coast down a French be it. surrounding seen elsewhere restraint at gun-boat and moral the of beginning into firing the jungle: even a shed there, and she was shelling "There wasn't the French had one of their wars It appears the bush. a on Her thereabouts. ensign dropped limp like going out the stuck of rag; the muzzles long six-inch guns the greasy, all over the low hull; slimy swell swung her swaying her thin masts. lazily and let her down, of earth, sky, and water, In the empty immensity into a there she was, incomprehensible, firing one of the six-inch guns; continent. go Pop, would a little white a small flame would dart and vanish, a tiny smoke would would projectile disappear, give a feeble screech?and nothing happened. could happen." Nothing to up with War, of its polarities 497 GUETTI JAMES life and death, and defeat, victory as a straightforward be seen generally may are and and rigidly too, traditionally Guns, purposeful, to happen. Here when they are fired something ought nothing are there the the guns "pop"; "feeble"; happens: projectiles In a parallel is no enemy and no effect. explosives description, and enemy matter. are used not enemy, at the first in the way the work or hears phenomena with to remove a cliff: blasting on all "objectless," the face of but change appeared sees six natives?"criminals"? later Marlow and then explosion, of the gun-boat: recollection another his was blasting objectless is not only for "no cliff was "The this but anything; on." The going also without result, A moment rock." in chains, station the these synthesizes of think suddenly from the cliff made me "Another report It was into a continent. that ship of war I had seen firing but these men could by no the same kind of ominous voice; were be called enemies. stretch of imagination called They the the and like outraged criminals, law, bursting shells, had come to them, an insoluble mystery from the sea." The law with shells its apparent, straightforward been negated; the blasting?has and has no effect incomprehensible, and purpose?like it has become the a mys as law, but merely the savages and unhappy. indifferent the law, the Here as having no and the warfare, then, are characterized blasting, or the and between these purpose effect, disciplined disparity which devices of civilization and the wilderness they attempt tery, renders to the disparity between morality and corresponds The described scope of this disparity previously. man schemes and the wilderness is ever widening. the wilderness between hu II It has restraint he has been remarked in Africa said that here depends this restraint that Marlow's own capacity for his busy upon thoughtlessness, reflects a concern only with the and inci 498 of "heart of the dents who as surface, "Heart begins darkness" to the "reality." defines Marlow's opposed of Darkness" in a way that is puzzling, yet story-telling own characterizations of his moral Marlow's The narrator manner of clearly analogous attitude: to a direct the whole simplicity, the shell of a cracked nut. . . . and to him the meaning en like a kernel but outside, the as a out it tale which brought veloping only glow brings out a haze, in the likeness of one of these misty that halos are made sometimes visible the of illumination by spectral moonshine. The seamen of yarns have of which lies within meaning was not But Marlow typical of an episode was not inside In "Heart coast we of Darkness" we encounter of an the observe or over of the wilderness idea of his Marlow the moving along of the river, and here over the outside moving the surface language the episode "episode," surrounding Marlow's at meaning attempts same form as his attempts at morality it. but never penetrating in general, take the then, in particular. Both mean are seen to be matters of the surface or exterior, ing and morality the reality?not while Marlow's artificial reality but the reality surfaces?is at the beyond something deep within, something center is not that between however, that it would be important difference, and his more gener in the first instance he continually attitudes: ally meaningful suggests There is an approached. Marlow's moral attitudes to look beneath imprudent the surface; in the second he just as frequently admits that it is impossible to do so. The somehow, structure Inner of the passage above is affirmative; the quoted that the search for meaning can be satisfied, concern with the exterior. And the very yet emphasis narrator implies in a of Station, search, pervasive and, "Heart of Darkness"?with toward certainly, metaphor the man who toward some of "meaning the constitutes journey the end in meaning at the heart"?seems terms to the of the of the to assert that is a more there search for Kurtz matters significant reality for some disclosure and are not of the surface suggested after Marlow even Marlow, the within; of meaning of fact the implies that a voice for enough. I have Previously 499 GUETTI JAMES that Kurtz had confronted remained him at the Inner even and that, evidences upon Kurtz's Station, death, Marlow as to whether his uncertainty there was ever anything else to the man but a voice, admitting buried "some only that the pilgrims This thing." attitude toward Kurtz?and implies a failure by Marlow, it is never modified? for although he struggles into the to Kurtz, of darkness, his sympathetic declares allegiance out again, he ends where watches the man die, and journeys he more once: remarks his than Marlow failure began. heart . . or no I would with myself whether talk arguing come con with to but I before could any Kurtz; openly to me that my it occurred clusion in silence, speech or my . . a mere deed action of would be any mine, futility. The essentials of this affair under the lay deep surface, of meddling." beyond my reach, and beyond my power ". Marlow's attitude as bemused as his Although wilderness and although into deeper vague mains of he lies toward idea of the reality of the wilderness remains the meaning of Kurtz's experience. at center that the the of suggests constantly "the amazing he often the heart of the paradoxical always "inscrutable." and its awesome, passive cleared of its concealed reality life," that he is penetrating and "deeper in his insistence the upon darkness," asserts re of the wilderness "purpose" It escapes definition terms in except "... the wilderness silent magnitude: the speck on the earth struck me as some and invincible, like evil or truth." is no Marlow thing great a central nearer at the heart of the darkness reality geographical surrounding than he was a "general this down the coast, he was when, proceeding sense of vague and oppressive wonder." aware of of "heart 500 seems It thus generally in any meaningful darkness" to move impossible way. beyond story exists in this Reality the surface not in the positive but in the negative, for it is all that human disciplines cannot reach, all that lies beyond these disciplines within the of a man, center of a wilderness, itself. perience human Language fails imagination, of Kurtz too, as Marlow and, like implies, resources other all to discover in attempting of ex of the the meaning and of experience: I did not see the man in the for me. "He was just a word name any more than you do. Do you see him? Do you see . . . it is impossible; the story? Do you see anything? No, to convey it is impossible the life-sensation of any given of one's its truth, existence?that makes its which epoch essence. and It subtle is meaning?its impos penetrating sible. We ..." live, as we dream?alone. a word was Kurtz low were face the word failed. He Kurtz to face: And attempts Marlow a word, he and Mar a to discover is not that his or remoteness "aloneness" particular a general there is revealed condition has meaning, in "Heart coast of experience?the Language the exteriors a river, a man's can exist as a reality or otherwise, of all of guage even when meaning beyond only of Kurtz. speaking some meaning in terms of to convey inability but he continues, with the in characteristically, on Kurtz's is universal, this inability that by focusing begins with in Africa, sistence and remained from the world of human of meanings experience. of Darkness," of a wilderness, in terms the of surface and his voice?and this meaning appearance so long as one remains ignorant, deliberately that lies beyond these exteriors, of what lan cannot something ties comes the intimation that there For with is penetrate. the intellectual the verbal and, indeed, beyond capaci if we de is fiction. that language And the realization sire to discover a reality greater than that of words, we are con fronted not with the truth within, but with the real disparity be JAMES tween the gimmickry cause Marlow wishes of surfaces only tween as thing or of Be truth. than imagination is assumed disciplined this world to which whereas Thus, the reality which more this His of man's nothing and mind the reality surfaces, of knowledge reality may now exist of the unbridgeable be separation is destroyed. his knowledge the world the human to know 501 GUETTI uses and that some to relate. term in two ways, "reality" a reader?discovers is of a third sort. Marlow he?and the in the realization is a reality which that "surface" and exists can have are inevitably "heart" and that mind separate matters, awareness is the final of former. Marlow's ordered reality only It a state of suspension between the disciplined world language whatever cannot, these may a dream-state aware finally It is for these only "summed ence be?which at the center mind of suggestions sorts of "reality," of both utterance had of essences the world and reasons that Marlow of mind and of experience? to apprehend attempts Marlow and futilities. certain does as a cry of selfish despair, as a summation And up." but is of neither. not view but declares Kurtz's last that Kurtz of the literary experi can have but one "The horror!" of Darkness," are in darkness; the morality all hearts and meaning man himself surrounds and his experience is unreal; of "Heart meaning: with which the reality lies beyond and the processes of experience language to Mar In this of the human revealing knowledge imagination. not take ex would has taken a step that Marlow low, Kurtz . . he had made over he that last had ". stride, stepped plicitly: the edge, while I had been permitted to draw back my hesitating foot." Because he has relinquished his hold upon his ideals and his eloquence, because he has wholly detached himself from matters of the which Marlow surface, Kurtz himself?in is able at last to define that about his preoccupation with both the reality of the "heart"?has been so re reality is torn, throughout Marlow the story, luctant and so ambiguous. a as as to final realization and achieve Kurtz's the desire between of the surface and the 502 of "heart darkness" the conviction that he must deny such a realization to have and final : truth is destroyed Kurtz meaning. confrontation of what Marlow that the essentials of experience if his life is in his movement as views remain toward the ultimate amoral even, and, alinguistic. "Heart of Darkness," of things?of center the human existence?poses and as the refutation at the beginning only as something unapproachable. a and such a discourse, the struggle journey than continues of at the center. the At beneath, a no more de it is and darkness, it and the narrative; of the journey be found within, may the search we encounter meaning end of fined of as the account of a journey into of of of and Africa, Kurtz, Marlow, as a the refutation itself of such journey the general metaphorical that conception then, such to exist The stages with vague that one is ness and paradox, the sense always with accompanied not yet at the heart of the matter, must Once suffice. again amid that are so easily and of civilization the disciplines and meanings to be real, Marlow calls to mind his experience assumed carelessly and these meanings beyond to his weakened body imagination are that wanted that declares beside anxious the point: ". ministrations . . it was my soothing." Ill in "Heart it is perhaps most of Darkness," central Although a in much theme of fails is major the idea that the imagination a and simul Conrad narrative Often Conrad's presents writing. taneously demonstrates the impossibility of giving and final meaning, suggesting ated can be approached only that the fictional by verbal it a disciplined he has world contradictions and cre a sense of mystery. This noted Conrad rection, obscure by E. M. sense of an unreachable Forster, "philosophically, to write. nothing who truth suggests because there No creed, in Conrad that we is, in fact. need not has been consider in this particular di Only opinions, and 503 GUETTI JAMES the right to throw when them look them overboard facts make . . . and of eternity absurd. held under the. semblance Opinions is for a creed." Forester's therefore easily mistaken position more in who dis defined by F. R. Leavis, declares, pejoratively a passage from "Heart of Darkness," is at times "merely of Conrad "significance" that cussing ence on the presence of what the absence, the willed betrays tent on making a virtue out the an emotional apparent insist insistence The produce. is in the nullity. He 'intensity,' what he means." of not knowing he can't in some cases, I have hold may complaint to show that in "Heart it does not, and of Darkness" attempted In "Heart that it is always a suspect conclusion Conrad. regarding Leavis' Although knows I suggest, Conrad also that what he means of Darkness," but he knows ence very well what is not enough; he means, his insist on unresolved and the failure of language suggests paradox narra his as of the world that within elsewhere, imagined here, of imagination the resources tive there is a reality which escapes Leavis What itself. takes of Conrad's to be a particular failing is deliberately Conrad failure which a general is actually his narrative. within dramatizing prose Conrad ?of but which conflicts confusion of linguistic or sense and nonsense? not of language of meanings the world to sentences and destruction kinds between conflicts of an awareness communicates and that world creeds. It between threatens is a even and Lord like Kurtz characters, Jim, at moments, be seen to experience, and Willems may Almayer con some are enigmatically, often and of which eccentrically, world some which scious?like Marlow, and like Stein of Lord Jim: and element submit yourself, is to the destructive way water make the feet in and hands of exertions the with your In destructive element the deep, deep sea keep you up. ... . . . That was To follow the dream, the way. immerse. "The and finem. again to follow the dream?and so?ewig?usque ad . . ." 11 504 "The HOMECOMING that reality the conflict illusory tizes, to the ultimate is analogous I think, element," in "Heart of Darkness," and it is remarked man's this "element" and "the between dream," destructive I have creeds suggesting and meanings, that Conrad repeatedly to life than language. that there is more HOMECOMING By MARTHA You know They This is no once more back to their gone time to try the door. affairs. they who were here before? the owners nor the heirs know Corners This back are Neither The by going have Where You GRIMES HOLLAND by going of a child's under stirrings is no time back once more. eye ignore sheeted chairs. to try the door. on a crooked floor straight game Goads you to play it unawares, You know, by going back once more. A Who Lies This knows what hoodwinked visitor at the bottom is no time of the stairs? to try the door, the look it always wore Wearing In indecipherable nightmares You know by going back once more. This is no time to try the door. drama