Wrong Way Every Way

After our class disscussion about the novels beginning and ending, I came home to finish the last few pages I had to read. We spoke about what all the dark symbolism meant in the novel, either than the fact that it was already placed in the title. We also spoke about how there is a sence of many evils in the book. We discussed how the excistence of ignorance is evil, yet how knowledge can also become corrupt, as well as evil. The novel appears to talk about different "evils." 'Evil' being a word which tends to be familiarized with bad in the 'Good' VS 'Bad' in religion. Realigion, like the novel, being a search for truth, moral ideas, and exploration of good. The novel also deals with these ideas, but leans towards an exploration of hypocrisy, and moral confusion.

The idea of something being 'good' changes with every persons beliefs and morals. Marlow, the central character, appears to question if the 'dictator' rule of Kurtz is 'good' or if the world of the English Empire is 'good'. Or atleast, which one is the better of two evils. He views racism, people suffering, cannibalism,the destruction of nature and other things in the novel. This leads him to reflect why humans do things the way they do, asking wether or not the world is insane, or if its just him. He views this insane world as a drive of creating issues with near death situations, creating a thoughts of moral confusion. The british empire is a ridiculous power hunger, while Kurtz is practically a death machine.

The book shows how the world is distorted by using two colors: black and white. Just how he questioned the lesser of two evils, he also is looking at the placement of two catagories, wondering what it all really means. Africa first being a blank page, than turning into a cloaked darkness. The sun is bright, yet the whole world is dark. What shows the bad and what shows the good? These colors end up showing how we fail to see humans as humans. We regard in selfishness to ourselves, have no sympathy for others, yet wish for other to sympathize with us.

The book shows that the world is distorted like a fog. Everything is obscure, and there are always two sides to one story, with no point of showing which side is right or wrong.