Heart Of Darkness: Paragraph Notes

        In the nineteenth paragraph Marlow describes his boyhood dream of “filling the blank spaces” of the map. He envisions himself as a brave explorer navigating through the wilderness finding rivers and other geographical landmarks. However, as time continues, Marlow’s ideas become tainted by that of society’s and the white patch on the map becomes filled-in with darkness. The once beautiful wilderness becomes a “savage land,” with a river that “resembles an immense snake.” The “white patch” resembles the ignorance of both Marlow and society. Where as the "black Darkness" illustrates the oppression and suffering the native people are going through due to the ignorance of the white man.  When Marlow relates his fantasy of the map to a “snake with a bird,” one can understand how the exploration and conquer of an unknown land is merely a game. Where the predator rains supreme over of the prey. This paragraph clearly illustrates how the human condition is not one of violence, initially, but can morph into one of violence and oppression when taught by society to the young.