TR3.5

English graded discussion prep

Houjun Liu 2021-09-27 Mon 12:00

1 English graded discussion prep

1.1 Quote bin

Page Numbers: 16, 42, 43, 44, 46, 47, 51, 60

Begin here:

1.2 Jack's Intro 0-1

How does Marlow's inner perspective come into dialog with the darkness along his journey?

Can we look beyond his perspective of the darkness?

This asks two questions. What does Marlow's language reveal to us about his journey and how, ultimately, does his internalities reveals?

Two stances: Marlow Brings Darkness, or Marlow Sees Darkness

1.3 The Discussion

The leader's job is to "moderate" the two others; others, DO NOT ADVANCE THE ARGUMENT. Let the leader do it.

Bounce off ideas, and repeat/reply/clarify/ask questions. Feel free to bud in.

1.3.1 Ryan's Opening — Marlow's Perspective brings Darkness 1-5

  • Initially, Ryan believes that it is difficult to see beyond Marlow's perspective
  • Story is from his perspective => so, of course, its Marlow that welds the darkness!
  • However, it is possible to gauge the darkness by analyzing the dialog with other characters to find their perspectives to find out what they say
  • Issue! only perspectives we get is through European colonists is ultimately biased
    • We mostly get European views
    • And the two times a native speaks, its…
      • "Eat 'im"
      • “and Mistah Kurtz, He Dead
    • Because we only have two instances — and they are gramatically incoherent sentences — can't accurately gauge the darkness through non-marlow
    • Mention Acheobe

CONFLIGHT! line There is possibility to gauge darkness of land through simply analyzing the environment to take it as it is from objective language of Marlow.

1.3.2 Zach — Darkness already present 5-9

  • Both his environment and himself is dark
  • Surroundings are already dark b/c of Europeans
  • Find quotes about
    1. People dying; people chained together
    2. How that influence marlow's view, before and after
  • Provide transition: there are unseen dark properties of his environment that he does not see; why?
  • Some analysis It does not really seem to darken Marlow — why is he not affected? Oh! Right! Because… MARLOW IS A BLOODY RACIST!
    • Undereacts to black people dying next to him
    • Compared to to like… Kurtz dying, or his Helmsmen dying — lots of ceremony and discussion
  • Marlow bloody racist => dosen't see some darkness

CONFLIGHT! Maybe Marlow's racist lens could be looked at from the opposite way! Darkness is, actually, everywhere…

1.3.3 Jack — the darkness was always there (b/c Europeans), but Marlow's

perspective also is a contributor to it. 9-12

:CUSTOMID: jack-the-darkness-was-always-there-bc-europeans-but-marlows-perspective-also-is-a-contributor-to-it.-9-12

  • Darkness is everywhere — even on the Thems (pg 5) — but Marlow could only percieve the darkness that he choose to percieve. Marlow does not bring darkness, and Marlow does not see Darknss in Africa. Darkness is everywhere and it is just what Marlow's perception illustrates
  • Hell example 43 — language of hell, except language actually just show reality
  • pg 50 — he chose to not see darkne
  • "The earth seemed unearthly. we are accustomed … but here— you could look at a thing mostrous and free": indeed, Marlow admitting that perception shaped his senses — racist marlow labels africa as moster, and chooses to see it here.
  • Then realized that, if there were to be an example, a place to show the objective example of the darkness, we could get another perspective potentially through convos he has with other people to pick up on things that they have said

Saliant points for Jack:

  • Thems: 5
  • Hell: 43/44
  • Cannibals: 49 bottom