Justin Enriquez

Brit. Lit./Comp.

Blog on “Compare 2 essays about HOD ”

26 November 2013

Conrad V. Achebe

The hidden details found in “Heart of Darkness” by Joseph Conrad is what makes the novel the 67^th of the hundred best novels in English of the 20^th century. Achebe in his analysis talks about the underlying theme of civilized versus savagery throughout the duration of the novel. This is seen especially when it comes to the ivory traders desire to eliminate the natives that refuse to cooperate and circum to their power. The inspiration for Heart of darkness actually originated from Conrad’s experiences as a captain of a steamer from the Belgium trading company. Of course, Heart of Darkness is a fictional novel based on the hypocrisy of imperialism, however, the historical background present in it is real

Achebe’s “An Image of Africa” and Conrad’s “Conrad in the Congo” gives us insight into the themes and historical context within the novel. The historical context of Heart of Darkness puts us in the situation of those that have actually traveled in the Congo, just like Joseph Conrad. Conrad worked for the Belgium trading company for three years as a steamboat captain in search of ivory. Chinua Achebe is an expert in African literature and history, which is seen in his explicit and clear analysis of the hidden theme of racism within the novel. He argues that the “companies workers treatment and opinion of the natives is a clear reason of the division between the two worlds of this time period. In conclusion, Achebe is emphasizing on the white vs black and civil vs savage .which is also what he is arguing as the true meaning of Heart of Darkness.

Justin Enriquez

Brit. Lit./Comp.

Blog on “Using a theme discussed about the story (darkness, truth,

Colonialism, racism) explain what Conrad is implying about the human condition.”

26 November 2013

The Human Condition

In Conrad's, Heart of Darkness, the utilization of themes is prevalent in various areas to which the readers can relate them to. In this case the theme of truth or therefore lack of will be utilized in order to explain how truth is utilized by Conrad in which he implies traits that lie in the human condition.

Heart of Darkness is a story that involves a journey. In this journey, Conrad utilizes Marlow in order to fulfill the journey in which the ultimate goal seems to be a lifelong one, discovering Kurtz. In this journey, Marlow also passes through a series of difficult tests to find an object or person of importance and in the process comes to a realization about the true nature of the world and human soul. Marlow seems to be on an ordinary journey in which he will reach his destination eventually, making his way past absurd and horrendous "stations" on his way up the Congo to find Kurtz, the chief of the inner station.

However, Marlow's journey soon becomes a failure: Kurtz turns out to be the biggest monster of all. However, with that failure Marlow learns that at the heart of everything there lies only darkness. In other words, you can't know other people, and you can't even truly know yourself. Therefore, proving there is no fundamental truth one can find in another but rather a cultivated artificial truth that one is expected to believe. In addition, this proves that Conrad is implying that in each person there is a heart of darkness present in some way, shape, or form. As seen in HOD, Marlow ultimately laerns the hard way, having to endure a challenging journey to find his idol, Kurtz, and then experiencing first hand the heart of darkness present in mankind. 

Justin Enriquez

Brit. Lit./Comp.

Blog on “Using your previous Blog entry, explain whether your inference was

confirmed or not. What was incorrect and why? What was correct and why?”

25 November 2013

Right or Wrong?

            Using my previous blog entry, my inference has been confirmed. Last blog entry I inferred that Kurtz would end up disappointing Marlow. My inference has been confirmed due to Marlow finally encountering Kurtz and experiencing his true nature. In one of the events Marlow witnesses the true nature of Kurtz when the Russian is showing Marlow around and Marlow realizes the evil surroundings he is in the presence of. In this instance, Marlow witnesses these “round knobs” in which were actually heads on sticks. These “round knobs” are explained to Marlow as consequences that have occurred as a result of rebels. Marlow is disgusted by these ornamental heads on sticks that Kurtz feels is a required action to prove that he is the supreme power. 

            I also inferred in my last blog entry that Conrad was setting the reader up for a revealing moment in which he will make us realize how in every one of the persons we look up to there is a heart of darkness rooted deep inside their being. In Marlow’s perspective, he realizes that his once infatuation towards Kurtz has now been an utter disappointment due to the brutality Kurtz shows too many of his subjects. Marlow is disgusted with the distances Kurtz takes in order to attain ivory. Kurtz would kill any rebels who stood in his way as seen as the time Marlow witnesses the so-called ornamental figures in which Kurtz had decorated his place with due to the decisions rebels made.

            Therefore, my inferences were correct both in which I stated Kurtz would disappoint Marlow and Conrad setting up the reader for a realization of what and where the heart of darkness is. From Marlow witnessing the brutality of Kurtz to readers realizing that in each and every one of us there is a heart of darkness present both my inferences have been proved correct.

Justin Enriquez

Brit. Lit./Comp.

Blog on “Describe Kurtz according to the narrator. What do you infer we can

expect from Kurtz based on the descriptions and tone of the story?”

24 November 2013

Kurtz: Man or Legend

            According to the narrator, Kurtz is a man whom is of much desire to encounter. As of now, Kurtz is a second sometimes third-hand story to the narrator, Marlow. Marlow desires to meet Kurtz due to the amazing stories he has heard of him. As far as Marlow is concerned, Kurtz is the chief of the inner station who is a figure of fascination created by the stories he’s heard from others. Kurtz is a figure of interest to Marlow but it seems as if each and every time he is close to completing his quest of searching for Kurtz he is somehow drifted away again from him. In class we discussed and compared Kurtz to that of an enchanted princess sleeping in a fabulous castle. Marlow portrays Kurtz as a princess since he is a hard target to reach. The voyage through the river was challenging which is why he compares him to a sleeping princess, meaning that there has been no clear and relevant signal from Kurtz himself but rather from other people who claim he is not an ordinary man but that in which possesses various traits desired by many such as charisma. Later in the story, we find out that Kurtz uses these traits as a tool in order to appeal to certain people and then use them to satisfy his own selfish desires.

            Based on the descriptions and tone of the story, I infer that Kurtz will end up disappointing Marlow. I infer this due to the prolonged quest Marlow has endured in order to meet his idol, Kurtz. Conrad is building up the readers desire to know who Kurtz really is and not who they think he is. Therefore, due to the prolonged wait the reader has to endure, I infer that Conrad is setting us up for a disappointment in which he will utilize Marlow in order to convey the feelings that are going to be created due to this failure. This will in turn set him up for another revealing moment in which he will make us realize how in every one of the persons we look up to there is a heart of darkness rooted deep inside their being.

Justin Enriquez

Brit. Lit. /Comp.

Blog on “The Facts of Media Life”

7 October 2013

Do Quotations Represent Phrases as Truth?

            Not long ago writers respected quotation marks as a tool to represent truth. Before various elements of media shaped and deconstructed the original use of quotation marks, they were used in order to show truth exemplifying real life events in which writers included in their work to portray what writers were both writing and arguing about. Now, quotation marks are utilized to grab the attention of the subjects they are being presented to. For example, I know for a fact that when I’m reading an article on the web or magazine the phrases that are encapsulated with quotes are what grasp most of my attention. Therefore, now writers use quotes in order to publicize their ideas in a more effective way regardless of the absence of truth within the phrase. According to Max Frankel, this is the norm of various journalists now days, to inform their audiences of events in a more fascinating way rather than a truthful manner, and consequently various journalists have lost their occupations due to their dishonest media influenced ways of presenting truth. Therefore, before one can argue their position on quotation marks being a tool to grasp attention rather than representing truth, one must first observe the purpose of why media is interpreted the way it is and even more so what is the real role of journalists.

            Today, quotation marks are utilized as a way to separate what an author has said from the rest of his/her work in order for it to be easily understood for the reader. By rule, however, quotations are used or should be used to represent truth that will either affect the reader or add on to the topic the author is trying to represent. In addition, they play a role in representing how journalists should carry themselves. This is, presenting information in an honest manner but simultaneously keeping audiences returning to their news stations for more. Consequently, the truth is inevitably bent due to the polishing up of facts in order for them to be presented to the audience in a more attractive way. Therefore, I applaud Frank McCourt’s refusal to use quotations because it shows the role he has, in this case, as an author rather than journalist and accordingly respects its original guideline as a tool to represent truth instead of encapsulating uncertain phrases corresponding with uncertain events of his childhood with quotations. Unlike McCourt, both journalists and authors have ignored their original role of presenting the truth by way of quotations and substituted it with using it as a way to publicize their “facts” in a more attractive way thus attracting more audiences for their own benefits.