Best of Today: Europe is in Darkness

Today in class, we had a discussion on Heart of Darkness. There were many good points, but the idea that got my attention the most was one from Anna B. She pointed out that although Africa, and specifically the Congo, and always referred to as the "darkness," when Marlow returns to Europe he believes the people living there to be the ones in the dark. It's the complete opposite of how you'd think it would be.

Africa has always been looked at as being behind other civilizations and therefore unenlightened whereas Europe has always been a leading power and described specifically as enlightened. That's why this idea is so intriguing. When Marlow first returns to Europe, he says, "I had no particular desire to enlighten them, but I had some difficulty in restraining myself from laughing in their faces so full of stupid importance" (Page 71). Because Marlow has been to the end of the world and back, he realizes how in the dark the average person is. They are filled with "stupid importance" and believe that only their own lives and little worlds matter. They're the ones who need their eyes to be opened, no the natives in the Congo.

This also made me think a lot about the present day. Many people are still like this; they get sucked into their own little worlds and ignore everything that doesn't have anything to do with them. I admit, I do this on occasion as well. It's hard to focus and learn about something that you feel as no relevance to you. It's important to do this, though. I believe it helps you become a more rounded person because you are knowledgeable about many things all over the world. If a war is going on, you should know more than just who it's between. Although it may seem like it's not effecting you, it indirectly is. It's effecting trade patterns, economies, people's lives, and many more. That's the same as what was happening in Heart of Darkness. No one knew what was going on in the Congo, and no one cared. They didn't understand that everything has some relevance to you, whether it's direct or indirect.

By acknowledging this, I am now able to open my mind to other situations going on in other parts of the world. I tried to do this before, but Anna's comment opened my eyes to how in the dark many people are. If you don't understand that the whole world is connect, then you are truly in the dark.