Daphna Erdinast-Vulcan's The Failure of Metaphysics in Heart of Dearkness

The Article's main points

1. The novella "hinges" upon the tension between the strong religious overtones in Marlow's narration and the explicit denial of the metaphysics (transcendental or supernatural) which his story carries. Marlow himself refuses to explore the question of his initial motive for the journey, dismissing it as a notion, an urge to travel into the heart of Africa.

2. Conrad has used a lot of religious terminology and biblical illusions in the novella. Marlow's quest to travel into the heart of Africa almost seems like a quest for spiritual salvation. It is a quest, Vulcan argues, which entails the assumption that there exists a metaphysical object, a locus of worship to which the pilgrim directs himself. However, she argues that the dark overtones of religiosity are subverted by a rival discourse, a note of skepticism and despair, and an explicit rejection of the very concept of a pilgrimage.

3. The use of adjectives in the novella are overwhelming and work against themes.The reader who expects mistiness to clear as Marlow progresses towards the heart of darkness and toward the revelation implicitly promised in the concept of the pilgrimage, is faced with a thickening fog in which concrete noun-objects seem to be swallowed by vague and portentous qualities. In addition, she argues that the language seems to construct reality rather than refer to it.

4. Because Vulcan believes that the novella's dialogue has tension between a transcendental type of dialogue versus a anti-metaphysical one, she says that the ultimate significance or illumination at the end of the novel is ruined. This happens by the conspicuous absence of the object that would carry the meaning, and leaves the novel in a state of undecipherable reality.

5. She argues that Marlow realizes that Kurtz is a paragon of the blind omnivorous greed which motivates others, that the plenitude he had hoped to encounter is merely the culmination of the hollowness which is Kurtz's being. She says that Kurtz carried a sort of deified stature throughout most of the novel, and that this carries a metaphysical significance throughout the novel.

Ultimately, the metaphysical nature of the novel works against itself as Vulcan argues that Marlow's motives for going to find the mystical Kurtz in the Heart of Darkness were meaningless and unsatisfying to a reader.

Why I chose the word "FOOL"

I chose the word "Fool" after Mr. Coon told me that he added it to the list. I really like this word, because I hear it alot in modern society. From Mr. T's "I pity the fool," to random people just shouting "you fool!" the word has been widely used in the English language. I know of some previous meanings of fool, such as a court jester, but I am more interested to see where it has been used in literature, as well as some old sayings that use the word fool. To conclude, I really do just think that the word "fool" is fun to say at people, of course in a joking manner most of the time, and I hope to learn more about the history of the word.

A "Beheading Game"

The Feast of Bricriu

“The Feast of Bricriu,” also known as Feld Bricrenn, is a “beheading game” story in Irish mythology. In the story, Bricriu, a troublemaking nobleman, invites nobles to a feast at his new home in Dundrum. He prompts three heroes named Cuchulainn, Conall Cernach, and Lóegaire Búadach, to compete for the “Champion’s portion” of the meal, or the finest cut of meat. The heroes perform several feats, and after the feast, they all travel to Munster to be judged by Cú Roí, a king well known for his roles as an arbitrator, to see which one of them deserves the Champion’s portion. Every time the heroes are judged, it seems that Cuchulainn is proclaimed the winner, yet the other heroes refuse to accept that. When the heroes return to Emain Macha, or a pagan ritual site, they encounter a creature named Bachlach, who challenges each of the men to cut off his head, and in return, he will get to cut off their heads. All of the men take swings at Bachlach’s head, and when it falls, Bachlach picks it up and puts it on his head, only to return the next night to finish his end of the deal. It just so happens that the only man who shows up the next night is Cuchulainn, and Bachlach is so impressed by his bravery, he spares his life. There is a twist in the story, as Bachlach is actually Cú Roí in disguise. Nevertheless, Bachlach finally names Cuchulainn the winner of the champion’s feast. 

This story is very similar to the story of “Sir Gawain and the Green Knight,” as the hero ultimately survives the dangerous ordeal in which he is involved. Although there is not a long journey in Feld Bricrenn, the themes of courage and knightly chivalry remain.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fled_Bricrenn
http://www.channel4learning.com/support/programmenotes/netnotes/images/sirgawain/image009.jpg
http://faculty.goucher.edu/eng240/Turner%20Gawain%20Project%202005/beheading.htm

Wealtheow's Stream of Consciousness

Although I never anticipated marrying Hrothgar or even living in his kingdom, I understand that this is the best thing to do for my people. Hrothgar seems to be nice and honorable man, but he is aging exponentially, it seems. I assume my duties in the mead hall, so that I may please Hrothgar and the people, to keep the alliance maintained. These men in the mead hall become excessively drunk, but I still must keep providing the mead. After my long days in Heorot, I tried to relax in my bed, however, the nights in this kingdom are anything but quiet. I was so frightened when I first saw that horrible beast, Grendel, thrashing into room! As if I came across some amount of good fortune from the gods, I was luckily released by this monster. It seemed as if something changed Grendel’s mind, but I could not tell what it was. After a few years, I have given birth to 2 sons, and their father continues to grow even older. When Hrothulf arrived, I saw him as a young man who was sad despite his health. I know that he has worst times to come in his life, especially because I have seen so much pain and suffering in Hrothgar’s mead hall.

 I also sense some sadness in my husband. I feel that he may feel bad that I am so young, yet he is so old and could die at any year. Despite Hrothgar’s pity to me, I still love him and I am glad that I am able to keep the alliance between our Scylding nation and Hrothgar’s. I am concerned; nevertheless, that Hrothulf and and Hrothgar are trying to gain more power. I don’t think that it is necessary in a time like this, especially with a dangerous monster like Grendel on the prowl. One day, when a Geat arrived, I found a new source of confidence in safety. Beowulf has the courage of a lion, and I truly think that he could defeat Grendel. At one of the last banquets before Grendel attacked, I noticed the fears of the men, and I still would continue to quench their fears with large goblets of mead. I know that someday the kingdom will be peaceful, but at the moment I still remain skeptical and hope for happiness in my time of need. 

Alfred the Great

He was born in Wantage, Berkshire, in 849, and was one of five sons. He became the king of Wessex at 21, and he is mostly known for driving out the Viking attacks in the late 870s and early 880s. In early 878, King Guthrum led the Danes as they seized Chippenham in Wiltshire, where the base was used to attack the people of Wessex. Alfred adjusted his tactics to counteract the Dane’s, as he built a fortified base at Athelney in the Somerset. Eventually, by May of 878, Alfred the Great’s small army defeated the Danes at the battle of Edington. Because Alfred could not completely drive the Danes out of England, he produced a peace treaty with them, and King Guthrum was converted to Christianity, and many Danes “returned to East Anglia where they settled as farmers.” Alfred also set up an area in northeastern England, where the land would be under the jurisdiction of the Danes, a place called Danelaw. Alfred also married a Danish woman, a daughter of the king to maintain alliances with the Vikings. Alfred still needed to keep a military defense system, so he created a network of fortresses called burhs, at special locations throughout his kingdom. These forts allowed the military to face attacks at anywhere in the kingdom “in a single day.” Alfred also established a court school for his own children’s education and he was a proponent of teaching Christian wisdom to be taught to all Englishmen. He wanted all primary education to be taught in English; however, most of the educational books at the time were written in Latin. Alfred took matters largely into his own hands as he translated four works into English: “Gregory the Great's Pastoral Care, Boethius's Consolation of Philosophy, St. Augustine's Soliloquies, and the first fifty psalms of the Psalter.” Alfred was a man who desired to increase the education of his people and keep the English language alive. He died on October 26, 899 after a 28 year reign.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Alfred_the_Great

http://www.royal.gov.uk/HistoryoftheMonarchy/KingsandQueensofEngland/TheAnglo-Saxonkings/AlfredtheGreat.aspx

George Levine's "Frankenstein and the Tradition of Realism"

1. Evil is a "deadly and fascinating mystery" coming from the minds of men as an inexplicable but "inescapable" facet of human goodness.
     * Levine remarks that it is very hard to locate in the text an area where evil is both obviously present and "largely inexplicable." For the reader, it would be a hard to say that Victor Frankenstein was acting completely evil when he decided to make the monster. His motives were complex, as he sought for glory, but also started to hate the deed he was doing.

2. Frankenstein's monster is tied to his creator, Victor, re-enacting in "mildly disguised ways," his creator's feelings and experiences.
     * In addition to Frankenstein and his monster sharing a connection, Frankenstein and Walton, and Frankenstein and Clerval have "redoublings" as characters. Frankenstein and his monster both share a sense of loneliness at some point in the novel, as Victor is creating the monster for one moment, and how the monster constantly seeks friendship. Walton and Frankenstein share theses traits which Levine lists, "ambition for glory, embarking on a voyage of scientific discovery, putting other to risk for his work, and isolation from the rest of mankind by his ambition." Levine points out that Clerval is also strikingly similar to Frankenstein as they both reject the "occupations of ordinary life," they both were softened "into gentleness and generosity by the influence of Elizabeth."

3. Family connections make life humanly possible, but when death in a family occurs, life is difficult to continue. The family is an aspect of one's self, and the self "cannot survive bereft of its family."
     * As Levine suggests, every death in the novel is family related, whether literally or figuratively. Once the monster kills Frankenstein's family members, it creates a extremely negative impact on Victor's life that it is hard for him to be happy in the world. When Clerval dies, for example, we see that Victor becomes mentally and physically ill almost to the point of death, just because he considered Clerval as part of his family. Levine also interesting states that when Frankenstein's monster learns of Victor's death, he goes to immolate himself as Victor was the monster's last link to any sort of family.

This information, especially the idea summarized in number 2, gave me a new point of view to look at Frankenstein with. I never realized how much the characters were similar to each other, and it makes me come to the conclusion that Mary Shelly put herself into many of the thoughts and emotions of the characters.

Shelley's View of Victor Himself as Shown in Frankenstein pg. 33

     In Frankenstein, Mary Shelley develops a complex character of Victor Frankenstein as shown when he creates the monster. At first, Victor says that he would be appreciated by the new species as the creator, and that many “happy and excellent” natures would owe him for their existence (Shelley 33). Victor even goes as far to say that he should receive more gratification from his creation that a son would give to his father. This statement demonstrates that Victor is seeking glory and believes that he is performing a good deed for all living things.  
     However, Victor seems to change his perspective regarding his creation. He inquires that he starts to lose his “soul or sensation but for this one pursuit,” suggesting that his mindset is becoming increasing negative as he progresses in his endeavors (Shelley 33). Victor as a character is becoming more complex as he speaks, because he loses the passion and motivation of his soul, when at the same time he is trying to give the creation a soul. In addition, Shelley seems to depict Victor in a more hostile attitude towards his creation by the time he is almost done preparing it. When Victor Frankenstein says, “Who shall conceive the horrors of my secret toil?” it suggests that he does not have the same affection for his creation than that when he first commenced. Shelley shows that the work that Victor has been undertaking has been taking a serious toll on his mental well-being. He no longer has the desire to be with his companions, but he nevertheless continues to have “frantic impulses” to make the creation.  It seems that Shelley is condoning Victor’s attempt to recreate life in a being that has previously been dead throughout the entire novel. This passage in the novel is abundant with verbal tension, reflecting the mental state of Victor as he creates the monster. Although Victor is surely working with tremendous ardor, Shelley ultimately shows that tampering with the workings of nature will only result in suffering on the perpetrator’s part.