Blog Questions 1&4

1. The illustrations of Kafka's Metamorphosis differ from one another. Mairowitz and Crumb's illustrations are more realistic and remain true to the story while Kuper's version is darker and more vivid. Kuper also depicts Gregor having a human-like head on the body of a bug showing that Gregor hasn't completely lost himself during the transformation. The illustrations in a way confirm my interpretation of the novella; however, the two artists took liberties in changing certain parts of each scene and adding their own interpretations of how the characters look and act therefore distorting Kafka's original work. The way I envisioned Metamorphosis somewhat conflicts with their illustrations. Kuper might've chose to illustrate in black and white rather in color because it represents conformity. Colors are unique and depict happiness and cheer while black and white is simple, lacks individuality, and is gloomy/depressing. This is why his choice was so effective because it made an impact on the overall mood of the graphic novel.

4. Kuper is more sympathetic towards Gregor because he illustrates Gregor as being stuck in a dead-end job forced to work for a man who treats him poorly. Kafka focuses more on the conformist side of Gregor instead of focusing on the reasons why he enjoys conformity. Moreover, the father's attitude towards Gregor in Kafka's novella is not as harsh as Kuper's drawing of him violently beating Gregor with his cane. In a way, humor can be found in Gregor's metamorphosis since he turns into the very creature he's acted like all his life. I find that there is more humor in the illustrations of Metamorphosis than in the novella. The illustrations of the family's and the manager's reactions to Gregor being a bug appeared comical rather than serious.

WHAT IF YOU WOKE UP AS A “VERMIN”?

I know for one thing, I would not be able to carry on through my day after discovering I was a giant bug. I understand maybe at first being in denial and thinking the whole situation was just a dream. But after a few seconds of realizing that I can't walk or speak, I'd accept that I was a bug and I'd try to get my body back to normal.
My initial thoughts would probably be "what did I eat last night to make me turn into a bug?" Then after analyzing everything I did the night before, I'd come up with excuse to why I can't come outside until I was human again...
Gregor doesn't have more wakeful and responsive thoughts because he's so used to his daily routine that he doesn't know how to comprehend change. Honestly, if I lived a life exactly like Gregor's I'd probably react the same way.

Wealth, Morality, & The Reality Behind Conrad’s Heart of Darkness

Where a person resides on the social scale is often related with moral upbringing and overall behavior. In Joseph Conrad’s Heart of Darkness, Conrad demonstrates through his characters how this common belief is clearly false. Kurtz grew up in a decent household, had a good education, and is at the top of the social scale. Marlow, however, does not have the advantages that Kurtz has. He is more of a drifter who has yet to discover himself. Normally, one would assume that Kurtz having a better life and a stronger education would have a stronger moral code than someone like Marlow. But the reality is, Marlow retains his values while Kurtz abandons them in his quest for power. Ultimately, this will be Kurtz’s downfall. Through Kurtz and Marlow, Conrad demonstrates how wealth and social statuses don’t determine moral codes; instead, people are born with a good versus evil complex and it’s up to them to listen to their conscience or to follow the id.


--I realized I didn't post my intro paragraph....whoops

Question #1: Interpret one symbol first at the surface, literal level and then as if it were a symbol in a dream vocabulary with a deeper, secondary meaning

In Joseph Conrad's novel, Heart of Darkness, Conrad uses a vast amount of images to symbolize the complex nature of Africa and its people. As colonists pour in from different European countries to the continent of Africa, there is visual proof that Africa and Africans reject European thought and technology. A prime example of that is a railway truck Marlow finds up on a hill: "The thing looked as dead as the carcass of some animal. I came upon more pieces of decaying machinery, a stack of rusty rails." (379). The truck is compared to a dying animal to demonstrate Marlow's sympathy towards what the Europeans are doing in Africa. The reader can easily identify where his loyalty lies. Symbolically, the railway truck is more than a "dead animal" but a sign that Africa is not like Europe and therefore should be left alone. Technology being turned over is only a warning sign; the colonists should heed these warnings because they could easily be turned over too. The fact that the truck is on top of a hill means that the wreckage is closer to heaven and can be interpreted as God himself playing an intricate role in shunning unwanted colonists and ideas out of Africa.

Essay Ideas on Heart of Darkness

My (scattered) thoughts and ideas on the topic of symbolism and how psychoanalysis helps us make sense of these symbols:
In the Joseph Conrad's story, The Heart of Darkness, Conrad uses many symbols to portray his character.
Kurtz, for example, is a brilliant man whose only downfall is that he lacks restraint against temptation. Once he's away from England, Kurtz disregards British rule and does whatever he wants, including the mistreatment of the natives in order to obtain more ivory. He is an ironic character because a man of such intelligence and high stature is ignorant enough to fall victim to his desires.
Marlow's journey down the Congo maybe foreshadows a path leading him and Kurtz to disaster. The dark imagery connotes a sinister life or maybe even death. The withering of the water represents the decay of society and their own lives.

psychological significance of journey

In Joseph Conrad's story, Heart of Darkness, the main character Marlow not only goes through a journey physically but mentally. His prejudices about Africans are prevalent in the things he says; however, Marlow demonstrates the ability to change through his recognition of right from wrong. Towards the beginning of the story he refers to the continent of Africa as a “God-forsaken wilderness.” Even though he voices his racist or ignorant opinion often, Marlow appears to be more ethical than his peers. For example, he shows sympathy towards the natives being mistreated by the settlers which means he has a strong moral code. Since Marlow is still battling his early prejudices against his morals, he still has a long journey to go before he can become enlightened.

Question #6 p. 430

The painting of "a woman, draped and blindfolded, carrying a lighted torch" symbolizes how imperialism supposedly helps the natives by guiding them to civilization and truth (which is symbolized as a lighted torch). A woman being blindfolded usually represents justice being blind to all prejudices; however, the idea of a superior country conquering others because they are "primitive" is anything but justice. Instead, the blindfolded woman could represent the blind leading the blind because the imperialist nations are just as or even more ignorant and blind to the truth than the natives they want to "save."

Marlow would agree somewhat with this message because he is very critical towards imperialism. In his mind, he views that the natives and even the continent of Africa reject European "improvement"; therefore, they should leave the people to continue being savage and misguided. After witnessing a fight between the natives and the imperialists, Marlow realizes how cruel mankind can be towards one another.