Examples of Outstanding Student Efforts...
re: Webquest: Post-Colonialism Criticism message board
Jan 26, 2011 3:38 pm
In this passage Marlow perfectly explains (perhaps inadertently) the root cause of racial inequality and racism worldwide. Racism is founded in a deep-seated fear in the colonizing countries; stemming from the knowledge that at one time European counries were the "colonies" of Rome; and that during the Europeans were the savages in need of civilization. "Sand-banks, marshes, forests, savages, -precious little to eat fit for a civilized man, nothing but Thames water to drink. No Falernian wine here, no going ashore. Here and there a military camp lost in a wilderness, like a needle in a bundle of hay -cold, fog, tempests, disease, exile, and death -death skulking in the air, in the water, in the bush. They must have been dying like flies here,"-Marlow in reference to a Roman's view of pre-Roman England. Similarly the worlds racial iniquality can be traced to accidental success due to the unpreparedness of others. This all meaning Europeans believed themselves to be superior culturally, religiously, and genetically, simply because thier technology was slightly more advanced (might I add the vast majority of European technolgy was "borrowed" from other cultures to begin with; for example, gun powder from the Middle and Far East). "...only brute force -nothing to boast of, when you have it, since your strength is just an accident arising from the weakness of others,"-Marlow, in reference to the true reason of European success. From all this one can conclude the reason why European and Western countries seem to be receeding in power as countries such as Brazil and China seem to be growing is due to the fact they have nearly caught up technologically (at least to some extent) to the West. Europe has given its various technolgies to its colonies in the same way its own conquerers did (is it not iron how history seems to repeat itself?); and because the Europeans were not truly superior in any other way, this equalization of power can only be expected.
Webquest-Post Colonialism
(The Docks)
In this passage, Conrad drew heavily on the concept of change and differences. Change, as stated by one of the students from Brown University, is a reoccurring Post-Colonial motif. Change is featured so prominently throughout Post-Colonial literature because the authors wish to show the difference between life pre- and post- colonization. The passage begins with '"And this also," said Marlow suddenly, "has been one of the dark places of the earth" 'and ends with flames dancing on the water. Over the course of the passage, Marlow gives a history of England, beginning with Roman occupation of England, and its immeasurable impact on the country. He journeys through the history by telling his listeners that as the "savages" who originally inhabited the area were "civilized"; it brought a new light (enlightenment) to the dark (ancient) ways of life that the natives practiced. This juxtaposition of dark and light shows the change from the pre-colonized, un-Anglo Saxonized (dark) England to the (light) world super power that it had become by that time. This change is almost comical because during this time period, the British were subjugating other cultures, just as theirs had been many centuries before. This is a common occurrence in history; a country is colonized and made "civil" then turns around 150 years later and attempt themselves to colonize and "civilize" a group which they deem unworthy. The majority of European nations, such as England, the setting for this passage, and Belgium, the mother country of the Congo, had once been controlled by the Holy Roman Empire. Once the Empire dissolved, many new, weak and fledgling nations appeared in its place. As each of these nations grew, several stood out, among them Britain, France and Spain. Each of these nations took advantage of their new status and decided to try out the colonization "game” themselves. I use the word game, because that is what colonization became to them. How many "pieces" can I get on the "board" and how much money will the banker give me for each investment? But that became (not to make a board game reference) “Life” for them, and so many others that were affected by their invasions. Colonization was a “Risk” to take for these nations, but they wanted dominance in the world economic game, almost like a “Monopoly”. Each of these purchases that they made, May it be Baltic Ave. or Park Place, increased their value in the world. I guess what I am trying to say is that colonization dehumanized countries to the point that the people became pieces and kings the players. They were pawns of an empire, used to win the game, and then shoved back in the box until the next time the wealthy fancied a go at winning.
re: Webquest: Post-Colonialism Criticism message board
Feb 1, 2011 5:27 pm
The Docks
At the docks Marlow talks about the cycle of colonialism. This is shown in the quote “‘And this also,’ said Marlow suddenly, ‘has been one of the dark places of the earth.’” Marlow talks about how the Romans colonized the savages of Europe and made them the superpowers they were in those days. Now that they were civilized it was there turn to civilize the savages of the world, a.k.a. the Africans. He also talks about the true motives of colonialism. Many of the rulers of Rome justified the colonization of Europe by saying they would “civilize” the natives and give them science and tools, but the true reason for colonization was greed. Everyone involved was forced or did it for there own selfish gain. The quote “Here and there a military camp lost in a wilderness, like a needle in a bundle of hay—cold, fog, tempests, disease, exile, and death—death skulking in
the air, in the water, in the bush. They must have been dying like flies here. Oh, yes—he did it. Did it very well, too, no doubt, and without thinking much about it either, except afterwards to brag of what he had gone through in his time, perhaps. They were men enough to face the darkness. And perhaps he was cheered by keeping his eye on a chance of promotion to the fleet at Ravenna…” shows this greed in many ways. First off the Roman rulers sent their soldiers to die for their own gain of wealth. They would never sacrifice the money to simply civilize these “monsters”. Another way is the troops. The only way they were cheered up is the thought of being promoted. Helping the natives better themselves wasn’t good enough for them.
re: Webquest: Post-Colonialism Criticism message board: THE OUTER STATION
Feb 2, 2011 8:28 pm
The passage is not so much a criticism of European Imperialism as a revelation of the average sixteenth century colonists perspectives on the colonies themselves and the indigenous people of the colonies. "My purpose was to stroll into the shade for a moment; but no sooner within than it seemed to me I had stepped into the gloomy circle of some Inferno," quoth Marlow to his listeners on the Nellie, in reference to the "dying grove". Conrad chose the word "inferno" in this instance for two reasons. Firstly because of the obvious hellish conditions, the suffering, the death, and hopelessness; and also because of the fact that he(both Marlow and Conrad, as both had seen the corruption in the Congo) knew that he, as a European, was just as guilty for the atrocities taking place as the truly corrupt men such as Kurtz were. This leads us to the question, why are the Africans suffering in the first place? The answer is, of course, because of the Europeans; and the Europeans because of their apperent disregard for human life have caused, as a byproduct of their greed have caused a "mass death". However, the conquerors have always wreaked havoc on the conquered, and even though some valuable information is lost with these people, it is only a small amount. Be that as it may, it is the widespread death of so many indigenous people that makes the colonization of Africa, the Americans, and Australia so disturbing. Let us take for example the small pox outbreak amoung the Indians, the outbreak was deliberately caused by Europeans (the blanket incident) and completely devestated a vast number of tribes. In compound to this is the example of the Aboriginals who where (and to this day remain) exiled into the desert into the desert. Hence, one may conclude from this passage that Conrad believed because of conscious greed or honest misconceptions that Europeans were, in fact, responsible for a global genocide of sorts, not of a specific ethnic group but of the peoples indiginous to the areas we colonized; a problem that is, unfortunately still present in the world
Jan 26, 2011 3:38 pm
In this passage Marlow perfectly explains (perhaps inadertently) the root cause of racial inequality and racism worldwide. Racism is founded in a deep-seated fear in the colonizing countries; stemming from the knowledge that at one time European counries were the "colonies" of Rome; and that during the Europeans were the savages in need of civilization. "Sand-banks, marshes, forests, savages, -precious little to eat fit for a civilized man, nothing but Thames water to drink. No Falernian wine here, no going ashore. Here and there a military camp lost in a wilderness, like a needle in a bundle of hay -cold, fog, tempests, disease, exile, and death -death skulking in the air, in the water, in the bush. They must have been dying like flies here,"-Marlow in reference to a Roman's view of pre-Roman England. Similarly the worlds racial iniquality can be traced to accidental success due to the unpreparedness of others. This all meaning Europeans believed themselves to be superior culturally, religiously, and genetically, simply because thier technology was slightly more advanced (might I add the vast majority of European technolgy was "borrowed" from other cultures to begin with; for example, gun powder from the Middle and Far East). "...only brute force -nothing to boast of, when you have it, since your strength is just an accident arising from the weakness of others,"-Marlow, in reference to the true reason of European success. From all this one can conclude the reason why European and Western countries seem to be receeding in power as countries such as Brazil and China seem to be growing is due to the fact they have nearly caught up technologically (at least to some extent) to the West. Europe has given its various technolgies to its colonies in the same way its own conquerers did (is it not iron how history seems to repeat itself?); and because the Europeans were not truly superior in any other way, this equalization of power can only be expected.
Webquest-Post Colonialism
(The Docks)
In this passage, Conrad drew heavily on the concept of change and differences. Change, as stated by one of the students from Brown University, is a reoccurring Post-Colonial motif. Change is featured so prominently throughout Post-Colonial literature because the authors wish to show the difference between life pre- and post- colonization. The passage begins with '"And this also," said Marlow suddenly, "has been one of the dark places of the earth" 'and ends with flames dancing on the water. Over the course of the passage, Marlow gives a history of England, beginning with Roman occupation of England, and its immeasurable impact on the country. He journeys through the history by telling his listeners that as the "savages" who originally inhabited the area were "civilized"; it brought a new light (enlightenment) to the dark (ancient) ways of life that the natives practiced. This juxtaposition of dark and light shows the change from the pre-colonized, un-Anglo Saxonized (dark) England to the (light) world super power that it had become by that time. This change is almost comical because during this time period, the British were subjugating other cultures, just as theirs had been many centuries before. This is a common occurrence in history; a country is colonized and made "civil" then turns around 150 years later and attempt themselves to colonize and "civilize" a group which they deem unworthy. The majority of European nations, such as England, the setting for this passage, and Belgium, the mother country of the Congo, had once been controlled by the Holy Roman Empire. Once the Empire dissolved, many new, weak and fledgling nations appeared in its place. As each of these nations grew, several stood out, among them Britain, France and Spain. Each of these nations took advantage of their new status and decided to try out the colonization "game” themselves. I use the word game, because that is what colonization became to them. How many "pieces" can I get on the "board" and how much money will the banker give me for each investment? But that became (not to make a board game reference) “Life” for them, and so many others that were affected by their invasions. Colonization was a “Risk” to take for these nations, but they wanted dominance in the world economic game, almost like a “Monopoly”. Each of these purchases that they made, May it be Baltic Ave. or Park Place, increased their value in the world. I guess what I am trying to say is that colonization dehumanized countries to the point that the people became pieces and kings the players. They were pawns of an empire, used to win the game, and then shoved back in the box until the next time the wealthy fancied a go at winning.
re: Webquest: Post-Colonialism Criticism message board
Feb 1, 2011 5:27 pm
The Docks
At the docks Marlow talks about the cycle of colonialism. This is shown in the quote “‘And this also,’ said Marlow suddenly, ‘has been one of the dark places of the earth.’” Marlow talks about how the Romans colonized the savages of Europe and made them the superpowers they were in those days. Now that they were civilized it was there turn to civilize the savages of the world, a.k.a. the Africans. He also talks about the true motives of colonialism. Many of the rulers of Rome justified the colonization of Europe by saying they would “civilize” the natives and give them science and tools, but the true reason for colonization was greed. Everyone involved was forced or did it for there own selfish gain. The quote “Here and there a military camp lost in a wilderness, like a needle in a bundle of hay—cold, fog, tempests, disease, exile, and death—death skulking in
the air, in the water, in the bush. They must have been dying like flies here. Oh, yes—he did it. Did it very well, too, no doubt, and without thinking much about it either, except afterwards to brag of what he had gone through in his time, perhaps. They were men enough to face the darkness. And perhaps he was cheered by keeping his eye on a chance of promotion to the fleet at Ravenna…” shows this greed in many ways. First off the Roman rulers sent their soldiers to die for their own gain of wealth. They would never sacrifice the money to simply civilize these “monsters”. Another way is the troops. The only way they were cheered up is the thought of being promoted. Helping the natives better themselves wasn’t good enough for them.
re: Webquest: Post-Colonialism Criticism message board: THE OUTER STATION
Feb 2, 2011 8:28 pm
The passage is not so much a criticism of European Imperialism as a revelation of the average sixteenth century colonists perspectives on the colonies themselves and the indigenous people of the colonies. "My purpose was to stroll into the shade for a moment; but no sooner within than it seemed to me I had stepped into the gloomy circle of some Inferno," quoth Marlow to his listeners on the Nellie, in reference to the "dying grove". Conrad chose the word "inferno" in this instance for two reasons. Firstly because of the obvious hellish conditions, the suffering, the death, and hopelessness; and also because of the fact that he(both Marlow and Conrad, as both had seen the corruption in the Congo) knew that he, as a European, was just as guilty for the atrocities taking place as the truly corrupt men such as Kurtz were. This leads us to the question, why are the Africans suffering in the first place? The answer is, of course, because of the Europeans; and the Europeans because of their apperent disregard for human life have caused, as a byproduct of their greed have caused a "mass death". However, the conquerors have always wreaked havoc on the conquered, and even though some valuable information is lost with these people, it is only a small amount. Be that as it may, it is the widespread death of so many indigenous people that makes the colonization of Africa, the Americans, and Australia so disturbing. Let us take for example the small pox outbreak amoung the Indians, the outbreak was deliberately caused by Europeans (the blanket incident) and completely devestated a vast number of tribes. In compound to this is the example of the Aboriginals who where (and to this day remain) exiled into the desert into the desert. Hence, one may conclude from this passage that Conrad believed because of conscious greed or honest misconceptions that Europeans were, in fact, responsible for a global genocide of sorts, not of a specific ethnic group but of the peoples indiginous to the areas we colonized; a problem that is, unfortunately still present in the world