"We could have fancied ourselves the first of men taking posession of an accursed inheritance, to be subdued at the cost of profound anguish and of excessive toil." (Conrad 43)
The phrase "first of men" is interesting because of the many Biblical allusions and references made throughout the novel. Does Conrad mean to imply that they are like the "first of men" in that "[their] wickedness was great... and every intent of [their] heart[s] was only evil continually" (Genesis 6) ? If so, then are they destined for destruction as in the Great Flood of the Bible? Or are they like Adam in that the river "resembling an immense snake" (9) led them to the metaphorical forbidden fruit at the center of the garden (ie earth)? Marlow states earlier in the novel that, "I felt as though, instead of going to the centre of a continent, I were about to set off for the centre of the earth." (15)
Also, the phrase "accursed inheritance" is ironic because often an inheritance is associated with something of value; something precious. Furthermore, an "inheritance" does not generally have a "cost" associated with it. What are the men in the company hoping to "inherit" through their "profound anguish" and "excessive toil"? Clearly with such strong language, the cost of what is being sought is higher than the value of it.
Conrad does use many references to the bible, and even mentions at the beginning of the novel that he was lured in by the snake. He might be paralleling his situation with that of Adam in the Garden of Eden. Or he might not. The only sure thing is that in either case he regards Africa as a demonic or satanic place...
ReplyDeleteI think numerous references to the Bible in the novel have some connections to the fact that Christianity is the dominant religion in the civilized Europe at the time. By presenting this references may be Conrad want to capitalized the fact that being the more civilized by no means can eliminate the darkness inside each people and can emerge when the restraints are loosen.
ReplyDeleteI am not really sure about this since I have never had chance to read the Bible.