Use of Symbolism in Hawthornes The House of the Seven...

Use of Symbolism in Hawthornes The House of the Seven Gables In the novel The House of the Seven Gables, Hawthorne portrays Alice Pyncheon as a unique and compelling character, placing her in contrast with a story full of greed, lies and betrayal. Hawthorne reveals her fantastic character to us in numerous uses of symbolism throughout the novel. By painting a picture of a gentle yet proud woman, Hawthorne chooses to represent Alices impressive characteristics using images that come up repeatedly in his novel such as the nature and flowers in the garden as well as Alices Posies. Hawthorne also makes reference to the Maule mastery and its power over Alice and the playing of the harpsichord during a Pyncheon death. All the†¦show more content†¦Hawthorne describes the bush as literally covered with a rare and very beautiful species of white rose (68). The white hue of the roses could no doubt represent the purity of Alices character and spirit. The rosebush radiant in full bloom mirrors the fact that Alices spirit is very much alive a nd vibrant despite her unfair death two centuries earlier. Also, when Hawthorne states that the whole rosebush looked as if it had been brought from Eden that very summer, he shows the innocence of Alices spirit through his reference to the garden of Eden and her characters place among the heavens above. This rosebush in the Pyncheon garden symbolizes Alices innocence and purity as well as her connection to nature and the flowers that God himself created. Besides Alices connection to the nature in full bloom within the Pyncheon garden, Hawthorne makes several references to Alices Posies which bloom every summer on the roof of the House of the Seven Gables. Hawthorne notes that these flowers did their best to gladden it [the house] with tender beauty in the same way that Alices tenderness does its best to dominate the gloom of the Pyncheon House (31). Most notably, Alices Posies were flaunting in rich beauty and full bloom . . . a mystic expression that something within the house was consummated on the day that Holgrave and Phoebe unite their love for one another, thereforeShow MoreRelated A Comparison of The Scarlet Letter and The House of the Seven Gables3606 Words   |  15 PagesA Comparison of The Scarlet Letter and The House of the Seven Gables    Nathaniel Hawthorne, one of Americas most renowned authors, demonstrates his extraordinary talents in two of his most famed novels, The Scarlet Letter and The House of the Seven Gables. To compare these two books seems bizarre, as their plots are distinctly different. Though the books are quite seemingly different, the central themes and Hawthornes style are closely related (Carey, p. 62). American novelist NathanielRead More The Analysis Of Light And Dark Essay879 Words   |  4 PagesImagery Nathaniel Hawthornes The House of the Seven Gables, uses many qualities of symbolism which help develop the novels main ideas. Darkness is the emblematic color; of the Pyncheons. Contrasted with its opposite, light, it forms one of the major symbols of the novel: the opposition of dark and light. Hawthorne uses dark imagery throughout his novel to express a sense of decay, but he also uses light imagery to inject hope. Nathaniel Hawthorne in The House of the Seven Gables describes PhoebeRead MoreEssay about Symbols and Symbolism in The House of the Seven Gables3364 Words   |  14 PagesSymbolism in The House of the Seven Gables      Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   American literature reflects life and the struggles faced during existence. Symbols are an eloquent way for an author to create a more fully developed work of art. The stories themselves tell a tale; however, an author also uses symbols to relay his message in a more subtle manner. Nathaniel Hawthorne was one of the earliest authors to use symbols as an integral part of his plots. This is clearly seen in both The Scarlet Letter and in The HouseRead MoreThe House of Seven Gables: Symbolism2694 Words   |  11 PagesThe House of Seven Gables: Symbolism American Literature reflects life, and the struggles that we face during our existence. The great authors of our time incorporate lifes problems into their literature directly and indirectly. The stories themselves bluntly tell us a story, however, an author also uses symbols to relay to us his message in a more subtle manner. In Nathaniel Hawthornes book The House of Seven Gables symbolism is eloquently used to enhance the story being told, byRead More Hawthorne?s Symbolism In The House Of Seven Gables Essay2655 Words   |  11 Pageshowever, an author also uses symbols to relay to us his message in a more subtle manner. In Nathaniel Hawthorne’s book The House of Seven Gable’s symbolism is eloquently used to enhance the story being told, by giving us a deeper insight into the author’s intentions in writing the story. The book begins by describing the most obvious symbol of the house itself. The house itself takes on human like characteristics as it is being described by Hawthorne in the opening chapters. The house is described as quot;breathingRead MoreThe House of the Seven Gables by Nathaniel Hawthorne Essay6806 Words   |  28 PagesThe House of the Seven Gables by Nathaniel Hawthorne The House of the Seven Gables is a romantic novel set in a grand and rustic, old house with seven gables in New England town. The story opens with its history, beginning in the 1690s, when witch-hunting was rampant. Afterwards, it revolves around the course of one summer in the 1850s. At his housewarming party, Colonel Pyncheon, the socially noted owner of the house was mysteriously found dead in one of the rooms. AlthoughRead More The Double Life Exposed in The Scarlet Letter Essay1497 Words   |  6 Pagesprofessional athletes, people have and will continue to lead false lives, under the public spotlight, concealing their personal travails.   In literature, the preceding statement has held true numerous times, in works such as Nathaniel Hawthornes The Scarlet Letter.   Minister and respected citizen, Arthur Dimmesdale, was perceived as an upstanding member of the community who preached the word of the heavenly Father. But before the public, he was only camouflaging his darkRead MoreEssay on Like water for chocolate6961 Words   |  28 Pagesshow life â€Å"as it is,† the body of realist literature tends to eschew the elevated subject matter of tragedy in favor of the average, the commonplace, the middle classes and their daily struggles with daily existence. This literature undertook to use language as a kind of undistorting mirror of, or perfectly transparent window to, the â€Å"real†, to disguise its own status as artifice, to present language as constructed of one-to-one relationships between the word (signifier) and the thing that the

Essay on Guilt, Duty, And Unrequited Love - 2223 Words

Guilt, Duty, and Unrequited Love: Deconstructing the Love Triangles in James Joyce’s The Dead and Thomas Hardy’s Jude the Obscure amp;quot;It’s no problem of mine but it’s a problem I fight, living a life that I can’t leave behind. But there’s no sense in telling me, the wisdom of the cruel words that you speak. But that’s the way that it goes and nobody knows, while everyday my confusion grows.amp;quot; --New Order, Bizarre Love Triangle, from Substance, 1987 Most people who have watched a soap opera can recognize that the love triangle is a crucial element to the plot. In fact, the original radio broadcasted soap operas seemed to consist almost entirely of love triangles. The love triangle, for plot purposes, seems to be a†¦show more content†¦At the time, her husband interprets her expression on the staircase as one of amp;quot;grace and mystery†¦as if she were a symbol of something.amp;quot;(Joyce 2028). He was correct, except not in the way that he thought. All the way to the hotel, the lingering memory of that sight of her incites his passion. However, he experiences a terrible upset as Greta tells him about the song and what it means to her. This is the critical moment where Michael, or rather his memory, enters and completes the triangle, although he may have been there all along without Gabriel’s knowledge. To Gabriel, this turn of events casts a different light on his entire marriage to Greta as he amp;quot;t hought of how she who lay beside him had locked in her heart for so many years that image of her lover’s eyes when he told her that he did not wish to liveamp;quot;(Joyce 2035). He wonders amp;quot;how poor a part he, her husband, had played in her lifeamp;quot;(Joyce 2035). Although it is a bit peculiar for one of the members of this bizarre love triangle to reside beyond the grave, we see here that Michael plays a significant role, perhaps altering Gabriel and Greta’s relationship forever, with Greta’s guilt as the instigating factor. amp;#9;As for Sue, in Jude, her guilt operates on a completely different level, a religious one. Like Greta, Sue also had a sick man die after bravingShow MoreRelatedGuilt, Duty, and Unrequited Love2341 Words   |  10 PagesGuilt, Duty, and Unrequited Love: Deconstructing the Love Triangles in James Joyce s The Dead and Thomas Hardy s Jude the Obscure quot;It s no problem of mine but it s a problem I fight, living a life that I can t leave behind. But there s no sense in telling me, the wisdom of the cruel words that you speak. But that s the way that it goes and nobody knows, while everyday my confusion grows.quot; --New Order, Bizarre Love Triangle, from Substance, 1987 Most people who haveRead MoreRomantic, Realist, And Modernist Period1031 Words   |  5 PagesLove, since the beginning of time, has had a place in every literature no matter the time period. The world that we live in is complex and often times, love and reason do not exist interconnect, however, literature acts as the glue in bringing these two elements together. Authors sometimes use the concept of love as a subject for their work, rationally, and carefully using it as a tool in their writing. In this essay, works by different authors during the Romantic, Realist, and Modernist period willRead More Comparing Love and Marriage in Canterbury Tales, Lanval, Faerie Queene, and Monsieurs Departure675 Words   |  3 PagesLove and Marriage in Canterbury Tales, Lanval, Faerie Queene, and Monsieurs Departure Medieval and Renaissance literature develops the concepts of love and marriage and records the evolution of the relation between them. In Chaucers Canterbury Tales, Christian love clashes with courtly love, as men and women grapple with such issues as which partner should rule in marriage, the proper, acceptable role of sex in marriage, and the importance of love as a basis for a successful marriage. WorksRead More The Burdens of Lt. Jimmy Cross in Tim OBriens Story The Things They Carried1615 Words   |  7 Pagesmost pressing. Of all the weights burdened upon Lt. Cross, the heaviest baggage is located in his own mind. Specifically, the heaviest things Lt. Cross carries are an emotional obsession over Marthas love, the physical consequences caused by his daydreaming of Martha, and an unrelenting guilt about Ted Lavenders death. In the first paragraph of the story, Jimmy Cross rank is noted (First Lieutenant) along with the fact that he carried letters from a girl named Martha, a juniorRead More Death and Freedom in Sorrows of a Young Werther and Crime and Punishment881 Words   |  4 PagesThe relationship illustrated in both works is that one cannot achieve true freedom until they are dead. Until death, Werther and Raskolnikov will always feel the restrictions that society places upon them. Werther feels restricted due to the unrequited love of Lotte and Raskolnikov feels restricted by the moral code that society establishes. In Sorrows of a Young Werther by Goethe and Crime and Punishment by Dostoevsky both characters’ exhibit their freedom through death. In Sorrows of a YoungRead MoreAcknowledging Female Stereotypes in Much Ado About Nothing1653 Words   |  7 Pagesinterest in Hero for a while before their present conversation about her. He admired her before he went away to war, but more pressing, important, masculine issues took his mind off her. This implies that matters of the heart were less valued by men than duty and honor, and that his current infatuation with Hero is sort of an afterthought, something to pursue as he is now bored. This distant, material admiration for Hero quickly turns to contempt when he thinks that Don Pedro has taken her for himselfRead MoreGreat Expectations for All Essay1835 Words   |  8 PagesIntroduction As humans grow up, they must all experience the awkward phase of the teen years, as they leave behind childhood for adulthood. In these times of transformations, one often finds themselves marred by the wicked ways of naà ¯ve love and the humiliation many experience. In Charles Dickens novel Great Expectations, one is able to watch an innocent boy’s transformation into a mature gentleman who is still a child at heart. Pip is plagued with the daunting responsibilities of adulthood andRead MoreJealousy, By William Shakespeare2097 Words   |  9 Pagesthis culminates in the murder of his wife, Ferdinand loses his sanity and murders his sister because of his intense jealousy over her lover and his desire to possess her body. Finally, hopeless stalker Jed Parry turns suicidal when his desires and love toward Joe are not reciprocated and he becomes increasingly jealous of Joe’s girlfriend Clarissa. All three writers explore the effects of jealousy and its potentially fatal consequences which I destroy the characters afflicted by this emotion. WebsterRead More Necessity in The Things They Carried Essay2336 Words   |  10 Pagessame paragraph as the lists of rations and sleep gear. Another extremely significant example of emotional sustenance is given in the descriptions of Lieutenant Crosss attachment to Martha. He carries her letters and reads them daily (1-2), and his love for her, as well as the mystery of her feelings for him, drives him, keeps him going, and gives his life meaning. He also carries her photographs (5-6) and the pebble she sends him (9) as constant reminders of her. But despite the limited weightRead MoreHamlet, By William Shakespeare2824 Words   |  12 Pagessubmissive female. Her love for Hamlet ultimately was the reason for her destruction, because it caused her to become a pawn for her father, Polonius, and her love interest, Hamlet. Since Ophelia’s role was as a pawn, she constantly received mixed messages from her father, who was the man who controlled her entire life, as well as from the man she loved, Hamlet. The burden of double messages she received from the men in the play, lead her to question the duplicity of love, man, and society, and

Crime And Criminal Justice System - 974 Words

Since the eighteenth century society has been controlled by policing to deal with the ‘problem’ of ‘crime’. Although there are various perceptions of what ‘crime’ is and means, we can view it as an offence or act which is able to be punished by the Law. Despite this, the Police arguably omit ‘crimes’ caused by particular individuals or groups such as; the bourgeois and white males and females. Many occasions these responses deny less privileged and minority groups equality within the criminal justice system, furthermore breaking the rule of Law. An ideology in which everyone is equal before the Law, (Bingham,2010:85) implies,â€Å"It would seem to be an obvious implication of the principle that everyone is bound by and entitled to the protection of the law.† Unfortunately this is not the case with many responses by policing. The state and criminal justice agencies control groups in society that are labelled as troubled although Fitzgerald,M and Hale,C (2009:387) comply that, â€Å"The modern state is expected to provide safety and well being of its citizens, protecting them from both external and internal threats, including becoming victims of crime† without being dictated upon a person’s class, race or gender. People who are subjected to such agencies are often affected by the state s construction of ‘crime’, as the state will always view someone who has committed a ‘crime’ as a ‘criminal’. Further, the Police conceivably attend to many more ‘crimes’ when individuals such as, ethnicShow MoreRelatedCrime And Crime : The Criminal Justice System Essay1520 Words   |  7 Pagesanalyzed various aspects of crime and criminality. Through continued study and ongoing research, criminologists have developed various theories as per the causes of different types of crime, whether or not some individuals are predisposed to certain types of criminal activity, legal processes of the criminal justice system, and how criminal offenders are processed. Canada’s criminal justice system comprises and constitutes various stages and components. The criminal justice system is a significant toolRead MoreCriminal Crime And The Criminal Justice System1693 Words   |  7 PagesCriminal Profiler/Psychologist’s are people in the Criminal Justice System that create psychological profiles of criminals in order to identify behavioral patterns, in efforts to help officers na rrow down their searches to people who fit that particular description. Profiler’s examine crime scenes, analyze evidence, read reports from investigators, write reports, and interview witnesses and victims in order to collect information. They may work for local, state, or federal law enforcement. ProfilersRead MoreThe Crime Of The Criminal Justice System963 Words   |  4 Pagesnews reports, crime daily. Crime is something that we cannot run from in today’s society; so we depend highly upon the justice system. Criminal Justice is a major concern. Criminal Justice consists of three areas: our police, courts and corrections department. The Criminal Justice system was put in place by these agencies, and established by the governments to help control the crimes and applies penalties to those that violate the law. Many people feel that the criminal justice system is there toRead MoreThe Crime Of The Criminal Justice System1266 Words   |  6 Pages The criminal justice system in England and Wales is made up of multiple agencies which all have different responsibilities, however they share the main objective of maintaining and enforcing the rule of law. The International Bar Association (2005) describes the Rule of Law as ‘the foundation of a civilized society’ with a society’s formal response to crime being the responsibility of the criminal justice system ‘more specifically in terms of a series of decisions and actions being taken by a numberRead MoreCrime And The Criminal Justice System1511 Words   |  7 Pageshas always been a need to have a system in place in order to ensure that the laws of the land are followed by all. This system, today, is called the criminal justice system. The criminal justice system is very important in serving the individual needs and society’s needs by making individuals feel safe and secure and by fulfilling societal requirements of punishing that criminal elem ent that infringes on those needs of individuals. The role that the criminal justice professional is vital when itRead MoreThe Crimes Of The Criminal Justice System968 Words   |  4 Pagestechnology, there are different types of crimes that can be committed. These crimes have been traditionally defined as either computer crimes or cybercrimes. The distinction in the two types of crimes seems to focus primarily on whether the crime can be committed without the use of technology and if the computer itself was actively involved with the crime. However, both types have created issues with the criminal justice system with how criminals are committing their crimes, the difficulties in law enforcementRead MoreCrime and the Criminal Justice System1111 Words   |  5 PagesCrime and the Criminal Justice System The criminal justice system and the process have molded the laws of the United States to its current existence. The judicial system is designed to punish those who commit crimes against one another and for those who break the laws in other ways. According to Pearson (2012), crime can be defined as conduct in violation of the state, the federal government, or a local jurisdiction for which there is no legally acceptable justification or excuse. Pearson (2012)Read MoreThe Crime Of The Criminal Justice System1696 Words   |  7 Pages The Criminal Justice system has become an increasingly popular subject in America due to television, movies, and the media. This is due to crime and punishing crime being romanticized and the population becoming more desensitized. Some of the most appealing shows to the American people are the ones that include criminal investigations. However, the crime television shows that people view on a daily basis is extremely different from the actual Criminal Justice system, especially homicide investigationsRead MoreCrime System And Criminal Justice System Essay1399 Words   |  6 PagesIntroduction: The criminal justice system has evolved on the decades. From initially being constituted by the victim to eventually becoming constituted by written laws. There have been several changes made within the justice system, so in the following I will discuss my perspectives of the researched information and the noted changes of a system that was created by the people for the people. Topic I – Victim Justice System vs. Criminal Justice System A. Responsibilities of the victim’s past/presentRead MoreCrime And The Criminal Justice System1561 Words   |  7 Pages Introduction: Over the past 30 years, crime has become a major issue of public concern, of political discussion and action, often intemperate and not likely to reduce crime, and of major public expenditure. Despite its salience in public arena, very little is known about the factors driving the crime trend, and the knowledge base is too limited to support intelligent forecasts of the direction in which crime rates are moving, especially when changing direction. Developing

Heart Of Darkness (3810 words) Essay Example For Students

Heart Of Darkness (3810 words) Essay Heart of DarknessHeart of DarknessConrads novel, Heart of Darkness, relieson the historical period of imperialism in order to describe its protagonist,Charlie Marlow, and his struggle. Marlows catharsis in the novel, as hegoes to the Congo, rests on how he visualizes the effects of imperialism. This paper will analyze Marlows change, as caused by his exposure tothe imperialistic nature of the historical period in which he lived. Marlow is asked by the company, the organizationfor whom he works, to travel to the Congo river and report back to themabout Mr. Kurtz, a top notch officer of theirs. When he sets sail, he doesntknow what to expect. When his journey is completed, this little tripwill have changed Marlow forever!Heart of Darkness is a story of one mansjourney through the African Congo and the enlightenment of his soul. It begins withCharlie Marlow, along with a few of his comrades, cruisingaboard the Nellie, a traditional sailboat. On the boat, Marlow begins totell of his experiences in the Congo. Conrad uses Marlow to reveal allthe personal thoughts and emotions that he wants to portray while Marlowgoes on this voyage of a lifetime. Marlow begins his voyage as an ordinaryEnglish sailor who is traveling to the African Congo on a business trip. He is an Englishmen through and through. Hes never been exposed to anyalternative form of culture, similar to the one he will encounter in Africa,and he has no idea about the drastically different culture that existsout there. Throughout the book, Conrad, via Marlowsobservations, reveals to the reader the naive mentality shared by everyEuropean. Marlow as well, shares this naivete in the beginning ofhis voyage. However, after his first few moments in the Congo, he realizesthe ignorance he and all his comrades possess. We first recognize the generalnaivete of the Europeans when Marlows aunt is seeing him for thelast time before he embarks on his journey. Marlows aunt is under theassumption that the voyage is a mission to wean those ignorant millionsfrom their horrid ways(18-19). In reality, however, the Europeans arethere in the name of imperialism and their sole objective is to earn asubstantial profit by collecting all the ivory in Africa. Another manifestation of the Europeansobliviousness towards reality is seen when Marlow is recounting his adventureaboard the Nellie. He addresses his comrades who are on board saying:When you have to attend to things of thatsort, to the mere incidents of the surface, the reality-the reality I tellyoufades. The inner truth is hidden luckily, luckily. But I felt itall the same; I felt often its mysterious stillness watching over me atmy monkey tricks, just as it watches you fellows performing on your respectivetight ropes forwhat is it? half a crown a tumble(56).What Marlow is saying is that while heis in the Congo, although he has to concentrate on the petty little everydaythings, such as overseeing the repair of his boat, he is still aware ofwhat is going on around him and of the horrible reality in which he isin the midst of. On the other hand, his friends on the boat simply dontknow of these realities. It is their ignorance, as well as their innocencewhich provokes them to say Try to be civil, Marlow(57). Not only are they oblivious to the realitywhich Marlow is exposed to, but their naivete is so great, theycant even comprehend a place where this so called reality would evenbe a bad dream! Hence, their response is clearly rebuking the words ofa savage for having said something so ridiculous and uncivilized. Quite surprisingly, this mentality doesnot pertain exclusively to the Englishmen in Europe. At one point duringMarlows voyage down the Congo, his boat hits an enormous patch of fog. At that very instant, a very loud cry is let out(66). After Marlow looksaround and makes sure everything is all right, he observes the contrastsof the whites and the blacks expressions. It was very curious to see the contrastof expression of the white men and of the black fellows of our crew, whowere as much strangers to this part of the river as we, though their homeswere only eight hundred miles away. The whites, of course greatly discomposed,had besides a curious look of being painfully shocked by such an outrageousrow. The others had an alert, naturally interested expression; but theirfaces were essentially quiet. . . (67). Once again, we see the simple-mindednessof the Europeans, even if they were exposed to reality. Their mentalityis engraved in their minds and is so impliable, that even the environmentof the Congo cant sway their belief that people simply dont do the horriblethings Marlow recounts. The whites are dumbfounded and can not comprehendhow people, in this case the natives, would simply attack these innocentpeople. That would just be wrong! The blacks, however, who are cognizantof the reality in which they live, are essentially quiet. They feel rightat home, and are not phased by the shriek. Similarly, the difference of mentalitiesis shown when Marlow speaks of the portion of his crew who are cannibals. While in themidst of his journey, Marlow, quite casually, converses withthese cannibals; even about their animalistic ways! As Jacques Berthoudsaid so accurately in his Joseph Conrad, what would be nspeakable horrorin Londonbecomes, on the Congo river, an unremarkable topic of conversation(47). These unspeakable horrors are hardly unspeakable in the Congo becausethey are normal occurrences there. On the Nellie, Marlow explains to his comrades,the basic difference between living in Europe, and being in the Congo. He states:You cant understand. How could you? Withsolid pavement under your feet, surrounded by kind neighbors ready to cheeryouor to fall you, stepping delicately between the butcher and the policeman,in the holy terror of scandal and gallows and lunatic asylumshow canyou imagine what particular region of the first ages a mans untrammeledfeet may take him into by the way of solitudeutter solitude withouta policemanby the way of silence utter silence, where no warning voiceof a kind neighbor can be heard whispering of public opinion(82)?In Europe, there are kind neighbors whoare there to make sure that everything is all right. The European liveshis life stepping delicately between the butcher and the policeman. Everywherehe looks, there is always someone there who can catch him if he is falling. On the other hand, once a man enters the Congo, he is all alone. No policeman,no warning voice of a kind neighborno one!It is now when Marlow enters the Congoand begins his voyage, that he realizes the environment he comes from isnot reality, and the only way he is going to discover reality is to keepgoing up the river There is one specific theme in Heart ofDarkness in which the reader can follow Marlows evolution from the everydayEuropean to a man who realizes his own naivete and finally to hisuncovering of his own reality. This evolution comes about as a direct resultof Marlows observations of how things are named. This sounds very unusual,that a man would find his true reality by observing the names of certainthings. However, it is precisely these observations which change Marlowforever. Marlow first realizes the Europeans flaw of not being able togive something a name of significance, in the beginning of his voyage,when he has not quite reached the Congo, but he is extremely close. Once, I remember, we came upon a man ofwar anchored off the coast. There wasnt even a shed there, and she wasshelling the bush. It appears the French had one of their wars going onthere-abouts. Her ensign dropped like a limp rag; the muzzles of the longsix inch guns stuck out all over the low hull; the greasy, slimy swellswung her up lazily and let her down, swaying her thin masts. In the emptyimmensity of earth, sky, and water, there she was, incomprehensible, firinginto a continent. Pop, would go one of the six inch guns; a small flamewould dart and vanish, a little white smoke would disappear, a tiny projectilewould give a feeble screechand nothing happened. Nothing could happen. The Career that interest me is being a doctor. EssayNo; you want a deliberate belief. An appeal to me in this fiendish rowisthere? Very well; I hear; I admit, but have a voice too, and for good orevil mine is the voice that can not be silenced (60).This is the lesson which Marlow has learned. Objective standards alone will not lead one to recognize the reality insomething. One can not only depend on anthers principles to find his realityin something because they have not had to bear the pain and responsibilityof creating it. Principles are usually acquisitions, which like other thingswe acquire rather than generate, like clothes are easily shaken off. Thepower of speech which will sustain a man is the power to create or affirmfor ones self a deliberate, or a chosen belief (Bruce Johnson. 79). This judgment must be from ones own internalstrengths. That is why Marlow says, for good or evil, mine is the speechthat can not be silenced. As Kurtz has taught him with his own judgment,a judgment of truth overpowers morality. To find ones own reality, onemust not rely solely on other peoples morality, others peoples principlesand he must assess his own life. What Kurtz did is that he showed thatregardless of whether the truth is good or bad, one must face up to hisreality. He must face up to his own actions even when the conclusion isthe horror, and by doing so, he will find his true reality. Marlow understands that being true to yourselfis not following anthers moral code, but being able to judge ones selfhonestly and uncover their own reality. It is because of this understandingthat Marlow claims that Kurtzs last words is a moral victory paid forby innumerable defeats(120). Despite Kurtzs immoral ways, he is victoriousbecause he didnt run away from the truth; and that is his moral victory. He is true to himself.!On his voyage, Marlow notices at one ofthe stations, a picture that Kurtz had drawn when he was there. It is asketch in oils on a panel representing a woman draped and blindfolded,carrying a lighted torch. The background was sombrealmost black(40). At the time, Marlow didnt really know what it meant. However, this isa precise representation of Kurtz himself. Firstly, the background wassombrealmost black. This is a manifestation of Kurtz because his lifeis full of darkness. He kills, he steals, and he is worshipped as a god. Kurtz cannot be without blackness and survive. In addition, the picturedisplays the lesson itself. It is a picture of the lady of justice holdinga torch. This is Kurtzs role. Unlike Europe, which imposes their principlesupon others, he is merely there to illuminate(79). Kurtz is there toexpand the peoples minds, to introduce them to a broad new spectrum ofreality. However, he does not impose his own reality upon them. Hence,he is blindfolded in the picture. To him, they make a subjective decisionand they find their own truth, regardless of what that truth may be. Thatis his lesson. Eventually Marlow realizes that Kurtzspicture was in essence, a self portrait. The same thing which Kurtz conveyedwith the horror, he conveyed with this picture. Marlows realizationis evident with this remark. I dont like workno man doesbut I likewhats in the workthe chance to find yourself. Your own realityforyourself, not for others(47). Marlow learns the essence of naming andunderstands what it means to be yourself. However, Marlow has encounteredtwo extremes. The European mentality, which is completely oblivious toreality, and Kurtz, a man who has found his reality, but it is one of horrorand no restraint from any wrongdoing. He is now returning to his home todeal with his former world, however, he now possesses his new understanding. Marlow cannot return to his previous European ways simply because hehas been enlightened and lost his naivete. However, why cant he adapt Kurtzs waysand live the other extreme? At one point, Marlow had peeped over the edge(119). Why didnt he jump over? Marlow is repelled from joining Kurtz for severalreasons. Firstly, Kurtz had kicked himself loose from the earthhe hadkicked the earth to pieces. He was alone, and I before him didnot know whether I stood on the ground or floated in the air(112). Kurtzhad denied any sort of moral convictions in order to be worshipped as agod. Because of this unmonitered power, Kurtz lost all sense of restraintand became the savage that he was. Marlow, however, has not lost his senseof morality. What Marlow rejected in Kurtz was the complete absence inKurtz of any innate or transcendental sanctions (Johnson. 99). It is because of Marlows rejection ofboth the Europeans, who Marlow claims are full of stupid importance,and of Kurtzsinability to establish his own moral code, that Marlow choosesan alternative reality(Berthoud. 60). The first time the reader witnessesMarlows choice and becomes a centrist, is when he first gets back to Europe. Marlow finds himself resenting the way the Europeans went about their life,hurrying through the streets to filch a little money from each other(120).Notonly did he find their lives meaningless, but he mocked them to himself. I had no particular desire to enlighten them, but I had some difficultyrestraining myself from laughing in their faces so full of stupid importance I tottered about the streetsgrinning bitterly at perfectly respectablepeople. I admit my behavior was inexcusable (120). Although Marlowlooked down upon these Europeans, he says something remarkable. He judgedhis own actions and found them inexcusable. This is his manifestationof breaking away from Kurtzs extreme. Unlike Kurtz who lacked all restraintand would never find looking down on people bad, Marlow realized that hecouldnt hold it against them simply because they didnt know better. Clearly,Marlow is edging toward a middle ground. Despite this act of judgment, the readerdoesnt know exactly where Marlow stands. However, Marlow does somethingthat is the quintessential act of affirmation that he has chose the middleof the two extremes. While aboard the Nellie, Marlow tells his comradesthat I hate, detest, and cant bear a liesimply because it appallsme. There is a taint of death, a flavor ofmortality in lies(44). Towards the end of the novel, Marlow is invitedby Kurtzs fiancee to go to her house to speak of her beloved Kurtz. Uponher asking Marlow what his last words were, Marlow responded The lastword he pronounced wasyour name(131). He lies to her. He does somethinghe utterly detests. This is the event that convinces the reader of Marlowsuptaking of a middle position. He does look inside himself and use hisown personal ability to judge this event. He does what Kurtz had told him. Despite his abhorrence of lies, he judges this situation and decides thatit was right to lie. However, he is different from Kurtz. Kurtz did judgeevery event independently, however, he does it solely based on his ownwhims. He could not incorporate any objective principles whatsoever inmaking his decision. Marlow does judge every event independently, however,he can not rely solely on his own creeds. Regardless of his decision, hewill always incorporate some objective principles into his judgment. Marlownow creates his alternative reality and achieves his truth. When Marlow was exposed to the imperialisticenvironment of the congo, it had a tremendous effect upon him. The protagonistof Conrads novel undergoes a drastic change in response to his environment,common only to that specific time period. Kurtz shows Marlow the flawsin the Europeans imperialistic ideals. Kurtz sees the meaninglessness ofEuropean standards of the time, and therefore changes his entire perceptionand behavior.