Theme Of Imperialism In Heart Of Darkness - 1052 Words

Karl Marx’s school of thought, also known as Marxism, relates society back to economic and political motive. The school of thought says that economic power is the fuel behind all peoples motives. He also states that socioeconomic statuses in our society is what divides us into subgroups. This imperialistic way of thinking is is beneath the surface all throughout Joseph Conrad’s book, Heart of Darkness. The book is centered around a sailor named Marlow, who is sailing up the Congo river to transport ivory. Conrad shows the readers the exploitation of the natives by the Europeans for their ivory through the eyes of Marlow. The novel reaffirms Marxism through its ideas of imperialism. Imperialism is a theme throughout the entire book. Conrad†¦show more content†¦Just as Karl Marx’s theory, Heart of Darkness shows the socioeconomic divisions within the novel. Conrad shows this in multiple ways, one of which being him showing the different levels of hierarchy within management of the trading company. This is most easily explained in the quote from the book, â€Å"Now, if he does not say the right thing to them we are all done for, said the Russian at my elbow† (Conrad 133). In this quote Marlow is recalling something said by one of the Russians. The Russian is explaining that they could be so easily gotten rid of by someone higher up in the hierarchy. Because they are lower on the totem pole, they have no job security, and no say in anything. This reaffirms Karl Marx’s theory of Marxism because it is all about socioeconomic status. Marx states that socioeconomic status created a divide within classes, which is clearly shown here in this quote, as well as throughout the entire book. While Heart of Darkness is a story with a theme revolving around imperialism and socioeconomic divides, I do believe that Conrad’s goal wasnt to show his support for it, but to show how corrupt the society actually is. In the book, Kurtz, who is meant to represent the wealthy class, try to rub his values off onto the lower class, who in this story happens to be the natives. However, as the story progresses I think that Conrad was trying to expose him for what 2 he really is, aShow MoreRelatedTheme Of Imperialism In Heart Of Darkness1662 Words   |  7 PagesDehumanization of the World as a Result of New Imperialism In the age of New Imperialism, European nations rushed to gain advantage over ruling Africa, most specifically Congo, to expand economic prospects under the guise that they were civilizing the natives of these areas. The negative impacts of Europe in the Congo are supported in the novel, Heart of Darkness, by Joseph Conrad, who employs his narrative to showcase how the drive for Imperialism stripped away the humane reasoning for colonizingRead More Theme of Colonialism and Imperialism in Conrads Heart of Darkness1008 Words   |  5 PagesThe Theme of Imperialism in Heart of Darkness       Of the themes in Conrads Heart of Darkness, imperialism and colonialism are probably the most important. While Heart of Darkness is actually set on the Thames River, the events Marlow describes are set on the Congo River. The Congo is the river that brought about the partition of Africa that occurred from 1880 to 1890 (McLynn 13). This event marked the beginning of the colonization of Africa. In 1884, European nations held a conference andRead MoreImperialism Within the Heart of Darkness1143 Words   |  5 PagesImperialism within the Heart of Darkness A phenomenon, The Heart of Darkness, is a classic novel by Joseph Conrad, who reward individuals with their dark nature. The darkness that the characters face within themselves is the anchor towards the main theme of imperialism. Native Africans, around the early 1900s, were victims of imperialism in the novel. The Europeans saw themselves as prodigies and felt everyone redundant wanted to be like them for they perceived themselves as extraordinary. TheRead MoreThe Heart Of Darkness By Joseph Conrad1166 Words   |  5 PagesThe Use of Darkness in Heart of Darkness Everyone claims to be equal, and nowadays people are working hard to create equality regardless gender and race. Meanwhile, race and ethnicity become one of the most popular topics of modern literature. The Heart of Darkness by Joseph Conrad depicts a story of colonization took place in the Belgian Congo through Marlow’s perspective. In this book, the author portrays the European ideas of civilizing Africa as well as the ideas of imperialism and racism.Read MoreSignificant Elements Of Joseph Conrad s Heart Of Darkness1326 Words   |  6 PagesConrad’s novella ‘Heart of Darkness’ are appropriated into Francis Ford Coppola’s film ‘Apocalypse Now’ in the setting of the jungles of Vietnam during the Vietnam War. As the title suggests, Conrad’s novel deeply explores the ‘darkness’ potentially inherent in people’s hearts. Heart of Darkness is set on the Congo River during the European occupation of Africa. Conrad ex plores the effect of exploitation on humanity. Similarly, Coppola’s film explores the metaphorical ‘darkness’ in Vietnam that causesRead MoreThe Journey In â€Å"Heart Of Darkness† Spans Not Only The Capricious1222 Words   |  5 PagesThe journey in â€Å"Heart of Darkness† spans not only the capricious waters extending our physical world, but also the perplexing ocean which exists in the heart of man. Through Marlow s somewhat overenthusiastic eyes, we perceive the mystery that is humanity, and the blurred line between darkness and light. It is an expedition into the deepest crevices of the human heart and mind bringing on an awareness, and finally descending into the abyss of hell abiding in each of us. Conrad’s use of wordplayRead MoreFrom Civilization to Madness: Exploration of the Effects of Imperialism in Conrads Heart of Darkness and Coppolas Apocalypse Now702 Words   |  3 Pages The novella Heart of Darkness written by Joseph Conrad and the film Apocalypse Now, inspired by Conrads novella, directed by Francis Coppola both involve the departure from civilization into a world of unknown. The protagonists of the stories, Marlow and Willard respectively, embark on a mission to search for Kurtz, a man who is portrayed as an evil genius in both texts. The majority of the plot unravels on the river, as the protagonist travel with a crew on a long, slow boat ride through dangerousRead MoreAnalysis of the Heart of Darkness Beginning982 Words   |  4 PagesWe are introduced to the novel â€Å"Heart of Darkness†, with the words ‘The Nellie, a cruising yawl’, indicating that already at his early stage in the novel, the reader is able to predict that this will be a book set on a boat, and is likely to involve travelling across sea’s. This prediction can be backed up by the lines in the second paragraph, ‘The sea-reach of the Thames stre tched before us like the beginning of an interminable waterway in the offing the seas and the sky were welded together withoutRead MoreShakespeare s Heart Of Darkness1424 Words   |  6 Pages Relevance of Heart of Darkness Alexander Spirovski LITR 211 Professor David Auchter â€Æ' Joseph Conrad s Heart of Darkness contains both relevant and irrelevant elements to today s society. Issues present in the text such as imperialism, racism, and moral ambiguity are still present today but their formats have changed enough in society that Heart of Darkness approaches obsolescence in perspective. Concurrently, the characters and theme presented in Heart of Darkness are scarce in fictionalRead MoreThoughts Of Imperialism In Joseph Conrads Heart Of Darkness911 Words   |  4 PagesHeart of Darkness, what does it really mean, what can it signify? For all it matters, it has no meaning, but is just a phrase. By applying the following schools of theory, psychoanalysis, over analyzing texts, cultural studies which portray how readers consume the text and postcolonial which analyzes the â€Å"losers† perspective it helps to depict the novella of Heart Darkness. By using the schools of theory, it will analyze a multitude of perspective relating to the novella’s t heme of imperialism disastrous

The Setting Of Dracula By William Shakespeare - 1155 Words

Activity 1 The setting of Dracula took place in Transylvania at Castle Dracula and travels over to Whitby. The author decided to pick this place because this was the birthplace of the Dracula stories. By using this it connected more with the original stories of Dracula instead of taking it somewhere else and make it more of a duplicate. While reading this book it made me feel like I was up and close to Dracula. If the setting would have taken place in a different place it would just have been another vampire book and not about Dracula himself. Activity 2 Two characters that should be brought to the light are Count Dracula and Van Helsing. Count Dracula, or Dracula for short, is an old vampire as well as a Transylvania citizen. Since he is a vampire he is possessed with a dark entity. This curse comes with both powers and burdens. As a vampire he is able to shape-shift to any animal he wants, control the weather, and has the strength of about 20 men. Some of the burdens that comes with this is that he can’t enter a victim’s house without being invited in, can’t cross water without being held, and becomes weak when in presence of sunlight. â€Å"I bent over him, and tried to find any sign of life, but in vain† (pg. 52 – 53). â€Å"Between me and the moonlight flitted a great bat, coming and going great, whirling circles† (pg. 103). â€Å"The blood is the life† (pg. 156). Van Helsing is a Dutch professor who is described as a philosopher, a metaphysician, and one of the most advancedShow MoreRelatedSetting Archetypes1258 Words   |  6 Pagesï » ¿ ARCHETYPAL SETTINGS 1. The River – Almost any source of water will focus on the importance of life. Without water there is no life. A journey on or down a river is often a metaphor for life’s journey or a character’s journey, especially if the river is shown as a road or means of travel – pulling or pushing a character through changes. (Twain’s Huck Finn) Rivers can also be a metaphor for the passage of time (Big Fish) or the stages of a human life (creek, roaring river, sea; or the crossingRead MoreLogical Reasoning189930 Words   |  760 Pagesspeakers. In 1840, in his introduction to The Philosophy of the Inductive Sciences, William Whewell wrote: We very much need a name to describe a cultivator of science in general. I propose to call him a scientist. Whewells stipulative definition caught on. It has now become a correct lexical definition. Persuasive definitions are another category of definitions. Take the definition of atheist proposed by William, an acquaintance of mine: By atheist I mean a non-Christian pervert who will rot

Reliable Resources †Gen/200c Free Essays

When doing research and determining which resources are reliable and relevant there is one thing to keep in mind; not all information is created equal. Information can come in many forms and distinguishing the good from the bad can sometimes resemble walking through a mine field. One wrong source and your whole paper can explode. We will write a custom essay sample on Reliable Resources – Gen/200c or any similar topic only for you Order Now Sure it may not be that dramatic but the bottom line is good information will strengthen your paper; bad information will weaken it. If the resources used are not accurate or irrelevant, it can invalidate your argument or viewpoint. If you utilize a source that has been referenced numerous times or compare information from various sources that can strengthen your work. Sources found on educational or government sites can reinforce your writing because it is corroborated by documentation. Other sites should be avoided since the information found there is tough to substantiate. In order to determine if a source is reliable, you should consider where the information originated, research the author, and evaluate all sources. Oftentimes, common sense and knowledge of a particular subject matter can be vital in deciding whether or not a source is reliable and uncovering author bias. Does the information seem objective? Is it contradictory or inconsistent? Does the writer have an obvious agenda? Is there more emotion in the writing than facts? These are questions to ask when determining bias. Also, check to see if the author can substantiate his/her claims with evidence. After finding information that supports your topic or argument, investigate the author(s) to verify credentials. If the article is written by an educator, go to the university or school’s web page and confirm employment. If their work is in a peer-reviewed journal then it is considered to be reliable. Each article in the journal undergoes an arduous review process and is assessed for accuracy by peers and experts. These journals include an expansive bibliography which cites other reliable sources solidifying the credibility of the article. However, it is sometimes necessary to verify the other sources to make sure each one is used in context to your research. . References Farooq, S. U. , Rehmani, R. , Afridi, S. A. (2010,  June). Enhancing productivity and efficiency with time management. European Journal of Scientific Research,  43(2), 252-255. Retrieved from EBSCOhost database. This is an article covering the importance of attitude in time management. It discusses how time management is a personal commitment and focuses on accountability. It outlines goal setting, establishing priorities, communication, and avoiding procrastination as important aspects of effectively managing time and enhancing productivity. Radar, L. A. (2005,  Jan/Feb). Goal setting for students and teachers. Clearing House, 78(3), 123-126. Retrieved from EBSCOhost database. This article discusses the importance of teaching goal setting to students in order to guide them to success. It points out six steps that can lead students toward accomplishing their goals and communicates ways to overcome obstacles. Ellis, D. (2011). Becoming a master student (13th ed. ). Boston, MA: Wadsworth, Cengage Learning, 67-83. According to Ellis (2011), â€Å"The purpose of this book is to help you make a successful transition to higher education by setting up a pattern of success that will last the rest of your life† (p. 1). How to cite Reliable Resources – Gen/200c, Essay examples

Attitude of the Employees During the Times of Recession

Question: Describe about Attitude of the Employees During the Times of Recession? Answer: Problem Identification and Analysis The case study is based on how the companies are going to make the employees attitude positive during the recession period. The recessions cause problems of lower head counts, and cutting of the costs in all the aspects. Some of the managers of some companies are trying to grab people during the time of recession. Like the managing director of Bain company, Steve Ellis was adding consultants in the hot growth areas like the emerging markets as well as corporate turnarounds and he was more aggressively targeting the former consultants who went to financial service firms but now is stranded. He thinks that it is a big opportunity to grab talented people (Antoniou and Cooper, 2013). it need s to be seen that the manager was trying to help the consultants by giving them opportunities to find work during the time of recession and at the same time find suitable talented employees for their own company, which will be cost efficient. This is done so that the consultants remain loyal to the company during easier times. It needs to be kept in mind that during the time of recession, employees fear that the companies will downsize. It is a big challenge to retain the employees during the times of recession. It needs to be seen that people are often guided by their past experience as pointed out in the social perception theory. It was said that it was the process of interpreting the environment of the individual (Employee outlook Employee attitudes and the recession, 2015). The attitudes of the people are developed after the people experience the already occurred situation. People will try to sympathize with the company when the company are in trouble and not leave the company if the company looks at the interest of the employees during the time of recession. The main aim is to stand by the employees during the time of recession by motivating them as well as reducing their workloads so that they do not feel pressurized to leave the jobs (Katzenbach, 2015). Generation and Evaluation of Alternative Solutions During the time of recession when there is a freeze in the hiring process of the workforce, there is ample chance that the engage the top workers of the company. Though there were cut in the jobs of the Home Depot, and closing of the locations, the chief executive Frank Blake wanted to boost the morale of the employees (Nuffieldfoundation.org, 2013). The chief executive of the company lowered the sales and the profit margin of the employees so that the employees do not feel the pressure and can meet the hourly targets and get the bonuses. Thus the company is proud to say that the employees got bonuses during the first half of the year. Most of the company thinks or believes that the people are main forces of the company and the company should look after the benefits of the people. Self efficacy is the persons belief that he or she has the chance of successfully doing or accomplishing the task. The person needs to be given the right kind of job and the motivating factors that will enhance their performances. The employees need to be assured that the jobs can be achieved by them by putting the efforts. The people needs to be focused on their jobs no matter what the situation is since the companies will not want to lose the best of the employees even during the times of recession. It was seen that the companies that took advantages of the employees during the earlier downturns were rewarded with people bailing when the situation improved. Many companies are finding ways to make the employees feel valued. Companies like the Best Buy announced that they will hire fewer seasonal employees amid a dismal holiday shopping outlook. Moreover the company was trying to find ways to cut the cost for which they have made a portal where the employees can add their valuable opinions. It was seen the self perception theory that the people try to acquire perception from the things which has already occurred. It was identified that the when it was known that the employees can make a change by being a part of the solution, the employees will largely contribute to it. It is the self fulfilling prophecy that the employees are guided by. It was seen in the Pygmalion Effect that the performances or the high expectation from the employees will result in the high performance of the e mployees. Thus it can be said that the company need to expect high from the employees in order to motivate the employees (MacLeod and Clarke, 2015). Higher the employees motivation or the engagement with the work the higher is the motivational factor of the employees which will lead to a change in the attitude of the employees. The emotion of the employee plays an important role during these times. The emotional intelligence is the ability to manage oneself and interact with others in a constructive way. It is important for the company to communicate their decision to the employees and also include them in the various decisions of the management (Recession drives change in workplace practices, 2010). Unvarnished communication of managers with the employees in turn makes the employees feel that they will get the assurance of the managers that they are transparent in their decision. Thus this develops the attitude of the people and they feel assured during the time of recession. The self serving bias of the Attributional Tendencies which says that taking more personal responsibility for success than failure is an important aspect in this case. The success depends solely on the effort or the ability of the people in the organization. The employees need to see that the managers are also in their frame of reference and that they are sympathizing with them. The manager needs to take the steps to make things a success for the company which will make the employees feel that they are not alone in this struggle (Sanborn and Oehler, 2015). It was seen that the CEO of the JetBlue Airways, David Berger has cut down his salary in order to meet the situation during the recession. The employees in that case will feel motivated as well as feel that everyone is sharing the pain; which is essential for the employees in order to maintain the correct attitude. Recommendation It is a fact that the only a few workplace have avoided the situation of the recession. It needs to be seen that the employees needs to be well motivated during the tomes of economic downturn. This will make the employees see through the tough times of recession. Job satisfaction is necessary for the employees (Wanrooy, n.d.). The managers need to boost the morale of the employees by reducing the target of the sales as well as the profit. According to the Cognitive Dissonance theory, it was seen that the people seek consistency among the attitudes of the people and more over they try to reduce the gap. This will increase the job satisfaction of the employees in the times of the recession. The managers must make the employees feel that they are sharing the pain and thus not burden the employees with huge work pressure (Trompenaars and Hampden-Turner, 2009). Once the employees feel motivated about the fact that they are satisfied with their job then the employees will work more freely during these times and the situation will improve. The main focus of the company is the employees and their benefits. During the time of recession the company needs to guide the employees to deliver their best in the company (Green and Medlin, 2010). Self efficacy is the persons belief that he or she has the chance of successfully doing or accomplishing the task. The person needs to be given the right kind of job and the motivating factors that will enhance their performances. The relation of the employees with the senior managers is crucial for the employees to feel motivated. The employees needs to give their best to the employees and meet the expectations of the managers then only the managers will be able to feel that the employee is important for the organization. The people should not have any stereotype values in their minds. Thus they will want to retain the employee even during the time of recession. Communication is another important aspect that needs to be implemented during recession. The emotional intelligence is the ability to manage oneself and interact with others in a constructive way. Unvarnished communication of managers with the employees in turn makes the employees feel that they will get the assurance of the managers that they are transparent in their decision (Martikainen, Maki and Jantti, 2007). If the employees feel that the managers are not clear about their decisions and there is lack of communication, then the employees will develop a negative attitude towards the organization. It needs to be ensured that honest and frequent communication is essential in recession times in the organization so that the employees are motivated and are engaged in their work. Implementation During the time of recession, the company needs to reduce the targets of the company since the sale will decline as the cost of the prices will increase (The Psychology of the recession on the workplace, 2013). The reduction in the targets of the employee will make sure that the employees are not pressurized. The company could cut the cost by making the employees work with fewer luxuries. This will help the company to control the extra cost that was generated. The company should make the employees feel that they are the solutions to the problem in hand. The company should take steps to communicate to the employees that they sympathize with the situation. The company can reduce the salary of the managers as well as the employees, so that the employees do not feel that they are cheated by the management. Clear communications from the company will make the employees see that they are a part of the company and their attitude will become positive. References Antoniou, A. and Cooper, C. (2013).The psychology of the recession on the workplace. Cheltenham: Edward Elgar. Employee outlook Employee attitudes and the recession. (2015). 1st ed. [ebook] Available at: https://www.cipd.co.uk/NR/rdonlyres/948E682A-B5B9-4154-A87C-1D1673A8805F/0/employee_outlook_attitudes_recession.pdf [Accessed 23 Mar. 2015]. Green, K. and Medlin, B. (2010). Impact of recession-based workplace anxiety.IJMED, 9(3), p.213. Katzenbach, J. (2015).Energizing Employees in Recessionary Times Try Motivating, Not Mandating. 1st ed. [ebook] Available at: https://www.strategyand.pwc.com/media/uploads/Energizing_Employees.pdf [Accessed 23 Mar. 2015]. MacLeod, D. and Clarke, N. (2015).Engaging for Success: enhancing performance through employee engagement. 1st ed. [ebook] Available at: https://www.engageforsuccess.org/wp-content/uploads/2012/09/file52215.pdf [Accessed 23 Mar. 2015]. Martikainen, P., Maki, N. and Jantti, M. (2007). The Effects of Unemployment on Mortality following Workplace Downsizing and Workplace Closure: A Register-based Follow-up Study of Finnish Men and Women during Economic Boom and Recession.American Journal of Epidemiology, 165(9), pp.1070-1075. Nuffieldfoundation.org, (2013).Recession hits workplaces, but not employee attitudes | Nuffield Foundation. [online] Available at: https://www.nuffieldfoundation.org/news/recession-hits-workplaces-not-employee-attitudes [Accessed 23 Mar. 2015]. Recession drives change in workplace practices. (2010). 1st ed. [ebook] IRN Publishing. Available at: https://eurofound.europa.eu/sites/default/files/ef_files/eiro/surveyreports/ie1012039d/ie1012039d.pdf [Accessed 23 Mar. 2015]. Sanborn, P. and Oehler, K. (2015).2013 Trends in Global Employee Engagement. 1st ed. [ebook] Available at: https://www.aon.com/attachments/human-capital-consulting/2013_Trends_in_Global_Employee_Engagement_Highlights.pdf [Accessed 23 Mar. 2015]. The Psychology of the recession on the workplace. (2013).Choice Reviews Online, 51(04), pp.51-2182-51-2182. Trompenaars, F. and Hampden-Turner, C. (2009).Innovating in a Global Crisis. Oxford: Infinite Ideas Ltd. Wanrooy, B. (n.d.).Employment relations in the shadow of recession.