From Part 1, ¶ 9:
The yarns of seamen have a direct simplicity, the whole meaning of which lies within the shell of a cracked nut. But Marlow was not typical (if his propensity to spin yarns be excepted), and to him the meaning of an episode was not inside like a kernel but outside, enveloping the tale which brought it out only as a glow brings out a haze, in the likeness of one of these misty halos that sometimes are made visible by the spectral illumination of moonshine.
From Part 1, ¶ 14:
We looked on, waiting patiently—there was nothing else to do till the end of the flood; but it was only after a long silence, when he said, in a hesitating voice, “I suppose you fellows remember I did once turn fresh-water sailor for a bit,” that we knew we were fated, before the ebb began to run, to hear about one of Marlow’s inconclusive experiences.
In his indirect way, the narrator (& maybe the author) is warning his readers about the tale Marlow will relate. What do his warnings tell us to expect? What do they tell us of Marlow’s character?
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The narrator (and possibly the author) is warning his readers that Marlow’s tale is a lengthy one from some earlier point in his life. When the narrator says “...we knew we were fated, before the ebb began to run, to hear about one of Marlow’s inconclusive experiences.”, it makes me think of those kind of grandpas who have a tendency to tell stories about what it was like ‘back in the day’. But at the same time, it’s different with Marlow. There’s a sense that his story will be a lengthy one, but one that really means something- such as a life changing experience.
When Marlow says “I suppose you fellows remember I did once...”, suggests that this isn’t the first time Marlow has told one of his, apparently, many tales. This suggestion leads one to think that Marlow has lived a rather eventful life.
I think that these two paragraphs contradict each other in the way Marlow is presented. In the first paragraph, it shows him as a straightforward speaker, the way a normal seaman would tell a story. How the narrator says "enveloping the tale which brought it out only as a glow brings out a haze" shows that the reader is going to get a story that is to the point and takes out all of the unnecessary facts.
However, paragraph 14 shows us the other side of Marlow where we see him as a more indepth, but more foggy character. Although he is more specific in his tale, he lets the reader have their own imagination go at work and his words would just support that. So in a way, it's inconclusive, but the reader finishes the story up with their own imagination. Thus shows Marlow's different sides as a sailor.
Like Shea said,the narrator is warning both the readersand Marlow's companions that the tale he is about to tell is a lengthy one. But, when the narratir says that "The yarns of seamen have a direct simplicity, the whole meaning of which lies within the shell of a cracked nut. But Marlow was not typical," we see that Marlow's tale will not be just a simple one, it will also be intricate and interesting.
This also shows how Marlow's character is not simple and easy to understand but that you have to look at all sides of him before you can know who he really is.
Also, Than, I'm a bit confused about what you said in your response about Marlow being a foggy character. Wouldn't his tales be the "glow" in the haze?
After reading paragraph 9, I would agree with Hannah that the story Marlow is about to tell, is going to be a lengthy one and quite possibly, boring. The narrator's diction clearly voices this by saying "we knew we were fated..." It doesn't sound like he is expecting something exciting (and short) but rather a long monologue from Marlow. Also, maybe this indicates that Marlow usually does a lot of the talking among his circle of friends, but I don't quite see how that would be an important feature to notice.
Thank you Hannah for explaining paragraph 9.
Like Shea said, I find both paragraphs to be warnings, the first of which is warning the reader that this story to be told isn't a simple story with a simple moral. It warns that it's bigger than a single sentence, bigger than it's sixty pages, that the moral is a "misty halos that sometimes are made visible by the spectral illumination of moonshine."
The second one warns that these stories are common from Marlow, often tedious and longer than appreciated. In that way I agree with thnguyen.
Together I think they mean that while most times Marlow's stories aren't appreciated, this time it will be different, this time it's more worth it.
In paragraph 9, the narrator gives us a preview of what to expect throughout the novella. I agree with Shea in that the narrator is warning us of the length, and to the rest of the crew members on the ship, a boring story. "The yarns of seamen have a direct simplicity, the whole meaning of which lies within the shell of a cracked nut." Marlow's story is compared to that of a normal seaman, which according to the narrator, is lengthy, but also very simple in content. However, Marlow's story is "not typical" in that the content or the twist is seen only in the very center, or "within the shell of a cracked nut," but it is also seen in the broad scope of the story. Also, the narrator is stating that one is about to witness is not common knowledge, rather something that can only be brought to light by a person who has experienced the event firsthand. In a way, the narrator is describing Marlow as a person who has had a unique experience.
I think that from the first statement we might expect the tale we are about to be told to be really enlightening. The way it's described, as a glow bringing out the haze and as a "misty halo made visible by the spectral illumination of moonshine." Both of those analogies continue to light/dark theme as well. Marlow's story is to be the glow or moonshine upon the darkness brought by a fog or haze.
In the second statement, the narrator notices a hesitation from Marlow as he begins to speak, which shoudl clue us in to the disturbing nature of the story. Someone is hesitant to speak when they are afraid to be rebuked or chastised by their audiance, or the speaker is about to relate some personal pain. However, the fact that Marlow still wishes to speak about it tells us about his character. He isn't one to keep things to himself and from what is said about his "inconclusive experiences," we can assume that the end of the story will not be definate, but will conclude with questions unanswered.
Before I leave my official post, I would like to inform Thanh that I have found her blue star-shaped pencil sharpener, and will give it to her during tomorrow's class. That is all.
For some reason, this reminds me of 300, when the guy with one eye is telling all of his soldiers the story of the Spartans. That one captain sitting around the fire with his soldiers, telling the store of Leonidas. Not sure what the parallels are, but I feel that there might be some implicit ones.
I feel that the warnings are, as others have said, about Marlow's life from an earlier stage. He is also much more of a weathered man and has seen more than most other sailors; his story cannot fit into a nutshell. This makes Marlow seem all the more grand and more of a person to look up to. It appears to me that Marlow has reason to be cocky but he chooses not to - at least not directly - show off what he has done.
To clarify what I said about the foggy character, he is a character that doesn't really want to show who he is, seeing that he was a tad hesitant in telling the story. Although he is more indepth with his story, he only gives us the bare minimum so that we can extend the rest with our imagination. Which is for the second paragraph. I hope that makes sense.
And thank you Alex, you are a pal :]
Marlow seems to be a careful creature who wants to tell everyone his story. With nothing but the sea for entertainment, I suppose sea journeys call for long tales. The narrator describes seamen as simple (those who just takes care of boats), but describes Marlow as someone who doesn’t follow that norm. He has the tendency – the narrator uses the big word “propensity” – to “spin yarns” (tell elaborate stories). He’s one of those story tellers who start around the subject and then work their way into the heart of the matter. He knows exactly how to tell the story too. I suppose Marlow does this often because the narrator proclaims that he and the other workers “we fated…to hear about one of Marlow’s inconclusive experiences.” He’s like an old person who wishes to make their life mean more by telling younger generations their life stories. (Marlow would be considerably older than the rest of the seamen because he has just so many experiences.)
Long, detailed introductions set up Marlow’s epic tale. It takes quite a while to get the main plot of being in Africa to explore and rescue a comrade. Such a long and detailed introduction, which is also acknowledged by the narrator, makes it seem like the incoming story would be super intense and very thought-provoking. Which it is, I guess. Marlow almost feels like he shouldn’t share, as the “hesitating” part in paragraph fourteen implies, but continues with the story nonetheless. Perhaps Marlow knows the underlying meaning of his message, compelling him to share; and the others don’t seem to mind so much, perhaps they feel like they should be exposed to such things. Or maybe he hesitated as a way to give him a type of pause before digging into something deep.
lalala.
I think it means, like a lot of other people here, that the narrator is warning that Marlow is about to tell a long story about one of his experiences. I like what Shea said about the grandpa that's about to tell his grandchildren a long story. Also Michael that's a good parallel with 300, wow what a great movie, but yeah, there are tons of examples from movies and stuff where captains or leaders are telling their groups long stories, and I think this is one of them.
The biggest thing I noticed about both of these passages (along with other) was that Marlow is always sort of cast as the odd man out. In paragraph 9 the narrator states, "But Marlow was not typical" and then almost mocks Marlow's character in paragraph 14 saying, "we knew we were fated, before the ebb began to run, to hear one of Marlow's inconclusive expereinces." Among his fellow sailors, he had no place, he didn't really belong. Also in paragraph 9 he is clearly describe by the narrator as a man that "did not represent his class." Marlow was, according to the narrator, a wanderer one who does not lead the "sedentary life" of a normal seaman.
I think that this knowledge that Marlow is the sort of pariah of the ship is important and reflects his character. Later in the novel he recognizes that even though the cannibals are disgusting, they're not going to all of a sudden eat him and they are very hard worker. He also understands and accepts that all of the native people of the congo, as wild and "animal-like" they may be, are human, a concept not widely accepted until very recently.
As for Conrad warning the reader about what he is about to read, i think that he did, but very subtly and in an ironic way. It is in that sentence relayed by the narrator, "we knew we were fated, before the ebb began to run, to hear about one of Marlow’s inconclusive experiences." By having the narrator generalize and assume that what Marlow will be saying is inconclusive and not really that grand, it automatically becomes a riviting story.
That's all that I can think of for right now!
I think the unnamed narrator is trying to warn that "Marlow's inconclusive experiences" leave you questioning yourself and your own values (part 1, par 14). It's not just a straight, black and white story, with people who are clearly villains or heroes. At the time this was written, most of the world had either been ignorant of or ignoring the injustice of the rape of Africa. Conrad challenged this, although it wasn't his main purpose. Just as Conrad himself experienced the Congo and was shocked by it, so too is Marlow. He ends up having to face the brutal truth and it makes him question not only the righteousness of what was going on there but also his own character. Instead of avoiding facing the darkness of the situation, Marlow's tale sheds light on it for his listeners.
My thoughts seem to be drastically different than everyone else's, but there you have it. I do like what Michael Cornea said; that seems to be kind of close to what I was attempting to express.
First of all, I think that it is a little ironic that the narrator/author uses such a lengthy description to inform the reader of Marlow's tendency to tell long stories. Especially since he does it in a semi mocking way.
One thing that the warnings tell us to expect is that with whatever story is told, the information presented followed by the conclusion may make us question ourselves; whether it be our own experiences, or possibly our own morals and beliefs. We see that from the concluding sentence of parargraph 14. ". . . to hear about one of Marlow's inconclusive experiences."
I think that the two passages tell a variety about Marlow's character. First off, I think they portray him as a rather positive person in just the way he begins the story: "I suppose you fellows remember. . . " I think they also suggest that while lengthy (or wordy) his tale will be, it will also be rather extrodinary. I think that this is reflected from the ninth paragraph and the descrpition that is offered about Marlow.
It looks like "what to expect" has been pretty well-covered, so I'll try and say something about "Marlow's character."
Most [Company] men who venture into the Congo enter the darkness and are faced with its atrocities front-on from an isolated viewpoint. Perhaps they successfully confront the darkness around and within themselves, coming to terms with it all for money and advancement, albeit a little broken for their trouble. Their interpretations are simple. Crack open the nut to get at the kernel within.
Their yarns are of similar simplicity--a limited viewpoint supplied only by their own preconceptions, desires and experiences.
Marlow, however, is a particularly complicated man. As we will see throughout the book, he tends to mediate between various extremes: his character anticipates modernism of the future while reflecting attitudes of his precursors, he is at once both a natural intellectual/philosopher and a skilled laborer, he holds strong European prejudices just like everyone else while being open-minded and constantly skeptical of all viewpoints--even his own, et cetera.
This kind of makes him interpret things from the outside looking in. He takes things from multiple angles, in context and with surrounding information, to get at the bigger picture. The grand scheme of things.
From what the narrator says, it's obvious that unlike most story-spinning sailors, Marlow is able to look past the surface and into the darkness beyond. He senses the light haze that's usually entirely invisible if not for an illuminating glow, making it noticeable--in order to grasp the full, hazy meaning that surrounds an "episode."
This, luckily for us readers, presumably makes his narration particularly enlightening. He illuminates misty halos with his unique moonshine. Most people/narrators/sailors would not be able to notice or contemplate such things, much less imply or point them out in narrative.
The Congo's not necessarily an "uncivilized" place without a declaration as such from King Leopold, but that's not obvious until you take the situation in context--viewing it not just from within the Congo from a European viewpoint, as most sailors would, but from a wider view, examining the effects of the Europeans and imperialism on the Congo and vice versa.
I also partly agree with Shea and Katherine in that the narrator maybe implies that Marlow tends to tell such lengthy stories often, though all sailors are said to have a propensity for spinning yarns--though far simpler ones.
Although it's kind of off-topic (and kind of a fleeting idea), I think that it might go further than that. Marlow doesn't just tell the same ridiculously long story over and over because it amuses him. He kind of reminds me of the Ancient Mariner: the world's deeply damaged him in some basic and significant way, clearly making him different, and his memories doom him to forever tell his story and enlighten the world with his lesson.
... i bet that quite a few people have made new posts in the past three hours
i got distracted after writing my post and forgot to hit "Publish Your Comment"...
oh well
Thanh’s post really got me thinking! Before, I was a little confused on the first paragraph/excerpt, but now it seems clearer. Marlow is essentially warning the readers and the sailors about the indirectness and haziness of his tale. He warns them that this will not be a “regular” sea tale, but one that has a lot more depth to it. He talks of the tale bringing out the meaning like “…a glow brings out a haze…” (paragraph 9). With a glow, there is bound to always be haze and shadow. The glow, while it illuminates an area, also passes a shadow over other areas and muddles it. Similarly, his tale will be straightforward only in its contents (the kernel), but hazy and unclear in its message. The central meaning of his story will not be clear and concrete, but a little hazy and will require some pondering. Also, in paragraph 14, the narrator accuses Marlow’s tales of being inconclusive, of raising more questions and inciting thought. In this way, I agree with Hannah when she stated that Marlow, because of his propensity to spin intricate and multilayered yarns, is not typical of the average seaman. Instead of telling simple and “conclusive” tales, Marlow tends to spin tales that are deeper and more thought provoking. Due to this, it also seems to me that the other seamen aren’t very appreciative of Marlow. There is a bit of resignation when the narrator announces that they are fated to hear another of Marlow’s tales. Later on, he mentions that it seemed like many of the men were asleep. I agree with others who mentioned that Marlow seems to be a sort of outcast. They respect him, but do not entirely accept him.
Oh, what’s moonshine? Is it just moonlight?
...because moonshine reminds me of alcohol.
Paragraph nine begins with stating a difference between typical sailors and Marlow. Marlow is being described as a deeper, more complex sailor than what is typical seen on the sea.
Paragraph fourteen has a sense of dread to it. It seems as if the narrator is annoyed to hear another on of Marlow's pointless and long stories. However, to the reader we get a sense of forshadowing that something bigger is about to be told.
I like the point Hannah S. made about intricacy. Marlow is no normal sailor. Conrad shows this throuhg his diction and depth of description. The piece of "yarns of seamen" has the connotation of a boring tale with no point. Conrad is quick to point out multiple examples of how Marlow is not normal in this regard. He especially prepares us for the complexity of the tale, "enveloping the tale which brought it out only as a glow brings out a haze" because the feelings and thoughts the story generates are more important than specific events.
I agree pretty much with what everyone says. thanks to everyone for explaining the paragraph's to me. the haze analogy had me a little confused.
However, i disagree that the meaning of the tale, because of marlow's simplicity exists only on the surface. I think it could maybe mean that the meaning of the story brings about the experience, not the other way around. Maybe that the significance of various events to him are what make the story.
I do agree however, that the narrator/author is arguing that Marlow is unlike other sailors and that the story will not be typical, because Marlow is not typical.
I also get a sense of frustration with Marlow from the narrator in paragraph 14. I feel almost like his reference to being "fated to hear about one of Marlow's inconclusive experiences", would show that he was frustrated with Marlow's inconsistancy. And the fact that he doesn't know much about Marlow other than is quirkiness.
But whatever warning they're trying to give us, i still thought the story was interesting.
Paragraphs nine and fourteen, in my opinion, work together to show Marlow as a different kind of seaman, and to foreshadow the nature of the tale that follows. Paragraph nine compares the difference between Marlow's and most other sea men's stories to the difference between the kernel of the nut, and the shell. This shows, to me, that while most are concerned with the results and outcomes of stories, Marlow is more concerned with the means that led to the result, and the events that led to the outcome. This sets a precedent for the reader that Marlow's stories are more meaningful than other sailor's. So, in paragraph fourteen, when the narrator expresses the crew's anticipation of boredom and inconclusivity, we know that Marlow intends to tell a meaningful, important story, of which the reader can now assume will take the book in a new direction. By Lending to the conclusion that the upcoming anecdote is more important in its events than its end, it separates the books intentions from the plot, and hints towards the significance of the shell.
Looking at paragraph 9 I see the contrast between what the author says is the typical seaman and Merlow. What I get out of the passage is that Merlow isn’t interested in the adventure and journey a story takes the listener on; he focuses on the lessons and morals that are taught. He wants to bring to light the “misty halos” of his story because they are what he himself has learned from, and he wants to spread that knowledge with the people he is addressing. Merlow comes off as a guy that thinks a lot and reflects on this experience in particular, so he wants to share his story in a way that reflects his desire to share a deep lesson versus a shallow incident.
Goodness Hayden, it's M-A-rlow silly, not M-E-rlow. Good job there.
I absolutely agree with Camden's comment about the story's meaning. I don't think it necessarily matters that we don't know much about Marlow, that we aren't able to really relate to him, because I don't believe that Conrad intended him to be the story's focus; rather, it is what he experiences and discovers while in the Congo that deserves our attention, as it has a profound effect upon who he is and what he becomes over the course of the story. It is through that journey that we are given a glimpse of how Marlow sees things, of how he perceives imperialism and women and that enigmatic character of Kurtz - all aspects of him that we may never know otherwise. It is because of that journey that Marlow has anything to say in the narrator's company in the first place, and I don't think we as readers can say that Marlow is in anyway superficial and underdeveloped when we know what he's been through.
Those are the only spelling errors in his post, though, so I think credit should be given for that.
Though it's probably more that he remembered it wrong than spelled wrong, huh...
On a more on-topic note, I really like what Brianna said about reassessment of one's goals and self.
I get the feeling that a major theme in the book was Marlot trying to understand why the white men were in Africa and working for the Company when their activities seemed so pointless--and even what his own purpose for being in Africa was. The bricklayer who can't lay bricks, the doctor who never sees his patients again, etc. So I really like that angle on things.
Though the doctor isn't really IN Africa himself, but eh.
Also, @Michelle:
Yeah, I kept thinking of home-distilled alcohol for "moonshine," too.
And then "Marlow" sounds a lot like "Merlot"...
I agree with that the author is foreshadowing that Marlow's story is going to be different and that he is not like other sailors. He is singled out from the rest of sailors. I agree with david when he says that Marlow is kind of a median character where he hovers from the two extremes. He is able to think in a much more complex way than the other sailors around him.
I was reading some posts above by people who said that is forshadows that Marlow's story is going to be different from most tales. I very much agree with that, and i believe that this occurs because Marlow is able to think in a deeper sense than the rest of the sailors.
I just realized what the parallel of 300 was. The captain who lost the eye, he was sent back to Sparta to tell the story to the people, because although he was a good captain, he was the best story-teller. That reminded me of Marlow, and how Marlow wasn't necessarily meant to be a seaman (after all, didn't he join a trading company?). 'Tis just an afterthought.
These two paragraphs certainly illustrate Marlow's characteristics. The narrator creates an image that Marlow is not a "typical" character, but rather someone who is complicated and difficult to understand. The description, "in the likeness of one of these misty halos that sometimes are made visible by the spectral illumination of moonshine" warns us this too, that the unfolding story is complex and requires deep analysis. In the second paragraph, "Marlow's inconclusive experiences" again signifies the trait, that Marlow is indeed an eventful character and is the protagonist of the novella.
Most sailors it seems are "cut from the same cloth" except Marlow. He is different in his experiences which I believe the narrator seems to imply he tells alot. Everyone aboard is becoming bored of his lengthy tales.
The narrator is warning us that the tale Marlow is about to tell is complicated and blurry. Even though the storyline is straightforward, with this story you can't easily distinguish the reasons behind most people's actions. Marlow is a complicated man in himself, he struggles with what he believes is right and wrong and on the way he lets the readers draw their own conclusions on the events of the story. He is kind of like a vessel, we enter into his mind to hear about the story, but we aren't influenced by his opinions, we can successfully draw our own. Also the phrase "glow inside the haze" gives us the idea that Marlow can see through a lot of events and his story telling is particularly insightful and analytical. He could be the illuminating force in the hazy world of issues in the Congo.
One thing that I noticed after reading the passage several times is a possible metaphor of Marlow's story to a river. The suggestion of this begins in paragraph 14, "We looked on patiently- there was nothing else to do till the end of the flood..." Marlow's story is like a rushing river about to break free and there is nothing that can stop it so the narrator bunkers down to wait it out. This is also a warning, the story, like raging waters, will not be pleasant. The second passage that confirmed my suspicion of a water metaphor came later in that same paragraph, "we knew we were fated before, before the ebb began to run...". Again Marlow's story is running water, beginning week and building momentum. Water is an appropriate representative of Marlow's long tales because he is a sailor and the sea is his home. Water itself is also unstoppable and non pliable- this story is not going to be molded by Marlow but rather rush forth from him by its own force.
Conrad uses words like 'haze', 'misty', and 'inconclusive' to describe Marlow's stories. These descriptions lead us to believe that Marlow does not know what to make of his experiences. They may be long and detailed, but Marlow is not able to decipher what he has learned from those experiences. Conrad warns the reader that Marlow's experiences are no different. Marlow may have been shocked and disturbed by what he saw in the Congo, but still feels like he is associated with those atrocities. Does he feel like the color of his skin incriminates him?
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