“Heart of Darkness” & “Apocalyse Now”
Joseph Conrad’s 1899 novella is based on his experiences working in the ivory trade in the Belgian Congo, and it became an instant classic. Conrad’s rather bleak conclusion regarding the nature of humanity is predicated on three observations.
1. That outside the watchful eyes of others-friends, neighbors,police, religious figures, others- we tend to act in the worst of ways, concerned only with our own personal gain usually at the experience of others
2. That the growing global economy of the time, rooted in colonialism, creates just such a situation in which raw materials and or labor is ripped from lesser developed civilizations. This is accomplished in large part out of the sight of those who ultimately consume the end-products, thereby maintaining a system of abuse and inequality.
3. That consumers tend to justify the abuse by creating a facade rooted in idealistic beliefs. This justification is itsel rooted in naive denial or outright ignorance, willful or otherwise.
How and to what extent are the three ideas above present in “Apocalypse Now”? What is Coppola’s thesis in your opinion, and how does “Heart of Darkness” inform that? (4-5 Pages)
