dwalker

When Marlow eases that rattrap of a steamboat out onto the river away from the central station, he has already ready begun to give the legend of Kurtz credence. Marlow wants answers to questions he can barely articulate, and he believes Kurtz will answer them. In short Marlow has expectations, no matter how practical he is. When he meets Kurtz, his initial impression is shock and disappointment because Kurtz has been decimated by his own corrution. But Kurtz speaks, and it is his voice that alarms, unnerves, enthralls Marlow. And Marlow learns, to let go of expectations and when to the truth and when to keep it hidden so that he does not participate in the destruction of another, which certainly would have happened if Kurtz’s intended had known the truth.

A quick note or two:

As you are writing, you must stick to one idea. You can make a general statement, but if you do not open it up, explore and explain it, it will lose its effect.

Many of you are summarizing what we heard in class rather than doing the leg work of uncovering meaning. Be careful!

Remember what Strunk and White say: it is not our job to comment on the excellence or talent of the writer. We must concentrate on our own observations of the reading.

Trackback URI | Comments RSS