Heart of Darkness - Review

This was one of my least favorite books to read so far this year. It was not as easy to understand and some of the themes were more difficult to find, especially after just reading Invisible Man where the themes and symbols can easily be seen on every page. I liked how the character of Kurtz was used to show Marlow's heart of darkness. He represented the evil that Marlow faced and had to decide whether to embrace or not. The presence of Kurtz and being able to compare the two characters helped to understand what was going on with Marlow.

Heart of Darkness - Analysis

When Marlow arrives at the station to retrieve Kurtz, he sees what appears to be a broken fence with wooden balls on the tops of each post. At this point in the story Marlow is on the verge of becoming like Kurtz and must decide whether or not to except the same fate as he. While looking through his binoculars he finds out that what is atop each pole it a native's head. The sight makes Marlow lower his binoculars, but he is not quite appalled by sight. His reaction towards seeing the severed heads shows how close he is to the evil inside himself. When he looks away, it as if he is taken into the distance again and away from Kurtz and his darkness. He is now rejecting the evil because he saw what had previously been unclear to him about Kurtz and the heart of darkness. When he is brought face to face with the images of darkness, he chooses to take a step back from them and not end up like Kurtz.

Player Piano - Review

I did not like reading this book compared to the others we have read. The idea of technology taking over society is a very popular basis for stories, but this book shows its effects on people's lives and how it will cause people to loose their identity as individuals. Machines taking over is always and interesting story, but reading numerous books on how people lose purpose in their lives makes it less enjoyable. I also would have hoped for a better ending to the story that is not so unclear. I did find it interesting though how the more technology improves in the story, the less jobs for people there are. Even today this is true because people are finding more efficient ways of doing things.

Player Piano - Quote

"Doctor Katharine Finch was his secretary, and the only woman in the Ilium Works. Actually, she was more a symbol of rank than a real help..."(1).

In this novel it quickly becomes apparent that everything depends upon rank and status to the people of Illium. The work of this secretary is better done by machines, yet she remains there only to show people that Paul is a high ranking man. Even with the women this is seen. Anita, has only married Paul for his status and wealth and as soon as she believes that Paul is quitting his high ranking job she leaves him for someone else. They try to fill their lives with luxuries and appearances, and only a few people like Finnerty and Paul realize that there is more to life than status.

Player Piano - Analysis

The relationship between Paul and Anita shows the way Illium thinks and what it is concerned with. "'I love you, Paul,' said Anita. 'I love you,' said Paul. " is seen many times and ironically shows how there is no true bond between them. Numerous times, this phrase is used by Paul and his wife. The first time you see it, it did not meen much but it is a recurring line that shows a lot about their relationship. The way they emphasize it and just respond back to each other with this line is makes it unsincere and unpassionate towards each other. It is the same response every time. They have become like machines themselves, and do not think or use emmotions, but only try to optimize the way their life looks on paper.

Invisible Man - Review

I enjoyed reading this book because there were so many themes and symbols through the whole novel. You can find them on every page and most of them are easy to identify. The book is very long; however it is still very enjoyable to read even if you are looking for symbols and topics of the book. I'm sure i did not see all of the connections and ideas in the novel, but over all it was a good one. I especially liked how the theme fo black and white was used throughout the work. This was told in first person like many of the previous books we have read. This makes the novel more enjoyable because you are able to look into the narrator's thoughts and have a better idea of what he is feeling and a better sense of the meaning of the story.

Invisible Man - Quote

"Pulling on my overcoat I got down my prized brief case from the closet. It was still as new as the night of the battle royal, and sagged now as I placed the smashed bank and coins inside and locked the flap"(327).

"'What is it?' I called, dropping to the floor and reaching frantically for the broken pieces..."(320).


These quotes are from when the narrator smashes the black statue to pieces and coins and metal are scattered on the floor. These lines show a direct relation to the battle royal in the begining of the novel. It is just like when he scrambled on the floor to retrieve the fake money on the electric carpet. The black statue eating the coins is representing him and how blacks will do the will of the whites for money and how whites are in control of them as long as they feel like they are being rewarded. When he smashes this symbolic statue and tries to get rid of it in the streets, it signifies him trying to break free of the role of many blacks at the time. But, it is brought back to him every time he trys to toss it and he can not get rid of it, just like he can not get rid of his role of just doing the will of whites.

The package of broken metal and coins is connected with when he first enters the city as well. He sees black men running around the streets with things tied to their wrists. He imagines them to be coins and now he is the one running around with a bag of coins. He saw them as chained to the pouches like fleeing prisoners. That is what he is like now with his package of coins. He is still chained and is being tricked by whites.

Heart of Darkness - Quote

"The brown current ran swiftly out of the heart of darkness, bearing us down towards the sea with twice the speed of our upward progress; and Kurtz's life was running swiftly, too, ebbing, ebbing out of his heart into the sea of inexolerable time"(151).

This quote shows that both Kurtz and Marlow are not only leaving behind the Congo, but their inner, evil hearts as well. They are able to do so twice as fast while not fighting the current, and within himself it is easier for Marlow to leave after seeing the horrors that had been found in the heart of darkness. Kurtz is dying on his way out of the Congo, but more significantly, as he is being taken away from his evil desires. His life is completely consumed in evil and darkness. Now he is being taken away from this, and his life is also left behind.

Invisible Man - Analysis

The Sambo dolls represent the way that blacks have been controlled by others. They are held up by thin string and are able to be manipulated however the controller wants. When the narrator spits at this doll, he signifies his new defiance to not being in control of his own actions. He also picks up one of these dolls and takes it with him, putting him in control of the doll which means he is now in control of himself. The dolls are two faced and show the same smiling face to the audience as it does to its controller. Along with many other things, he places this doll inside his suitcase and at the end of t he novel, he burns this doll with the other belongings.



Todd Clifton also shows his that he will no longer be one of these dolls, amusing whites and doing their will. He shows this by leaving the brotherhood and in his death. When he is being followed by cops while carrying his box of Sambos, he "kicked the box thudding aside..."(436). He fights the authorities that are telling him what to do and ends up being murdered for it.