The Alchemist Quote Analysis

878 Words4 Pages

Another example that I can connect with is near the end of the story when it discusses how disgusting the world seems to be regarding the horrifying events that occur particularly in Africa. When Marlow returns to Europe after having found Kurtz, he observes people rushing along the streets trying to make a little extra cash and not paying attention to the atrocious events that occur and the level of suffering black people endure in Africa. I can understand how Marlow feels; I find it quite despicable for civilized human beings to have walked the streets of Europe in the late 19th century and not have focused on and felt sympathy for the black people in Africa who experienced discrimination and suffering. Even nowadays, global warming is an …show more content…

Partway through the first chapter, Marlow and the captain are having a discussion on the boat where Marlow exclaims “The other day I took up a man who hanged himself on the road. He was a Swede, too.” (Conrad 17) and the captain replies ‘“Hanged himself! Why, in God’s name?’ I cried. He kept on looking out watchfully.” (Conrad 17); finally, Marlow responds “Who knows? The sun too much for him, or the country perhaps.” (Conrad 17). This set of quotations reveals a theme behind it which is to never give up. When Marlow says that the country may have been too much, it means that the Swede feels that he is travelling on an endless road and he could not take it anymore, this resulted in the Swede’s death. On the contrary, Marlow never gives up on his journey of finding Kurtz travelling through the heart of darkness, the jungle. As in The Alchemist, Santiago, the main character, feels like he is on an endless journey as he travels through the desert in search of his treasure; however, he never gives up causing him to come across various people and experience different scenarios. As a few are presented in the last five paragraphs, there are numerous connections that I can make between Heart of Darkness and my own life, society, other pieces of literature, and to this