Marloooooh

The novel begins on a ship, with the narrator detailing the Thames river and its brilliance. He is abruptly interrupted by Marlow, an experienced seaman, pessimistically reminding him of the dangers as well. Marlow seems to be a realist, stating that although the Thames has been a place of excellence, it has also "been one of the darkest places of the Earth" (Conrad 67). Marlow goes on to share an account of his expedition to the Congo. He describes the natives as near death, malnourished, chained and overworked. He also claims that the Company he works for, labels them as enemies. In the following paragraph he describes the white accountant with his fancy, elegant and expensive clothes. The juxtaposition of these paragraphs further illuminates the extreme differences in culture. The wealthy aristocrats with garments of silk ruling over the native tribes who do not even wear clothing. This so called "trading" company is really just exploiting the natives tribes for their resources. As Marlow explains, the shore has washed away the natives' once primitive lifestyle with the legality of contracts and slavery.