Heart of Darkness Blog Post 2

Two Novels, with apparently not much alike can have very similar aspects and at the same time have opposing meanings. Heart of Darkness by Joseph Conrad and One Flew Over the Cuckoo’s Nest by Ken Kesey, are prove of this phenomena. They share a same view on a key issue, and yet have completely opposite meanings for a symbol.

One same object can have extremely different meanings depending on the perspective from where it is observed. Symbols, like other literary devices, too have that same property of ambiguity that any object has when seen under a different shade of light. Two novels share a same symbol: The Fog, yet this object-symbol in this situation-is very different under the particular light of each novel. One Flew Over the Cuckoo’s Nest, by Ken Kesey, and Heart Of Darkness, Joseph Conrad, share a common element in the fog. However, it is very different the interpretation and meaning that it has in the two novel. In One Flew Over the Cuckoo’s Nest, the fog, is a symbol of oppression, control and slavery-over the patients of the ward. In a practically polar matter, Heart Of Darkness the fog represents some sort of protection to the natives, who suffer the oppression of the colonizers, by obscuring the view of their aggressors. Not only by blocking the view of the oppressors is the fog present, it is also an extension of darkness and uncertainty; the main difference is that in Heart of Darkness fog is against the oppressors and an ally to the weak.

            Both Novels also plot a dilemma towards a situation were evil and wrongdoing is justified and accepted by society. In Heart Of Darkness the colonization of the Congo is justified by a common doctrine-or belief- around the European nations: The uncivilized inhabitants of certain continents need to be colonized, for their sake, and pushed-even against their will- to the modern world. In One Flew Over The Cuckoo’s Nest, the ward justifies their actions with a simple premise: Certain people aren’t fit to be in the world and thus must be isolated until they are fit for society.

            Chief Bromden-One Flew Over The Cuckoo’s Nest-is a victim of the fog, a device created by The Combine-to isolate him from the world and keep his mind in shackles. The Combine-for those who haven’t read the book-represents societies’ oppressing institution that work to control everything and everyone around them, the lashers of the world. In Ken Kesey’s novel, the ward is the combine who uses the fog to manipulate the patients and repress their mind. The Chief, who is submerged in the fog, is finally freed by McMurphy and recovers his freedom of spirit and mind. Cruising the Congo River, Marlow is faced with a somber silence. The air is dense as the sun fades and the temperature decreases, the midst turns into a thick fog. The view of the boat riders is obscured, and their journey is slowed down. In the midst of their confusion, the pilgrims suffer an attack in hands of the opportune natives. In this case the fog serves the natives who take advantage of this distraction to launch their attack on the colonists. The natives-to draw a parallel-represent the oppressed group of people, the colonists represent the oppressive combine. Thinking that the fog is part of nature it is very reasonable for the fog to be helping the natives, as if nature were doing all it could to fight the inhumane acts of men.

            The two authors-Kesey and Conrad- criticize The Combine of their own novel. Of course each Combine represents a different time period and mean of oppression. Kesey shows a more modern problem-on a smaller scale and considered mundane in some cases-while Conrad’s issue is more global and repelled by current standards. Kesey criticizes the justification of the methods used to control patients. He deems the procedures-shock treatment, lobotomy- inhumane and finds no justification in them. The Combine would say it is necessary for the patients to endure the cutting off of their brains, in order to be able to live in society. The vindication of imperialism maintains that there are “savages” who need to be colonized and that the Europeans are their saviors, they need to live like Europe and the USA, because that is what is best for them. It is the “white man’s” duty to drag them-using force if necessary-into the light that is civilization. Conrad criticizes the hypocrisy of this thought and insists that this idea is merely a cover for the real intentions of the Combine: To drain the colonies and profit from them. This embarks slave labor, raw materials, the spread of European culture and Christianity, basically a place to enforce the will of the colonizers. While millions of people suffered daily of disease and starvation and abuse, the European nations justified this with a doctrine that is ironic to its core: “We have to make them change their ways to ours, even if we have to do it by force, it is our duty to save these people” The end justified the means.

            It is interesting to see how both novels share one same object as a symbol (the fog) and give it to very different interpretations around one same subject. The fog is on a different side of the same fight in each novel. In One Flew Over The Cuckoo’s Nest, the fog sides with the oppressor, in Heart Of Darkness it sides with the oppressed victims. As the fog drifts to either side of the spectrum, the conflict remains the same and the authors’ views side with the oppressed, despising the hypocritical Combines who feebly attempt to justify their inhumane acts.