What is the “whited sepulchre?” I couldn’t avoid wandering as I read “In a very few hours I arrived in a city that always makes me think of a whited sepuchre” (Conrad 13). I was even further intrigued as I saw the title of Mr. Tangen’s entry to his blog White Sepulchre. So, I did what ninety-nine percent of humanity would do: googled it. The first result I get is a line from the Book of Matthew that reads: “Woe unto you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! for ye are like unto whited sepulchres, which indeed appear beautiful outward, but are within full of dead [men's] bones, and of all uncleanness” (King James Bible, 23:27). According to these lines, a whited sepulchre symbolizes gild. Then, relating it to Heart Of Darkness timeline, the allusion of whited sepulchre to a city means that the city itself is gilded. Or, in other words, covered with gold, but filled with cruelty. Taking into account that the Congo was a Belgian colony, the city he might be referring to is Brussels. Hence, the allusion signifies hypocrisy, where the monarch’s premise of the civilizing benefits of imperialism is filled with cruelty, death, and violence in the colony of Congo.
Therefore, the reader can imply that Marlow’s point of view towards imperialism is a very critical one. Through imagery, Conrad is able to describe Marlow’s direct encounter with scenes of torture and cruelty. For example, “Nothing but black shadows of disease and starvation, lying confusedly in the greenish gloom” (Conrad 28). Marlow’s feelings are directly sensed by the reader, since he is the narrator of his own story. The reader feels the moment, can recreate the scenery from Conrad’s careful use of imagery. Also, the reader feels pathos towards the African natives, as Conrad illustrates the European missioners as cruel, and the Africans as the poor victims. Therefore, Conrad is able to criticize European imperialism through his use of imagery. On the other hand, taking into account the frame story (the Nellie and the men at the Thames River), the reader can sense both aspects of the whited sepulchre: the calm and optimistic men at the Nellie representing the beautiful white paint, and the vindictive scenery of Congo characterizing the death corpses inside.
Therefore, the reader can imply that Marlow’s point of view towards imperialism is a very critical one. Through imagery, Conrad is able to describe Marlow’s direct encounter with scenes of torture and cruelty. For example, “Nothing but black shadows of disease and starvation, lying confusedly in the greenish gloom” (Conrad 28). Marlow’s feelings are directly sensed by the reader, since he is the narrator of his own story. The reader feels the moment, can recreate the scenery from Conrad’s careful use of imagery. Also, the reader feels pathos towards the African natives, as Conrad illustrates the European missioners as cruel, and the Africans as the poor victims. Therefore, Conrad is able to criticize European imperialism through his use of imagery. On the other hand, taking into account the frame story (the Nellie and the men at the Thames River), the reader can sense both aspects of the whited sepulchre: the calm and optimistic men at the Nellie representing the beautiful white paint, and the vindictive scenery of Congo characterizing the death corpses inside.
This is fascinating! At least you've read the Book of Matthew so you have a frame of reference for the allusion.
ResponderEliminar