Is Marlow Complicit in European Imperialism?

4/6/2017

Recently, the First Daughter of the United States of America has made "complicit" quite a trendy word; despite its frivolity, history will eventually have to reassess her comment considering her family's track record of having monetized the presidency. "Complicit" means to be involved with others in an illegal or questionable activity.

Marlow lies in behalf of the deceased Kurtz, visits his "widowed" fiancée, and safeguards Kurtz's bequests. Does Marlow rebuke imperialist capitalism or is he complicit in it?

Are European women such as Marlow's aunt and Kurtz's fiancée also complicit even though they do not even take a step on the colony? If so, in what ways do you think they also partake in the exploitation of Africa and Africans?

Still again, does Kurtz's African mistress (on whom Kurtz must have doted many elephants' worth) benefit from European imperialism?

5 Comments

Luis Villanueva 1-2A

4/6/2017 15:33:36

Marlow I believe is complicit because although he may not be literally doing it he is a bystander through it all and knows of Kurtz true colors. Marlow when he talked to Kurtz fiancee in the end told her that his lady where's were get but in reality grew his what Kurtz actually said to the European. The women were not a part of it because the work was always left for the "big" men who underestimated women. In the book there is a lot of sexism involved and these women were thought to be naive. She benefited from Kurtz but had no idea what he was doing and she always stayed out of affairs which has to do with gender bias as well. The men knew more of what was happening and yet kept it to themselves making them a part of it.

Adaylin Alvarez

4/7/2017 20:52:27

Marlow, like Luis said, is a bystander in a crime seen because he doesn't do anything to change the wrongdoings he sees being done. If Marlow's aunt and Kurtz's fiancee truly don't know anything of whats going on in Africa, then they are not complicit because they are truly unaware of the wrongs being done. Ivanka's statement may sound like she is innocent, smart, and means good, but if she actually wanted to change the world for the better and knows the meaning of unprecedented, then she, I'm sure, is completely aware of the horrible, sexist, racist, and xenophobic things he says and how wrong they are. Ivanka is just another coward who is hiding being her rich father and acting naive.

Raquel B.

4/7/2017 21:00:43

Marlow is indeed complicit with European Imperialism, he does not practice it himself but gets mesmerized by the power that Kurtz held. He becomes a follower of Kurtz like the manager and Russian. The women such as Kurtz’s fiancee is a complicit in a way, she has a piano which is holds “whiteness” and “dark gleams” which represent the ivory and the exploitation of Africans.

Alondra Velasquez

4/8/2017 12:44:00

I think Marlow is complicit because even though he isnt doing any harm to the native people, he is not any better from the europeans by not doing something to prevent the cruelty. Also Trump's daughter is complicit because she sees what his father is doing and knows its not fair for the people, she would have been not a complicity if she wasnt aware of her father business but I mean common its all over the news so she is complicit by not doing something about it. Both the first daughter of the United States of America and Marlow are complicit.

Roxanne Flores

4/11/2017 00:17:26

Marlow was able to get a job due to his aunts connections with the ivory company. This company went to the Congo and controlled most of the African people. Therefore the aunt is complicit in imperialism. She may not do anything for them but she did provide them with another European to work for them. The fiancée is the same situation because she has her house looking wealthy. The ivory in her house portrays her support towards imperialism. If she buys from this company it must mean she doesn't mind of what happens.

Is Marlow Complicit in European Imperialism?

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