Group Discussion

At first Gregor does not fully understand what has happened.  Eventually Gregor accepts the fact that he is a giant insect, but he doesn't realize his life has completely changed.  He can no longer speak to others and support his family.  He is now physiclly limited in his ablilities.  Everyone is scared of him as well.  Gregor is closest to his sister, but even she has trouble accepting that he is an insect.  Gregor has an unstable relationship with his father, and Gregory's new form does not help their relationship improve.

The Metamorphosis

The beginning of The Metamorphosis starts the protagonist, Gregor, laying in bed.  The first line indicates that he turned into a giant insect overnight which is symbolic.  He also overslept and is late for work.  He feels discouraged about getting up and going to work, but his manager shows up at his house.  Gregory's family and boss all come to his door to make sure he is alright.  The tone of the first 25 pages is slightly depressing.  Gregor feels overburdened with everything that occurs in his life, and he questions why everyone seems to want to bother him.

Seminar

I thought the Socratic seminar worked well.  Everyone got involved, and many questions were asked. The groups resolved the questions that were asked.

2nd body paragraph

Marlow travels through a psychological journey, and this experience is like a nightmare with no consequences .  Marlow is deeply emotionally effected by the trauma he experiences.  The outcome is similar to a soldier suffering with post traumatic stress disorder.  He is unconsciously  drawn toward Kurtz.  Kurtz has a brutal and predatory nature, and he maintains an uncaring nature.  He is selfish and does not care about the effects of his actions towards others.  Marlow is from Victorian England and is not used to this type of person, but Marlow's inner darkness causes him to uncounsiously desire to become like the more free willed Kurtz.  Marlow secretly wishes he did not care about the well being of others.

1st body paragraph

Marlow experiences a difficult physical journey as he travels along the river into the darkness of the jungle. Along the way he encouters many troubles with locals and questions imperialism.  After witnessing it's horrors and damaging effects, Marlow starts to crack and realizes that imperialism must end.  Everything he sees deeply effects him.   (quote line which references the horrors he experiences) During this time Marlow is traveling towards Kurtz, and this is a metaphor for his emotional desire to be like Kurtz.  Kurtz is a selfish man who does not care about the effects his actions have on others.  This experience is also emotionally hard for him, and it leads to another venture.  The physical journey parallels with the psychological journey that Marlow endures.

Intro

Marlow goes through a physical journey and a psychological one.  He encounters problems with both.  He runs into actual danger and discovers the darkness inside him.  Marlow physically journeys into the the darkness of the jungle, but this parallels a psychological  journey that he experiences as he explores his inner darkness.

Heart of Darkness and Frederick Karl

Karl writes how the ideas presented in Conrad's Heart of Dakrness accurately describe the real world.  He states at the bottom of pg 126 "the Congo is a microcosm of the great world in which those who can, plunder those who cannot."  People are naturally greedy and take advantage over those who are weak.  All men have a desire for power.