Scientists of the nineteenth century speculated that humans were on an evolutionary scale that ran from savage to civilized. The Europeans were considered to be at the highest point yet achieved by humanity — the civilized. Peoples and races not yet encountered by the Europeans were placed further down the list, and were referred to as savages. Although the Europeans believed they had reached the height of civilization, remnants remained of their own savagery.
Throughout the novel Heart of Darkness there is reference to the idea of civility versus savagery – this is also true of the movie Apocalypse Now. Joseph Conrad’s Heart of Darkness shows the disparity between the European ideal of civilization and the reality of it, displayed by the domination, torture, exploitation and dehumanization of the African people. Conrad often emphasizes the idea of what is civilized versus what is primitive or savage. While reading the novel, the reader can picture how savage the Europeans seem.
They are cruel and devious towards the very people they are supposed to be helping. Marlow, the main character in Heart of Darkness, often recognizes the Europeans’ dehumanization of the Africans. As Marlow approaches the company offices at the Outer Station he sees “a scene of inhabited devastation” (Conrad 24). He catches sight of a chain gang of half starved, animal-like Africans. Trying to rationalize the situation, Marlow tells himself that these Africans are criminals, and somehow deserve their fate.
As He descends further down the hill he comes to a gloomy place–what he calls the “Grove of Death” (Conrad 30). Many Africans lie dying, their bodies frail and starved. He then turns and quickly removes himself from this horrible place. When Marlow reaches the main building he encounters the Accountant, dressed in nicely starched and ironed clothes, a complete contrast from the dying Africans outside. While Marlow is talking to the accountant a sick man groans in the background.
The accountant is so agitated by the interruptions that he says, “when one has got to make correct entries, one comes to hate those savages–hate them to death” (Conrad 32). Who are the real savages here? Although the clothing, money, and overall appearance of the Europeans may look civilized, their hearts are dark with deception. The visions of this deception are better understood after watching Apocalypse Now. Captain Willard has been sent to Vietnam to track down Colonel Kurtz, a one time military genius gone deadly psychotic.
As Willard journeys up the River, he takes a parallel journey into the darkness of his own mind. As the tedium of the river journey sets in, horror emerges. Sanity is lost among the thundering helicopters, deafening explosions, and fallen friends. In this movie Robert Duvall’s crazed character, the colonel, who resembles the accountant in heart of darkness, orders the bombing of a sea-side Vietcong village because their beach possesses the finest surfing waves in Vietnam. Innocent Vietnamese children are attending school when the colonel begins his senseless attack.
With the explosions and fire in the background, the colonel seems to be oblivious to his surroundings. He stands up in the middle of the attack and announces “I love the smell of napalm in the morning. ” This seems like a comparable image to that of the accountant. They are both believed to be the more civilized, yet they are committing savage acts towards innocent people. The two quotes said by these men are easily comparable. The idea that the Accountant in Heart of Darkness is so unaware of what is really going on around him is hard for the reader to understand at times.
The reader sees horrible things happening to human beings and wants to give them sympathy. We can’t even fathom how a person can be that ignorant. This is where the movie really shows it’s support of the novel. Seeing the colonel stand up in the hub of a battle field and say that he likes the smell of napalm was what brought the reality to the reader. Heart of Darkness and Apocalypse Now are put together to create an amazing understanding of the real savagery of man and the true definition of civility for the reader and viewer.
Apocalypse Now was set in the jungle amongst the animals and the savages. Yet it is the soldiers who were the true savages. The Accountant is blinded by the dark chaos that surrounds the camp, and similarly, the Colonel is unaware of the death and destruction occurring around him. The savagery deep down in the hearts of these men truly shows itself with the Africans and the Vietnamese. Man’s inhumanity towards man is clearly depicted throughout the journey down the Congo River, as well as up the Nung River.
