Heart of darkness & Apocalypse

     In Heart of Darkness, the main character, Marlow, notices the European’s harass and dehumanization of the Africans. He observes many brutal scenes of torturing of the Africans as he approaches the company offices at the Outer Station. In order to justify the situation, Marlow tells himself that the native Africans deserve harsh treatment and abuse because they are criminals. As Marlow gradually descends down the hill to arrive at a dark and gloomy place where he calls it the “Grove of Death”, he sees many Africans suffering from pain and dying by starvation. After Marlow quickly moves away from this terrible place, he reaches the main building where he meets the Accountant who is well dressed in nicely ironed and clean outfit, a complete contrast to the Africans suffering and dying outside. The Accountant gets irritated by the moaning of the Africans and calls them savages with contempt and hatred. This scene brings the question of who are the real savages, the Africans or the Europeans. The outer appearance of the Europeans may look civilized covered with clothes, money, and status. However, their hearts are dark with hypocrisy and cruelty.

     In “Apocalypse Now”, likewise, Racism and hypocrisy are shown through the characters. Captain Willard is sent to Vietnam to track down Colonel Kurtz who is crazed with military genius. Willard goes on tedious journey up the river and he encounters horror: destructive explosions, thundering helicopters, friends injured in pain, and bloody corpses. Robert Duvall, who resembles the Accountant in Heart of Darkness orders bombing of a sea-side Vietcong village because it has the finest surfing waves in Vietnam. Because of his constant and merciless attack, innocent Vietnamese people and children suffer from the explosions and die. His cruel actions resemble that of the Accountant in Heart of Darkness which shows savagery and mercilessness. Robert believes himself to be civilized and cultured; however, the truth shows that he is being like a savage by acting out cruel killings and harms to innocent people.

     It is clear that “Apocalypse Now” and Heart of Darkness conveys the understanding of the real savagery of human being and the true meaning of what a civilized man is. Through allusion of characters in Heart of Darkness that resembles those of “Apocalypse Now”, the significant themes, savagery and hypocrisy of imperialism, are shown. The Accountant in Heart of Darkness and the Colonel in “Apocalypse Now” both shows the savagery deep down in the hearts of them through their actions towards Africans and Vietnamese.