Heart of Darkness seems to blur the line between the so-called "advanced" society of Europe and the "primitive" society of Africa. What makes one culture "civilized" and another "savage" in the eyes of the world? Are these distinctions valid? Do you think that the culture you live in is "advanced" or "civilized"? Why?
In my viewpoint, the line people divided whether one culture “civilized” or “savage” is how the culture’s technology develops. Marlow said in the book: “Once, I remember, we came upon a man-of-war anchored off the coast. There wasn’t even a shed there, and she was shelling the bush. It appears the French had one of their wars going on thereabouts. Her ensign dropped limp like a rag; the muzzles of the long six-inch guns stuck out all over the low hull…It was not dissipated by somebody on board assuring me earnestly there was a camp of natives-he called them enemies”( heart of darkness P.135). French attack these native people who probable still use sword as their weapon. At this time, it makes French’s culture looks civilized and native people’s culture looks savage. I think there is not have a standard to decide the culture is civilized or savage in the world. Every culture has their different way to develop themselves. Every culture has different meaning of it. Now, the development of technology of the society is very important. These European have the good technology, but they use the tech to make guns or cannon instead of using it to make citizens in the society can have a better than before. French uses cannon to attack native people, European uses guns to set colony in Africa. Finally, French can get the land from these native people’s control and European can use colony to get ivory from African to make a lot of money. Do you think a civilized culture can do these savage actions? No, I don’t think so. I confirm