Modernism And Existentialism - 1814 Words

During the modernist era of literature; a recurrent theme was prevalent in their works of art. The idea of existentialism revolving around the notion that you first experience life before you can begin to exist and understand yourself. This ideology stemmed from the main fear of the era; the end of the century. The fear of the unknown; the fear of what was to come in the following century (if it came) allowed for this ideology. When you believe time is running out, it puts a lot of things into perspective and allows for you to realize that while you might have certain values in life there are moments that will either solidify them or change them. Therefore, experiences rather than internalized beliefs are what makes a person who they are.†¦show more content†¦They, above—the Council in Europe, you know—mean him to be† (29). Throughout the entire trip people keep praising Kurtz (except the general manager) and this prepares Marlow for a very impressionable first impression. Marlow keeps thinking about Kurtz as this ideal man in the dark jungle. This of course is all shattered when Marlow meets him. Marlow, having hoped to meet someone who would not have been corrupted by the exposure of the jungle, meets Kurtz near death. This is moment of meeting is crucial for Marlow because it is turning point for his ideals. They meet the harsh truth that even the most idealistic, charismatic ones can be corrupted. Marlow loses his faith in his home and everything they represent because when he goes back, Marlow refuses to speak with people. He walks around disenchanted by the propaganda that Europe spews about Africa; and he is embittered that the people back home can not see through it. This shows how experiences shape who you become and how you identify in the world because that is the difference between Marlow and the common person back home: Marlow experience the Congo firsthand and therefore will always identify with those events. Similarly, Kurtz’s values and perception of himself change through the realization of his final moments in his iconic last words: â€Å"the horror, the horror† (116). Kurtz, although having started off as idealistic as the rest of the Europeans, becomes corrupt once he begins to live in the jungle and at hisShow MoreRelated Enlightenment, Romanticism, Realism, Modernism, and Postmodernism598 Words   |  3 PagesEnlightenment, Romanticism, Realism, Modernism, and Postmodernism Literature: the enlightenment, romanticism, realism, modernism, and postmodernism†¦. Where does one begin? To some, those words can be as scary as the word computer is to others. This essay is designed to help you become a great literary interpreter. Getting the motivation is three fourths of the battle to getting into the heads of the artists. To begin, an outline of some of the literary movements has been provided. 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