Materialism

In Conrads Heart of Darkness and Erdrichs Tracks

Materialism in Heart of Darkness

Throughout Heart of Darkeness, there is an opposition between the moral mission of civilizing the Africans and the materialistic mission of accumulating wealth through the sale of ivory. In the beginning of the novel, the two missions do not seem to conflict
She talked about weaning those ignorant millions from their horrid ways, till, upon my word, she made me quite uncomfortable. I ventured to hint that the company was made for profit. (Conrad 78)

Conrad compares the quest to that of the Romans, portraying this quest for material wealth in a positive light.
Hunters for gold or pursuers of fame, they all had gone out on that stream, bearing the sword, and often the torch, messengers of the might within the land, bearers of a spark from the sacred fire. (Conrad 69)

Materialism in Heart of Darkness Continued

Yet when Marlow travels to the Outer Station, the faade of innocence that covered up the materialism is slightly diminished.
Then, alluding with a toss of the head to the tumult in the stationyard, When one has got to make the correct entries, one comes to hate those savages hate them to the death. (Conrad 89)

Instead of the Africans being viewed as uncivilized people in need of salvation, they are portrayed as empty shells, more animal than human, always suffering and without livelihood.
One, with his chin propped on his knees, stared at nothing, in an intolerable and appalling manner, his brother phantom rested its forehead, as if overcome with a great weariness; and all about others were scattered in every pose of contorted collapse, as in some picture of a massacre of a pestilence. (Conrad 85)

Materialism in Heart of Darkness Continued

The deeper Marlow goes into the heart of darkness, the clearer it gets that the accumulation of wealth going on does not go hand in hand with civilization; rather the accumulation of wealth is in actuality a process that undermines the humanitarian mission of imperialism. While stations were supposed to be beacons of civilization, it is in actuality the site at which the slaves are dehumanized and man seems to become more savage.
And between whiles I had to look after the savage who was fireman. He was an improved specimen; he could fire up a vertical boiler. He was there below me, and, upon my word, to look at him was as edifying as seeing a dog in a parody of breeches and a feather hat, walking on his hind-legs. A few months of training had done for that really fine chap. (Conrad 91)

Materialism in Heart of Darkness Continued

Therefore, in the Heart of Darkness, the accumulation of wealth as a concept does not itself change, but changes in virtue of the way that the plot seems to revolve around it more and more as it progresses. This parallels in the way our perception of the imperial mission shifts as becoming more savage as well as the shifting of our perception of Kurtz, and therefore our perception of humanity.

Materialism in Tracks
Rejecting the attractions of material wealth how are Erdrichs motivations to demonstrate this idea exemplified through Pauline Pauline attempts to reject the attractions of materialism as means of showing her religious devotion. She justifies her actions by claiming that she is doing everything in honor of God, and practices extreme forms of her own type of devoutness, while still being characterized by jealousy, lust and obsession.

Materialism in Tracks Continued

I came before the priests, appeared in my black clothesand now the picture of my life stared plain enough. Death would pass me over just as men did, and I would live a long, strict life. (75) Erdrich portrays the separation of Native American culture through Paulines extreme opposition to earthly things. In the beginning of the novel, she separates herself from her family and only associates with those who assimilate into white culture, for example the Catholicmixed blood Morrissey family.

Materialism in Tracks Continued

I had the merciful scavengers heart. I became devious and holy, dangerously meek and mild. I wore the nuns castoffs, followed in Bernadettes tracks (69) She admires their wealth and their civilized way of living, however she later adapts an extreme form of religious adherence. By doing things such as such as wearing chafing underwear made of potato sacks, walking with her shoes on the wrong feet, and allowing herself to go to the bathroom at sunrise and sunset only, Pauline rejects material comfort.

Materialism in Tracks Continued

When I woke I released myself, and then broke the ice on the buckets. I used my hand and no spoon. I drank only hot water, took the thinnest of bread cutsI put burrs in the armpits of dressI let my toenails grow until it ached to walk again and each step reminded me of His tread on the path to Calvary. (152)

Kurtz v. Pauline

Both characters are unstable

Yes, I know, I said with something like despair in my heart, but bowing my head before the faith that was in her, before the great and saving illusion that shone with an unearthly glow in the darkness (Conrad 181). I tried to stop myself from remembering what it was like to have companions, to have my mother and sister around me (Edrich 15).

Both characters are desperate

It was a distant glimpse: the dugout, four paddling savages, and the lone white man turning his back suddenly on the headquarters, on relief, on thoughts of home (Conrad 110). I wanted to be like my mother, who showed her half-white. I wanted to be like my grandfather, pure Canadian (Erdrich 14).

Both characters are obsessed with materialistic wealth

"You should have heard him say, 'My ivory.' Oh, yes, I heard him. 'My Intended, my ivory, my station, my river, my ' everything belonged to him (Conrad 172). I became devious and holy, dangerously meek and mild (Edrich 69).

Both lives result in failure

Mistah Kurtz - he dead (Conrad 190). Predictable shapes, these martyrdoms. Mine took another form (Erdrich 152).

Authors Intent
Uses Kurtzs character to demonstrate the vulnerability to even the strong-minded to succumbing to material wealth and darkness Uses Paulines character to present the torn Native American culture. The Native Americans were similarly unstable and desperate causing them to sell their lands for material goods.

Bibliography
1. Conrad, Joseph. Heart of Darkness. Harmondsworth, Middlesex, England: Penguin, 1994. Print. 2. Erdrich, Louise. Tracks a Novel. New York: HarperFlamingo, 1998. Print.