Chapter 1-
In chapter one Conrad introduces some characters whom he is telling his story to. Basically the focus of this chapter, to me, is that in order to find who a person really is or what the true meaning of something really is you must look on the inside where that person or thing shines the brightest. At the end of the chapter, Mr. Kurtz is introduced and Marlow ends up being compared to him. However, there are many different ideas on who Kurtz really is. I predict that when Marlow meets him he will find Kurtz is "moonshine."
Marlow is the only character that is introduced to us with an actual name. I feel the signifigance of this is to point out the main character right away but not be all like HI MY NAME IS MARLOW I'M THE ONE YOU NEED TO PAY ATTENTION TO! On page eight of this book Marlow is talking about a journey that he took that was like no other and he brings up the idea of having an idea, "An idea at the back of it; not a sentimental pretence but an idea; and an unselfish belief in the idea-something you can set up, and bow down before, and offer a sacrifice to..." I feel this quote is important because this theme is carried through out the book. Through everything Marlow goes through to get to Kurtz especially how the book ends made me think that maybe this whole book was just an idea that Marlow had not an actual journey. Maybe the idea of having an idea makes us all have ideas every second of the day--even though they may be ideas that a million people have already had.
The last thing that stood out about this chapter to me was "moonshine." The way Conrad uses this term to me represents looking at everything not from the outside and judging it but getting to know it and learning about it and then finding it's true meaning. A meaning that glows so bright you can't help but notice it; glows like how the moon shines when standing on it not how it shimmers when looked at from the outside. To me Conrad is sort of saying that in order for you life to shine you must have an inner meaning to everything not just be someone who's all about the surface stuff, the outside, the world.
