"We live in the flicker — may it last as long as the old earth keeps rolling! But darkness was here yesterday."
The quote is from Joseph Conrad’s novella Heart of Darkness. This novella is a complex exploration of colonialism, human nature, and the darkness within the human soul.
In Heart of Darkness, the story is narrated by Charles Marlow, who recounts his journey up the Congo River to meet the enigmatic ivory trader, Mr. Kurtz. The novella delves into the brutality and moral ambiguity of European colonialism in Africa.
The quote reflect themes of colonialism presented in the novel. The “flicker” represents the brief and fragile nature of European colonial endeavors. These attempts to bring civilization and progress to the African continent are temporary and precarious, much like a flickering light in the vast darkness. This reflects the transient and often superficial impact of colonial rule, which fails to provide lasting change or true enlightenment.
The phrase “darkness was here yesterday” suggests that before the arrival of European colonizers, the “darkness” — viewed as the unknown or primitive in the colonial mindset — already existed. This reflects the colonial perspective that saw Africa as a dark, uncivilized place needing European civilization’s light. However, Conrad also uses “darkness” to criticize the dehumanizing and exploitative aspects of colonialism, suggesting that the true darkness lies within the colonizers themselves.
Conrad’s portrayal of colonialism in Heart of Darkness is complex and often critical. While the “flicker” might represent the mission of bringing progress and enlightenment, the persistent “darkness” symbolizes the moral and ethical corruption of the colonizers and the destructive impact of colonial exploitation on both the colonized and the colonizers. The novella exposes the hollowness of the colonial enterprise, revealing it as a façade masking greed, brutality, and the darker aspects of human nature.
The hope that the flicker “may last as long as the old earth keeps rolling” reflects the colonizers’ desire for their influence to endure. However, the underlying recognition that darkness is ever-present and enduring acknowledges the impermanence and ultimately illusory nature of colonial power. This aligns with Conrad’s broader critique of colonialism as an enterprise doomed to fail because it is built on exploitation and moral hypocrisy.
This quote can also reflect the transient nature of human civilization and the fleeting moments of enlightenment and progress that humanity experiences (“the flicker”). The “flicker” symbolizes the brief, fragile spark of human achievement and consciousness amid the vast, enduring darkness that represents the unknown, primal forces, and the darker aspects of human nature and history.
The phrase “may it last as long as the old earth keeps rolling!” expresses a hope that this flicker of human existence and civilization will endure as long as possible. However, the acknowledgment that “darkness was here yesterday” serves as a reminder of the persistent presence of ignorance, savagery, and the inherent darkness within humanity that has always existed and continues to loom.
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