Appropriation: Heart of Darkness- Apocalypse Now

When Joseph Conrad set out to write his novella about the physical and psychological experiences traveling to the heart of the African continent in "Heart of Darkness", he never would have imagined that some eighty years latter, a young Francis Ford Coppola would set the cinematic world on fire. His appropriation of Conrad's text, whilst fundamentally similar, would take on a completely new form, as an expose into the madness of the Vietnam War. The texts share thematic, narrative and character based connections but differ greatly on setting, techniques and context. However minor or major the appropriation, both texts have stood the test of time and remain fine examples of their genre.

"Heart of Darkness" was originally conceived in 1898, and was based heavily upon his own experiences as a steamboat captain in the Congo in 1890. The world during the late 1800's had seen most of the known world at least partially under British or European control.

James Hardie Jr. and wife, Rev. Willard (LOC)

1. Sen. Ben Tillman, 2. John E. Osborne, 3. J.B. S...

English: Francis Ford Coppola at the Cannes film f...

It was a time of social revolution; the period is now viewed as a bridge between Victorian Times and the new wave of modernism. Women had not received a semblance of equality and the notion of women's suffrage was far from their minds. Tension existed between the colonial powers, especially in the Congo, where numerous countries battled to assert domination over the African continent and exploit its resources, especially ivory. It is into this context that "Heart of Darkness" was born.

In the novella, the female role is of a traditional nature. Female characters occupy domestic roles and hold up the morality of the age, leaving the men free to fully explore the scope and range of themes and ideals present in the novel. Conrad also structured the novella in such a way that British readers...