EXPOSING THE MYTH OF CIVILISATION: A DECONSTRUCTIVE READING OF HEART OF DARKNESS AND APOCALYPSE NOW

Abstract

This study offers a comparative analysis of Joseph Conrad’s Heart of Darkness, and Francis Ford Coppola’s Apocalypse Now with reference to the ways in which they construct and interrogate the concept of civilisation. Spanning 80 years of cultural development, the two texts reflect how, under the pressure of various historical and political circumstances, such as imperialism and modern warfare, the ambitions of the civilized world collapse. In engaging with the common concern regarding the fragility of civilization, both authors explore causes, find reasons, propose mitigating circumstances, and describe effects, going as far as to denounce the myth that civilisation is superior to the other form of society: barbarism. Methodologically, the paper adopts a comparative approach informed by concepts and methods from philosophy, deconstructivism, postcolonial criticism, as well as psychoanalytical interpretation. The close reading and cinematic analysis eventually demonstrate that these narratives challenge the conventional understanding of civilisation and its ethical and ideological foundations.