HOD #2

"The only real feeling was a desire to get appointed to a trading-post where ivory was to be had, so that they could earn percentages. They intrigued and slandered and hated each other only on that account—but as to effectually lifting a little finger—oh, no. By heavens! there is something after all in the world allowing one man to steal a horse while another must not look at a halter. Steal a horse straight out. Very well. He has done it. Perhaps he can ride. But there is a way of looking at a halter that would provoke the most charitable of saints into a kick" (Conrad 93).

This section of the book is very much associated with the idea and act of imperialism. Here, Marlow talks about he facade of imperialism, and how fake the operation is. The only true desire of imperialists is to make money, and in this case, off of ivory, and the native people that live in this desolate area. Marlow says that the men plotted against each other to get ahead of everyone else, but did no work whatsoever. The part of the quote, "By heavens! there is something after all in the world allowing one man to steal a horse while another must not look at a halter. Steal a horse straight out. Very well. He has done it. Perhaps he can ride. But there is a way of looking at a halter that would provoke the most charitable of saints into a kick" is important because it highlights the true motives and ideas of imperialism to weaker nations. The metaphor says that there is something terrible about a world that lets one man steal a horse while another man isn’t allowed to even look at a horse’s halter. The metaphor is significant because it means that it is awful for people to take over another nation, when the citizens of the nation have no say and are of little worth.