kerblogger

“I was wondering what exactly is the “fascination of the abomination“. I know it is described as ” - you know, imagine the growing regrets, the longing to escape, the powerless digust, the surrender, the hate.” But is it meaning like the darkness of the world and humanity? if i understood this more i could understand how it realtes more to his journey to and from the Congo… @

I think “fascination of the abomination” is a modern term. It relates to a loss of civilization. In the novella, the trip down the river is the metaphor for that process. It is also atavism, decay. We have imagery for this in many movies. The civilized man who removes his city clothes and goes to dwell with beasts in the wilderness. It’s cliche. When we discover these wayward sons, they always look the same… @

fascination - abomination

Gravitas is a Latin noun formed from the adjective gravis, heavy. It conveys a sense of substance or depth of personality. In an ancient Roman context, the word gravitas communicated a sense of dignity, seriousness, and duty. English borrowed the Latin word via French as gravity at about the beginning of the sixteenth century. Then, it had much the same sense as gravitas now has: weight, influence, or authority. It could also refer to some matter that was grave (which comes from the same Latin source) or to a solemn dignity, a sobriety or seriousness of conduct. Gravitas is one of the several virtues that ancient Roman society expected men to possess, along with pietas and dignitas. In recent years this word suddenly went into and then out of vogue with news reporters on the national level, sprinkled into every other news story. Ever since George W Bush picked Richard Cheney as his running mate, the candidates in the American presidential race have been vying to see who can demonstrate the greatest gravitas, or appearance of dignity and seriousness. Gravitas should not be confused with gravity, the force of attraction between masses…