Heart of Darkness by Joseph Conrad, portrays a compelling story about the horrors forced upon indigenous Africans by European Ivory Traders in the 19th century. Conrad’s experiences from a grim childhood and journey through the Congo heavily influence the book in the aspect of human welfare. Joseph Conrad, originally Jozef Konrad Korzeneiowski, endured a bleak childhood. In 1861, Russian officials exiled Conrad’s family to norther Russian because of his father’s political objections. The Russian climate, bitter and unforgiving, caused Conrad to lose both his parents to tuberculosis soon after their exile. The loss of both parents at such a young age gave Conrad a dim view on life (Encyclopedia Britannica). At age 21, Conrad attempted suicide, shooting himself in the chest with a revolver; a close friend of Conrad stated that he was depressed and had no will to live (Victorianweb.org). Being …show more content…
Conrad began life as a mariner in 1874 on a French Merchant Ship. Over the years, Conrad worked with many different sea-companies: British, French, and Spanish. However, in 1890, Conrad took up a positon on a French expedition planned to travel up the Congo River (Encyclopedia Britannica). Conrad left the expedition earlier than its official end, horrified by his experience. In his four month long journey up the Congo River, Conrad saw the natives being treated like animals. Conrad expands on this experience and illustrates how the natives faced racism, starvation, suffered from disease and violent brutality under European Colonialism. The evil he witnessed drove him to insanity, causing him to have a mental breakdown during the expedition. His experience heavily influenced the book in every detail possible (The Telegraph). Every character, every scene, every brutal moment in the book is a reflection of what Conrad went through during those four