Heart Of Darkness Huckleberry Finn Analysis

Throughout Heart of Darkness and The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn, the main characters, Marlow and Huck push through a series of personal pilgrimages while unconsciously shedding off the layers of one 's self to unearth the truth behind civilization. The representation of their characters bring light to the utter darkness of man that exists within us all. Through ideas of hollowness, civilization, motifs of rivers and a lack of meaning we, as readers, are able to uncover the corrupt and moral flaws of society.

In both Heart of Darkness and The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn the significance of the two rivers portrayed in both novels play a crucial role. The two represent a thread and divide between good and evil. The Congo River, shown in

Huck, like Marlow, was influenced by his surroundings and what his thoughts on slavery should be. He was never able to express his own views, considering the majority of his life, society had implemented those beliefs on him. Being on the river and in the raft with Jim was the only time he truly felt free, it was during these experiences when he could openly express how he felt without the pressures of society weighing him down. Freedom for both characters was so much more than an escape, it became a journey towards a common goal. For Jim that goal was towards the free states, for Huck it was towards a place unaltered by society, where he could adapt to his own situations as needed, away from his abusive father. Although the peaceful environment on the raft did not always remain that way, it was shattered after the arrival of the Duke and the King. The raft had represented a type of sanctuary for Huck and Jim, but their new guests unwanted arrival served as an invasion by society. A reminder that hollowness and greed can always find a way into our

Heart of Darkness exemplifies the theme of hollowness through a lens of emptiness of self. Marlow realizes quickly after coming to Africa that everyone surrounding him is hollow on the inside. The Europeans view of civilization, is just as superficial and empty as the leaders promoting it. Their conquest became a mask to hide the true darkness of the heart. Kurtz became the ultimate embodiment of this hollowness, he became its leader. Leading Europeans into the Congo on a false truth. But the Europeans were not the only ones hypnotized by its lure the women were blind to what was occurring in the Congo and to the truth behind the horrors that took place. They were so focused on the idea of colonization and it being a beacon of hope that they lost sight of the truth along the way. Their ignorance represents the complete blindness of civilization. Marlow tried to expose these lies to Kurtz 's’ intended, who represents Europeans, but could not bring himself to reveal the true darkness beneath. Marlow being someone who could see civilizations hollowness, while at the same time deciding not to bring light to the darkness, truly shows how lost and complete civilizations blindness has become. If Marlow uncovered the lies of the beloved Kurtz, and imperialism, then he would kill any hope left in