ipl-logo

Heart Of Darkness Symbolism Essay

821 Words4 Pages
bulb-icon

Recommended: Heart of darkness symbols and symbolism

“Men! The only animal in the world to fear” (Lawrence). This quote from D.H. Lawrence is stating that mankind is the real animal we should be in fear of. In many ways, mankind often acts in ways that our against our morals and civilization. In Joseph Conrad’s novel, Heart of Darkness, he shows how men can obliterate all of their morals and abandon their restraint beginning to act like animals when removed from civilization. Heart of Darkness reveals multiple themes about mankind living in this type of setting. In his novel, Conrad uses the literary elements of symbolism, characterization, and setting to illustrate the theme that when humans are surrounded by darkness, they can become blind to the truth. The literary element of symbolism is …show more content…

Conflict is used what many characters to cause changes, both negative and positive, in these characters. The main conflict Marlow faces, is whether or not he should stay loyal to Kurtz, or should he expose him (Conrad). During this conflict it is shown that Marlow counteract his morals, and stay loyal to Kurtz, rather than doing the right thing and exposing him. This shows how the darkness of the jungle clouded Marlow’s mind and skewed his choices. Marlow would have rather stayed loyal to Kurtz, a complete animal, than help the innocent natives of the Congo. The manager of the inner station asked Marlow to turn over the papers Kurtz gave Marlow, in order to expose Kurtz’s actions (Conrad 66). Furthermore, Kurtz has a conflict of his own with his endless greed, this shows the true darkness of the heart of man. Kurtz told the Russian he would shoot him if he didn 't hand over the ivory (Conrad 51). The darkness caused Kurtz greed to grow so large that he was willing to take a life of someone else for an almost absolute amount of ivory. Kurtz was considered a god of ivory, and he collected more ivory than anyone else. However, everyone who considered Kurtz these things, was unaware of the way he obtained the ivory. These two conflicts make it very clear that both Marlow and Kurtz were blinded to making the right choices and fulfilling them when they were removed from

Show More
Related
1556 Words | 7 Pages

The reality is that King Leopold’s “charity” resulted in the death of ten million people, which is approximately 50% of Congo’s population(Cleary). The difference in Marlow’s previous perception he learned from European’s justification and the reality he learns in Africa impels Marlow to develop his hatred towards deception. This explains his sentiment towards the

Read More
357 Words | 2 Pages

A passage in Heart of Darkness tells about one man who is allowed to steal a horse and another who is not. The horse symbolizes the riches of the world. The horse represents ivory, gold, vegetation, anything of value that comes from the earth. The man who is allowed to take the reserves of the world are the first world countries like Belgium or Great Britain. Those countries are morally free to take what they want from anywhere.

Read More
1106 Words | 5 Pages

Not the End The exploration of the human nature is never end in every different era. Francis Coppola 's Apocalypse Now artfully applies classic Joseph Conrad 's Heart of Darkness 's to quest the reasons of evil human nature. These two independent magnum opuses have some similar and different places among the story plots, environments, and characterizations, but they all reflect the evil and virtuous human nature.

Read More
1542 Words | 7 Pages

This notion of Marlow controlling his own destiny is especially solidified when he declares that he is loyal to Kurtz because Kurtz is his choice of nightmares. This definitive decision demonstrates that Marlow has the ability to act as he truly deems fit, and therefore is not stuck in the proverbial Shadow. In choosing Kurtz and deeming him a nightmare,

Read More
1240 Words | 5 Pages

Marlow finds out how Kurtz had been instructed by the International Society for the Suppression of Savage Customs to write a seventeen pages report before his nerves “went wrong.” In one section, Kurtz had written “Exterminate all the brutes.” Confused by the contradicting images of Kurtz, Marlow thinks that ” His power to charm had influenced the natives, still Marlow is not sure if it was worth the helmsman’s death to reach

Read More
422 Words | 2 Pages

In this novel, Joseph Conrad is portraying the events that are occurring in the Congo as well as his experiences. The first time Marlow is off the boat he witnesses a chain gang heading into the forest to retrieve ivory for the company. Rather than intervening into the situation, Marlow only stands to the side and turns his head the other way so that he wouldn't have to look at the demeaning nature of the company. “What’s the point of having beliefs and values if we don't stand up for the former and live by the latter?” (Goudreau).

Read More
742 Words | 3 Pages

This internal conflict with the uncanny, the need to hear Kurtz’s voice and the repulsion at the fact that his journey was meant for only that, stem from Marlow’s cognitive switch to dissociate himself with the dead helmsman at his feet. This small flicker of an uncanny encounter finishes with the tossing of his shoes into the river, and serves as a crucial moment of character development within

Read More
1268 Words | 6 Pages

This text example shows Marlow reassuring the Russian that he won't ruin Kurtz reputation, while he's unsure of what to do. This shows how Kurtz reputation isn't what it seems to be, and his true colors are uncovered. In the end this causes the reader to dislike Kurtz because of his dishonesty and manipulation that he has been exposed

Read More
417 Words | 2 Pages

The ivory company hired Marlow to set sail to find Kurtz which

Read More
1102 Words | 5 Pages

This book represents order, and it was heavily used by the white man; this implies that this book was his way of protecting himself from the chaotic jungle around him. As Marlow read this book, he began to forget about the chaotic world around him, and it made him feel something normal from civilization. Conrad is using this plot event and the setting of the cottage to show the difference in the Europeans principles of order and chaos, as well as show how some of them use this order to shield themselves from the chaos. Conrad also uses many examples of how the sham of civilization hides the truth of our human nature. Conrad compares the Native Africans to the raw

Read More
956 Words | 4 Pages

When a child disobeys their parents, it is deemed a sin. Likewise, Marlow sins when he lies to the company on Kurtz’s behalf. “I wouldn’t have gone so far as to fight for Kurtz, but I went for him near enough to a lie,” (Conrad, 1990, p. 42). Marlow is the one character is who conscious of his sin. He hated lying, and was so appalled by the fact that he lied twice during his time in the Congo.

Read More
734 Words | 3 Pages

Chains Of Racism Racism is something you learn, not something you born with. Through the time, many writers have implemented their books with the racism that the mankind has seen along it’s history. Joseph Conrad implements a heavy sense of racism in his masterpiece, Heart of Darkness, through the use of symbolism, setting and various other literary devices. “Things are not always as they seem; the first appearance deceives many”(Plato). The symbolism plays a vital role in the development of the racism, the colors white and black, or the words light and dark are the main columns of symbolism in Heart of Darkness.

Read More
851 Words | 4 Pages

When looking back at works of art, one must always keep in mind the time in which it was written. This is because while something may be considered sexist and racist in modern times, they would not have necessarily been viewed that way in the time it was written by the audience it was aimed toward. There is no doubt that Joseph Conrad was both racist and sexist, but so were most, if not all, of his peers at that time. And while it is important to note such features as they brought about many great discussions on his novel. However, this is not what is important or what should be discussed.

Read More
785 Words | 4 Pages

BRIEF ANALYSIS The use of various literary devices in Joseph Conrad’s novel helps to bring his story to life, which ultimately is to his advantage. Conrad brings the reader into the darkness, displayed the corruptibility of humankind and left them pondering the absurdity of evil and imperialism. One of the strongest literary devices that Conrad uses to engage the reader in his novella is the use of imagery. However other important literary devices that are used throughout the novel as well as in the extract above is: similes, metaphors, personification, foreshadowing, and symbolism and narrative techniques.

Read More
638 Words | 3 Pages

It’s clear as Marlow first gets to the outer station and witnesses the cruelty the Africans face that he subconsciously identifies the actions as evil; but he does nothing to stop the inhumanity. Sometimes the degree of evil might be minimal but it’s still there. Evil once lived wherever pain resides. If evil was eradicated from the world we would no longer see pain or suffering. The day when no one is suffering, when no one is in misery or agony, is the day evil will cease to

Read More

More about Heart Of Darkness Symbolism Essay

Related Topics

Open Document