Critical Analysis of Heart of Darkness megalomania Heart of Darkness Heart of Darkness is an adventure novel written by Joseph Conrad. It was published In 1899. The purpose of this novel Is to display the act of imperialism. The story circulates on Charles Marrow, who narrates the book, and is a salesman In the search of Ivory up the Congo River. Heart of Darkness Informs the reader of European colonization and Its negatives. Throughout this novel the reader learns more and more of Imperialism and how man can be so evil.
For the duration of the book, Marrow has set out to find Kurt, a legend of a man, who is the chief of the Inner Station in Africa and seems to be a Jack-of-all-trades. “l was within a hair’s-breadth of the last opportunity for pronouncement, and I found with humiliation that probably I would have nothing to say (Conrad 11). ” Marrow worshiped this man for that reason. Marrow is a man who no longer holds his innocence. He really has seen it all, mistreatment of others, death, murder, slavery, starvation, and sickness.
Charles Marrow knows the ‘darkness’ of the world, and has experienced most of It first hand, which makes him numb to It for extent. He Is a very diligent worker, and seems to hide behind It. For example, when one of the others on the ship was struck with an arrow and died, he returned to his Job, sailing the ship. He seems to have a great deal of respect for Kurt, although he sees his flaws. Marrow is glad to see that the majority of the territory was British owned and he was also glad to see that commerce, along with culture and religion were thriving. Seep Conrad seems to depict imperialism in this novel through Charles Marrow. He sees everything being done to the tribe members that he passes and at the station. Throughout the book everyone speaks so highly of Kurt and his accomplishments and what he has done for Africa. This novel is filled with literal and metaphorical contradictions: Kurt and Marrow, Europe and Africa, good and evil, black and white, and so on. This novel has many symbols, and most symbolizing the corruption of that of imperialism. The fog that Marrow and the ship encounter for one Is a great example.
Marrow has no Idea where he Is going or If there Is open water ahead. This symbolizes ‘darkness’. The fog game Marrow a push to make a decision but he had no idea if he should stop or keep going, like fog, darkness distorts a view. Ivory symbolizes the destruction and greed of man; the managers forget all about being civilized and their morals that they have been taught. Kurt is just a plain and simple symbol of madness. His dark side completely and totally washed him out. His exposure to the Congo and living among the natives stripped him of his moral values.
He put himself up on a pedestal, making the natives think he is a god of some sort, so they think the world of him. Marrow stated that everyone has a degree of viciousness in them, but the whites had standards because of civilization. A native Is normally looked at as a savage because there Is no governing for him to follow, only nature laws. Joseph Conrad had a purpose for this novel. He painted a story to Illustration the evil of Imperialism. He wanted to get rid of the European mindset of abusing the natives and taking
Human kind, whether white or black, has the option of being evil, or righteous for that matter. And one is to know whether or not to follow the ‘heart of darkness’ by realizing what in fact is corrupt or good. Society today seems to be blinding, categorizing, and stereotyping. Conrad does a great Job off pulling off the blindfold that society has darkened the world with. There is evil in everyone, regardless of race, social status, or sex.
