Color is used really efficaciously as a tool of symbolism in Heart of Darkness. Colors, particularly black and white, are used to typify evil ( black ) and good ( white ) . Other colors are besides used, although less frequently than black and white. Throughout the narrative, people are thought to hold white psyches or black psyches depending on their innate goodnes? or badness or the function they are carry throughing at the clip. The color of a individuals psyche is frequently contrasted to the color of their tegument. A black- souled, white-skinned individual is thought to be evil and dishonest. I met a white adult male in such an unexpected elegance of outfit . This demonstrates how a white adult male was non expected to be a good individual. Elegance of frock was unexpected because the adult male was white. In comparing, a white-souled, black-skinned individual is thought to be true and full of unity. An athletic black belonging to some seashore folk and educated by my hapless predecessor thought all the universe of himself. .
Peoples are described as black with hatred regardless of skin color. This is farther grounds of black being used synonymously with immorality. Black International Relations and Security Network? T merely used to depict evil people. Often far off, I thought of these two, guarding the door of Darkness, knitting black wool as for a warm chill. The symbolism of black wool at the door of Darkness is clearly indicating to evil, and farther supports black as immorality.
Colors other than black and white are used to depict tempers and attitudes past the basic good and evil. Red signifies industry. ? There was a huge sum of ruddy – good to see at any clip because one knows that some existent work is done in there. . Yellow is seen as a fearful color. I was traveling into the xanthous. Dead in the center. Pale denotes Death. It is besides used this manner in the Bible, the Pale Equus caballus and his rider Death , Revelations .
She came frontward, all in black, with a picket caput, drifting towards me in the twilight. She was in mourning. It was more than a twelvemonth since his decease . The usage of color is effectual in the narrative for a assortment of grounds. First, it is easy to understand. Second, colors are simple to place, and recognizable colors are used in the book. Anyone able to read this book already knows the colors. Last, the significance of a color stays consistent throughout the book. Black is ever considered evil, and white ever symbolizes good. Other colors retain their individuality every bit good. Color as symbolism plays a big function in Heart of Darkness. Although good and immoralities are the ideas most normally identified by colors in the narrative, other constructs are represented by colors every bit good, including decease, industry, and cowardliness. The usage of colors as symbols gives the reader another manner of looking at ideas cardinal to the subject of Heart of Darkness.
Works Cited
- Conrad, Joseph. Heart of Darkness, A Norton Critical Edition. New York City:W.W. Norton & A; Company, Inc. , 1988.
