Heart Of Darkness Imagery Essay

There can be multiple inferences from the clues that Conrad gives us. It is adding to the novel and giving the meaning. It could mean that there is just as much “darkness” in Europe as there is in Africa. Conrad’s main character, Marlow, has never been one that was easy to read or figure out. So why should the intended message be given to us plainly?

In Heart of Darkness, Joseph Conrad suggest that true human existence cannot prevail productively without the dynamics of society. Throughout numerous scenes in the novel, Conrad stresses the necessity of societal restraints through Kurtz’s inability to prosper as a human being when he is removed from the expectations of civilization. In the scene above, Marlow’s myopic observations of Kurtz reveals Conrad’s theme by illustrating the annihilation of Kurtz’s essential human characteristics as he descends into a barbaric lifestyle absent of the norms of society. Not only does the above scene support Conrad’s main theme, but it portrays his writing style, characterization of Marlow, and symbolism as used throughout the novel.

Some critics believe that in Heart of Darkness Conrad illustrates how ‘’the darkness of the landscape can lead to the darkness of the social corruption.” This statement means that if the environment is dark, then the people in that environment will match the surrounding feeling, which is dark and depressing. For example, if it is a gloomy rainy day, most people feel tired and not as happy. If it is a bright sunny day, the most people feel motivated to get things done and joyful. Yes, this statement is believable because I have noticed that the weather, my surroundings, and even other people’s behaviors around me affect my mood. Today, for instance, it rained all day and the sky was dark, as a result I slept throughout the whole

In the story “Heart Of Darkness” The author Conrad uses many different contrast to form the theme of the story.Three things lead to the important meaning of the novel, They are the Europeans and the savages and the evil present in every man. All of the contrasts in this story add up to one idea, No one is safe from the darkness and no one is safe from there inner evil. When people are placed in an area where greed and hate fulfill their heart, darkness will live

"I looked around, and I don't know why, but I assure you that never, never before, did this land, this river, this jungle, the very arch of this blazing sky, appear to me so hopeless and so dark, so impenetrable to human thought, so pitiless to human weakness" (Conrad 4 ). Here, Conrad essentially shows the reader his point of view that seems to be clouded with darkness. Conrad sees the world as uncontrollable and something that will always be dark, plagued by the human inability to have a more positive outlook. This is a popular opinion among scholars: “The narrator comes to believe that light does not necessarily mean something is good and pure, but is merely a tool that helps pave the way to the path of darkness” (Teen Ink 1). Conrad uses juxtaposition between light and darkness to show his prevalent belief that darkness prevails more than light, and that human nature will always lead one towards the darkness in life. The sun can be seen to a plethora of people as a symbol of light and the morality of human nature, but ultimately, even the sun leaves to eventually venter into the darkness at the end of the

Marlow is ecstatic; he is close to meeting the enigmatic Kurtz, of whom he has heard much praise. He and his companions arrived at the bank below Kurtz’s station, and Marlow observed that “There was no joy in the brilliance of sunshine. The long stretches of the waterway ran on, deserted, into the gloom of overshadowed distances” (Conrad 30). Throughout the story, Marlow has heard of Kurtz’s skill in procuring ivory and his strong character. Yet as he is faced with the reality of coming face to face with Kurtz, Marlow finds “no joy” in the sunshine, which he even uses “brilliance” to describe; wondrous sights no longer hold wonder. The “long stretches” of the river are seen, “deserted,” and they continue into “the gloom of overshadowed distances.” Marlow can see the path he must take, and it is filled with shadows; it is devoid of light. Marlow’s entire journey has been building to the moment when he reaches his destination, yet to reach it, he must travel through the darkness: the path to enlightenment. Marlow sees the stillness and rejects the “brilliance of sunlight,” rejecting also anything that would hinder his enlightenment. Light therefore does not represent illumination, as the path Marlow must travel to fulfill his physical and spiritual journey is shrouded in

     Conrad uses light and dark imagery to help create the setting for the story; light represents civilization while darkness suggests the uncivilized. The novel opens on the deck of a boat called the Nellie, as we are introduced to the

Darkness is everything that is unknown, primitive, evil, and impenetrable.  To Conrad, Africa is the very representation of darkness.  Marlow often uses the phrase, "We penetrated deeper and deeper into the heart of darkness" (Conrad 68), to describe his progress on the Congo.  By traveling farther and farther down the Congo, Marlow and his crew get closer and closer to the epicenter of this foreboding darkness, to the black heart of evil.  Because of Africa's physical immensity and thick jungles, it appeared to be a land of the unknown where "the silence . . . went home to one's very heart-its mystery, its greatness, the amazing reality of its concealed life"(56). This portrayal of Africa as both a romantic frontier and a foreboding wilderness continues to dominate in the minds of Westerners even today.

(Conrad 49). As another example, the misty jungle around the steamer is neither physically light or dark. This imagery is used to represent the unknown because it is unclear to the characters whether the jungle is good or bad at this point. It can therefore be seen that light and dark imagery complement the use of vision to point out the heart of darkness that Marlow talks about to the

Darkness is also an important metaphor for disaster and misery. The old women knitting are using black wool. Marlow even mentions his uneasiness in regards to them, and how the older of the two "seemed uncanny and fateful", how they were "guarding the door of Darkness" (Conrad 14). They were an omen for the dark months ahead, warning him of

In the novel Heart of Darkness, Joesph Conrad uses the symbol of the river to show change and how the the river is deceiving and evil. Conrad uses the Congo river, which in its time was a key element in the conversion of Africa to the imperialistic country it is in the novel. The Congo river allows access into the interior of Africa, referred to as the “Dark Continent” in the novel. The river is more than definitely one of the most important elements and symbols of Heart of Darkness.

In the book, Heart of Darkness by Joseph Conrad we are introduced to the concept of light and dark as they relate to the people of Africa and the people of Europe. In the beginning of the book the intro gives an insight into the journey that the main character, Marlow, is about to embark on. Conrad symbolically introduces the sun setting on the river as Marlow enters the mouth of the Thames. Conrad reveals this allegory by indicating that Marlow is about to enter a dark place morally, and physically as a reference to the Negro people of Africa. Light and dark are used by Conrad to represent morality and immorality.

“No man ever steps into the same river twice, for it's not the same river, and he’s not the same man” -Heraclitus. This quote accurately depicts the protagonist, Charles Marlow in the novella Heart of Darkness written by Joseph Conrad. Heart of Darkness is read from the narration of Marlow, an ivory transporter who travels down the Congo. Throughout his journey, Marlow develops an intense interest in the famous ivory trader Kurtz, who is portrayed as a powerful, sage, and evil man. The story is based on Marlows experiences with the encounters he's faced with and his ability to be fickle based in these encounterments. In Heart of Darkness, we see Conrad use the river to symbolize movement throughout the novella.

The first meaning is that the “heart of darkness” refers to actual lack of light in the book, the jungle in particular. In the beginning of the novel, Marlow describes that the “air was dark above Gravesend” (3). This is foreshadowing of the looming darkness Marlow will face ahead. When Charlie reaches the edge of the jungle, he describes it as “so dark-green to be almost black” (11). This refers to the caliginous jungle, but also the corruptive nature of the jungle as seen through the transformation of Kurtz. Another example of physical darkness occurs when darkness encroaches on Marlow and the listeners. Marlow describes it as being “so pitch dark that we listeners could barely see each other” (95). Marlow observes that the forest draws him in and seems beckon him to explore it. It had a “treacherous appeal to the lurking death, to the hidden evil, to the profound darkness of its heart” (36). Marlow recognizes the lightlessness, but is still drawn to it. This emphasizes the darkness every man and woman has within them. It is in the

It has been said that although Conrad may not have been 'the greatest novelist, he was certainly the greatest artist every to write a novel';. I feel that this is an apt description of Conrad's writing style in Heart of Darkness (1902), as he paints many verbal pictures by using expressive words and many figurative descriptions of places and people. An extensive use of words relating to colour, is evident throughout the novella. The idea of darkness (and light) is emphasized from the title of the novella, and continues to play an important role throughout in the story .