Heart Of Darkness Research Paper

Heart of Darkness written by Joseph Conrad is dramatic tale of an arduous trek into the darkest part of Africa at the turn of the twentieth century. The story follows the protagonist Marlow, an English marine merchant, as he travels through the African jungle up the Congo river in search for a mysterious man named Kurtz. Through Marlow's narration, Conrad provides a searing indictment of European colonial exploitation inflicted upon African natives. Through his use of irony, characters, and symbolism in the novel, Conrad aims to unveil the underlying horrors of colonialism. By shedding light on the brutality of colonialism in Heart of Darkness, Conrad shows that European values have been irrevocably eclipsed by darkness.

Throughout history, imperialism has affected thousands of people and many more. The idea of advancing onto another civilization for their own betterment is prevalent throughout the ages as well as in the Heart of Darkness. Heart of Darkness, a novel written by Joseph Conrad reflects his own personal experience of imperialism in the "Congo Free State" of Africa through Marlow's eyes. For the duration of the book, selfishness and strive for virtue overpowers the idea of bringing order to an uncivilized nation. Marlow, the protagonist of the tale, presents how corrupt a person can become when given the chance to better themselves with riches. Many places throughout the world have been affected by Europe's imperialistic ideals in the past and even

Heart of Darkness creates a prejudice way of presenting Africa, Joseph Conrad shows the African Congo through the perspective of the colonising Europeans, who describe all the natives as savages, which perpetuates the stereotype of the uncivilised African in the eyes of the European readers.

1. The setting of the story begins on the Nellie, a ship. The turn of the tide is significant because it gives the men on board extra time to talk, and Marlow begins telling his story. In addition, symbolically, the turning of the tide conveys a change, and perhaps, foreshadowing of the story. The author spends a lot of time dealing with light because it is the main symbol in the novella. Light and darkness are universal symbols that represent good and evil. Although not explicitly stated, those who have the light are those who are “civilized”, and those who have the darkness are those who remain “uncivilized”, particularly the people living in Africa.

Joseph Conrad’s novella, Heart of Darkness, was written in 1899, near the end of the imperialism of Africa. Far from European civilization, the imperialists are without rules and ransacking Africa in search ivory and glory. One of the most significant themes in Heart of Darkness is the psychological issues catalyzed by the lawlessness of the jungle. Due to the breakdown of societal convention, the characters of Heart of Darkness are exposed to not only the corruption of imperialism, but the sickness of their minds.

Joseph Conrad 's Heart of Darkness is both a dramatic tale of an arduous trek into the Belgian Congo at the turn of the twentieth century and a symbolic journey into the deepest recesses of human nature. On a literal level, through Marlow 's narration, Conrad provides a searing indictment of European colonial exploitation inflicted upon African natives. By employing several allegoric symbols this account depicts the futility of the European presence in Africa.

The Hypocrisy of Imperialism and the Integrity of the Imperialist Powers. One must ask these questions: Is Joseph Conrad’s short novel, Heart Of Darkness, a result of an epiphany that he had during his Congo river adventures?, is Joseph Conrad communicating a message of hypocrisy behind the imperialism that occurred in Africa during the nineteenth century? and does it question the integrity of the British Empire?, possibly so. Considering that people of the Victorian age believed that their way of life was the only way to live and imperialism was doing a benefit for Africa, contradicts the events that take place in the Heart Of Darkness; including,

“[H]is soul was mad. Being alone in the wilderness, it had looked within itself, and, by heavens! I tell you, it had gone mad” (Conrad 100). In Heart of Darkness, Joseph Conrad portrays man as he perceives him to be, a dark animal consumed by the evil in his heart. Conrad, being an atheist, understands no ultimate authority for right and wrong, but he does see corruption in the hearts of men.

    In the opening of his novel, Heart of Darkness, Conrad, through Marlow, establishes his thoughts on colonialism. He says that conquerors only use brute force, "nothing to boast of" because it arises, by accident, from another's weakness. Marlow compares his subsequent tale of colonialism with that of the Roman colonization of Northern Europe and the fascination associated with such an endeavor. However, Marlow challenges this viewpoint by painting a heinous picture of the horrors of colonialist ventures as we delve deeper into the recesses of the novel. Here we find that Marlow sees colonization as "robbery with violence, aggravated murder on a great scale, and men going at

Joseph Conrad the writer of “The Heart of Darkness” (1899) describes as his own narrator of thoughts, the expedition and imperialism ideology that leads him through the Congo. Conrad has just taken a short ride up river to his company’s station. He was taken up by a Swede, who warned him about fellow men hanging themselves. The environment was new to Conrad, it’s noted as he observes the hills, rocky enclosures, and the naked African-Americans walking about. The specific texts begins, as Conrad’s curiosity of his new station, leads him up a hill. The books describes the new landscape to be close to rapids, the author, who is Conrad narrating her own thoughts, makes the noise and clustered groove to add confusion and unfamiliarity.

In Heart of Darkness by Joseph Conrad, the imperialism of Africa is described. Conrad tells the story of the cruel treatment of the natives and of the imperialism of the Congo region through the perspective of the main character, Marlow. Throughout the novel, Marlow describes how the Europeans continuously bestow poor treatment to the native people by enslaving them in their own territory. Analyzing the story with the New Criticism lens, it is evident that Conrad incorporates numerous literary devices in Heart of Darkness, including similes, imagery, personification, and antitheses to describe and exemplify the main idea of cruel imperialism in Africa discussed throughout the novella.

Joseph Conrad’s literary work “The Heart of Darkness” displays criticism upon imperialism and even places valid points that arise in today’s contemporary society. This piece of literature has a valid standpoint due to the author’s background. The author’s upbringing gave birth to the story with vivid life experiences that were incorporated into the text. Joseph Conrad was able to capture the nature of imperialism within his writing due to the intimate nature he had with the subject. Although the writing may not have been initially viewed as a critical review on imperialism, the critique is evident throughout the text and event applies to modern occurrences.

Joseph Conrad’s novella, Heart of Darkness, represents a tremendous shift in the perception of humanity as failing to have met the expectations and moral standards that seemed possible. The novella is set in the latter part of the nineteenth century, a time when imperialism and racism was immensely prevalent. Crucial to the novella is the realisation that there is minimal difference between supposed civilised people and those depicted as savages.

In Heart of Darkness, by Joseph Conrad, the interpretation of pre-colonial times is interesting in a way that supersedes other books I’ve read because it’s very honest with how the world worked it that era. The central aim which the shipmates in Heart of Darkness are pursuing is the expansion of their home countries’ empires. Yet many people are hurt in this enterprise, and it’s not only the colonized territories that are impacted negatively by imperialist Europe. Europe’s explorers that go to the Congo are constantly dying of sickness. Compare the ways in which the consequences of imperialism affect the different groups of people in the book, the more one can understand about characters’ actions.

  In Heart of Darkness, Joseph Conrad, challenges a dominant view by exposing the evil nature and the darkness associated with the colonialist ventures. It is expressed by Marlow as "robbery with violence, aggravated murder on a great scale, and men going at it blind - as it is very proper for those who tackle a darkness." The European colonialists are portrayed as blind lightbearers, people having a façade of progress and culture, yet are blind of their actions. They think they are brining a light to a darkness, yet they are the real darkness or evil. Conrad's critique of European colonialism is most apparent through the oppositions of light and darkness, with the