Heart Of Darkness Rhetorical Analysis

The novel, Heart of Darkness, by Joseph Conrad, portrays a dark and somber theme throughout the entirety of the book. Even in the end, the darkness is still there. But even so, the end is difficult to understand. The ending is very vague on certain perspectives. Conrad intentionally does this, not to detract from the rest of the novel, but to sum the entirety of his main point up.

In Holly Wren Spaulding’s essay, “In Defense of Darkness,” her main claim is that we have fallen away from darkness and immersed ourselves in a society of lightness. Furthermore, she claims this has lead humans to lose touch with basic human emotion as well as the sensual and spiritual experience true darkness has to offer. Spaulding makes this claim evident through exceptional use of personal testimony and copious appeals to value.

Kurtz’s lack of restraint and hunger for ivory consumes not only his soul but drains all of his physical existence. Upon seeing him, Marlow states, “I could see the cage of his ribs all astir, the bones of his arm waving (126)”. Conrad focuses on the physical features of Kurtz to display the madness that has consumed him. However, though Kurtz’s body is deteriorating, Kurtz’s mind continues to thrive. Conrad shows this in Marlow’s shock of witnessing a flame of passion that remains in Kurtz’s eyes as he converses without signs of exhaustion (126). Conrad continues to describe Kurtz as a shadow composed of tranquility and satisfaction. Conrad’s incorporation of this detail signifies the evil and greed that consumes Kurtz and is reflected through his physique. However, the power of Kurtz’s presence is personified through the action of his words. As the strength in his voice captures Marlow’s attention, it merely reflects his influence upon his followers. The power reflected through his voice displayed his confidence as well as his position as a leader for the natives. Hi demeanor displays an air of arrogance that makes others feel less equal to him. Those who follow him fear him, but also continue to respect him.

A: In the novella Conrad says "The brown current ran swiftly out of the heart of darkness, bearing us down towards the sea with twice the speed of our upward progress; and Kurtz's life was running swiftly, too, ebbing, ebbing out of his heart into the sea of inexorable time." while Marlow is going down the river. What this is symbolizing is that the continent itself is joyfully flushing out what was causing it’s natives and the nature itself so much pain. Q: What is the significance of Kurtz’s last words?

When it comes to the topic of what the darkness represents in Joseph Conrad’s piece, “Heart of Darkness”, it seems to manifest itself as immoral circumstances. This story follows Marlow, an Englishman wanting to explore The Congo River while working for “the Company”, an ivory trade business (680). In his time there he searches for and meets Kurtz, a man who has an astonishing reputation as a very successful ivory tradesman. The greed, slavery, violence, and absurd gratification of power throughout this novel show the incompatibly of the Good Life, a life filled with reflection and realizing that happiness and knowledge are derived from being virtuous. Socrates states in “Apology” that, “The unexamined life isn’t worth living,” (38a). This quote portrays that a life filled with ignorance, materialism, or dominance over others is pointless and irreconcilable with the Good Life. In the “Apology”, Socrates is on trial

“Hope is being able to see that there is light despite all of the darkness” (Tutu). This quote by Desmond Tutu speaks about how, having hope can bring light that will break through the darkness. Throughout the history, humans have been shrouded in darkness, within the darkness, they cannot see the truth of what is happening in front of them. Furthermore, in his Conrad’s novel, Heart of Darkness, the darkness comes out from within all the characters that Conrad has created. In Conrad’s novel, Heart of Darkness, he uses the literary elements of symbolism, characterization, and setting to illustrate the them, when humans are surrounded by darkness it can be difficult for them to see the truth.

Joseph Conrad's Heart of Darkness contrasts light and darkness, to represent the civilized and uncivilized sides of the world. Conrad uses light to represent the civilized side of humanity while contrasting the dark with the uncivilized and savage. Throughout the thematic stages of the novel, that is the Thames river London, the company's office in Belgium, the journey to the "heart of darkness" and the conclusion, light and dark is used to represent these sides of humanity, but on a deeper level many assumptions of darkness and light are challenged, with the appearance of light and dark, and in turn good and evil contrasting with the reality.

Conrad in his novella Heart of Darkness also applies the literary device of symbolism to further display the duality of human nature. Conrad often personifies the

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.

The novella Heart of Darkness was written in 1899. At the turn of the century, the author, Joseph Conrad, was 32 and lived through what he writes about. In a journey through Congo, Conrad uses the novella’s central character Marlowe to represent himself and portray his experiences. Like many other writers and artists throughout history, people of his time did not appreciate his work. Even the true meaning of the novel was not understood until later. In the novella Heart of Darkness, Joseph Conrad uses a literal and figurative journey through Congo to portray an internal conflict that exists within the protagonist, Marlowe. Through symbolism, the author analyzes the ‘inner spirit’ that each individual member of society possesses and how

Conrad Scholar Daniel Schwarz asserts that “Kurtz remains a symbol of how the human ego can expand infinitely to the point where it tries to will it’s own apotheosis” (Schwarz 698). Personally, I found this analysis on par with the conceptualization of this character. Kurtz is an enigmatic figure whose presence is felt intensely by nearly every character within Joseph Conrad’s Heart of Darkness. He is a bold and brash exemplar of uncontained human ego. His desires are manifested in his stead fast attempt to create himself which makes it all the more intriguing that the protagonist, Marlow, arrives at the climax of his self-formation. Therefore, I assert that Kurtz represents the very ‘Heart of Darkness’ within humankind, an unyielding, terrible, and awesome free-spirit, whose impacts reverberate through all he comes in contact with.

In Heart of Darkness there are three things that analyze Conrad’s novel; figurative judgment, personalities of character and dialect. Conrad 's novel has abundance of virtually imperceptible undertones. This novel is written to such exactitude and high detail that nearly each paragraph includes a vital half to play within the frame story. Conrad focus on making a story for instance concepts and themes, instead of simply an easy narrative. These concepts and themes are perpetually pitched at the reader during a boorish and impolite way , that makes all of them the additional powerful. Therefore, even a passage of simply five pages will have a stimulating quantity of detail to debate.

     In Heart of Darkness, Joseph Conrad presents the character of Kurtz as a man who is seen differently by all who know him depending on their individual experiences with him. His cousin knew him as a man with great musical talent, others knew him as a great leader, and his “Intended” fiance knew him as an admirable humanitarian; but all of these knew him to be a remarkable genius. When the narrator, Marlow, first hears of him, he is told that Kurtz is known as a great leader destined to hold high positions and fame. However, as he travels the river, he also learns that Kurtz has become insane during his time in the African jungle. After Marlow finally comes into contact with him, he discovers that Kurtz has

In his story, Conrad uses the title “Heart of Darkness” to represent the impeding themes that he reveals about humanity. The themes that Joseph Conrad reveals to the reader include the idea that humanity, throughout all ages, has struggled with such ideas as corruption, greed, morals, and other problems. By titling the story with the word ‘darkness’ he connects the evils of people with the title, concluding ‘darkness’ to be the full of humanities evils. “The point was in his being a gifted creature, and that of real presence – the pulsating stream of light, or the deceitful flow from the heart of an impenetrable darkness.” (P. 222) Through the title word ‘darkness’ Conrad explains how the gifts, talents, and abilities humans have available to them can be used for both good and evil – how humanity has the choice between the two sides available to them. He uses this title to help shape how the reader sees the world around them – how they process actions

Symbols and Symbolism in Conrad's Heart of Darkness           Symbolism has long been a tool of the storyteller, finding its origins in the folklore of our earliest civilizations. In more recent years, however, symbolism has taken on a new role, forming the skeleton upon which the storyteller builds the tales of his or hers thoughts and adventures. Knowing the power of this element, Joseph Conrad uses symbols to help the reader explore dark interiors of men. The symbols become a vehicle that carry the audience from stop to stop, the ride becoming an evaluation of the darkness contained inside the hearts of mankind. Through the use of Dark Africa as an overpowering symbol, Conrad's Heart of