Essay Symbolism In Heart Of Darkness

Using scientific prose, Barry reveals his deep interest in the unusual physical properties of the river. Its natural characteristics are what sets it apart; the Mississippi does not conform to standards set by other rivers. Instead, it exceeds most major rivers in variation, depth, and volume. In fact, the Mississippi is so outstanding that “theories and techniques that apply to other rivers … simply do not work on the lower Mississippi” (Barry 25-28). Looking beyond its external features, the river also contains an intricate internal system unlike any other. In addition to the complicated internal circumstances that normally occur within rivers, the Mississippi also stands out because of its “size, its sediment load, its depth, variations in its bottom” and “its ability to cave in the riverbank and slide sideways for miles” (Barry 20-23). As he describes the unusual corporeal aspects of the Mississippi, Barry brings to light his own wonder in the face of such a daunting natural force. Characterizing the river with its physical properties allows

“I bathed in the Euphrates when dawns were young” (Line 5). Although, the Speaker is not explicitly discussing the history behind the Euphrates, he uses it as the beginning of his story because the Euphrates river was the site of one of the first civilizations (McCannon). Moreover, he uses dawns to relate to the rising of the sun alluding to the beginning of time. He connects the Euphrates river to the beginning of his ancestry and the being of time. After traveling forward through his ancestry from the beginning of time the speaker takes us to the Congo, another great river, which is in Africa where he connects to his people. “I looked upon the Nile and raised the pyramids above it” (Line 7). He is suggesting that the Nile, which is another great river is ever flowing maintaining its fluidity, just as his ancestors have acclimated to new circumstances. The pyramids, though great, allude to slavery, determination and ingenuity. Even though his ancestors who build the pyramids were slaves, they persevered to build a wonder of the world. Finally, he speaks of his ancestors in America, “I heard the singing of the Mississippi when Abe Lincoln went down to” (Line 8-9). The Mississippi river for Blacks embodied pain and humiliation because they were going to be sold as slaves (Hughes). Lastly, the speaker speaks of Abe Lincoln, which to the Negro people of his

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

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.

     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

The opening line “I’ve Known Rivers” (1) describes the narrator of the way a grandpa tells a grandchild a story. This gives the impressions he has lived a long life and spent quality time on the river and is about to share his story. One could argue that he has grown wise and intelligent because of his age and known what life had to offer. The narrator uses a simile to compare the age of the river to the age of the earth “ancient as the world” (2). This comparison establishes the river being as old as the planet. Next, there is a metaphor that tells the reader that the world and rivers are older than human beings “flow of blood in human veins” (3). The reader can make the correlation that we are the same as rivers. Human veins have the same look as rivers and blood flow through the veins just like water flowing down a river. The narrator compares the depth of his soul with the depth of water with “My soul has grown deep like the rivers” (4). We can refer to the depths of African Americans history and their overall existence on the earth. Rivers take years to erode the soil below and is always becoming deeper and deeper. The narrator is telling the reader that after all the racism he has seen has taken something out of him mentally and physically. His thoughts become mentally exhausted and just keeps flowing just like rivers. The idea of

These two images show a direct contrast to one another. The Congo image (Fig.1) has more nature surrounding its river, so in essence, the river will be much darker than Thames River. On the other hand, the Thames River (Fig.2) has been industrialized. As the image shows, there is a road and a bridge. There are not enough trees as the Congo and you see there is much more light in this area. As I mentioned before, Heart of Darkness is a product of its time. When Conrad compares the two rivers, Conrad is right about the Congo because “going up that river was like traveling back to the earliest beginnings of the world.” There is no technological advances to its surroundings like the Thames River, so Conrad is not wrong for that comment or comparison.

Throughout Joseph Conrad’s novel, Heart of Darkness, some major themes are oblivion as well as this idea of natural power. In the novel, Marlow recollects his time travelling up the Congo River in search of the famous ivory trader, Mr. Kurtz. During the novel, Marlow often describes the natural terrain as a king, ruling over the land. This idea of natural power helps the reader clear up the oblivion surrounding the jungle because the natural power talks of a simpler time, one that Marlow understands. The Congo River often represents this simpler time, whereas the Thames River, in London, represents a much more complex period of time, one where people have taken control of the power. The role of the rivers throughout the text helps elaborate on the themes of oblivion and power and when Marlow describes his travels down the Congo River, he shows how little he actually knows while on his travels.

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.

The setting of the novel explains the general societal sentiments on humanity as it is brought out to exercise hypocrisy with some levels of hostility

Joseph Conrad published his novel, Heart of Darkness, in 1902, during the height of European Colonization in Africa. The novel follows Marlow, a sailor, on his journey deeper and deeper into the Congo on a mission to bring the mysterious ivory trader, Kurtz, back to “civilization”. Both the topic and language of the novel elicit debate over whether or not the text is inherently racist, and specifically, whether or not the novel supports certain historical texts from around the same time period. Around 1830, G.W.F Hegel published an essay entitled “The African Character.” Hegel’s essay illustrates racial essentialism, the idea that there are certain traits that are essential to the identity of one group, or race, Hegel presents what he deems

Kurtz, being a high end ivory trader, is very powerful and which readers don’t learn until the end is mad. After being informed the truth about Kurtz, he starts to open his eyes about reality. Marlow describes the natives as “ an implacable force brooding over an inscrutable intention. It looked at you with a vengeful aspect” (102). In this quote, Marlow is talking about the natives while passing them in the ship. He mentions their look of a sense seeming as they were used as objects instead of people.Lastly,readers see the novella come to an end when he finishes up his narration along with the story. He finishes with “the tranquil waterway leading to the uttermost ends of the earth flowed sombre under an overcast sky- seemed to lead into the heart of an immense darkness” (117). Marlow finally realized the effect the river has and anything that goes into it, will indeed have a different look on life and will never look back. In other words, Conrad uses the river to represent the movement of Marlow and the further he travels from civilization.

Although, as a society, we discourage the process of not judging a book by its cover, we have all been guilty of doing it at some point. The first item we look at when we pick up a new book is the title and the cover as a whole. These are two key components when it comes to using our heuristics to decide if a book is worthwhile reading or not. With only two items to judge by, each has to hold significant importance in order to draw a reader into reading the novel. Heart of Darkness by Joseph Conrad represents a mysterious title to draw readers into reading the novel, but hold a much more significant underlying meaning which represents many elements in the novel, while also symbolizing external concepts in the overall plot. The title represents many important elements such as the character of Mr. Kurtz and others, to the setting of Africa in the novel, and to the concept of the evil nature of imperialism outside of the novel. Through the title, Conrad has created significance for elements of the novel creating a very large impact on readers of the book.

Beyond the shield of civilization and into the depths of a primitive, untamed frontier lies the true face of the human soul. It is in the midst of this savagery and unrelenting danger that mankind confronts the brooding nature of his inner self.  Joseph Conrad’s novel, Heart of Darkness, is the story of one man's insight into life as he embarks on a voyage to the edges of the world. Here, he meets the bitter, yet enlightening forces that eventually shape his outlook on life and his own individuality. Conrad’s portrayal of the characters, setting, and symbols, allow the reader to reflect on the true nature of man.

The constant change in scenery throughout the Heart of Darkness contributes heavily to the meaning of the novel as a whole, for it allows the novel’s author, Joseph Conrad, to expand on the effects the physical journey of travelling through the Congo has on the inner mentailites of the characters- Marlow and Kurtz- in the novel. Conrad’s continuous comparisons between characters, their surroundings, and the plot, create the genuine progression of the novel, while the physical journey that is taken allows the characters to make their own discovery of humankind. As Kurtz’s destiny and the struggles he overcomes go on to deeply affect the two characters’ journey through the story’s plot, as everything in the Heart of Darkness is linked or comes back to Kurtz and all the wrongful actions he has committed in the Congo- as he was the perpetrator of all the darkness in the novel to begin with.