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Symbols In Heart Of Darkness

Decent Essays
Africa’s Darkness Darkness refers to the evil acts of another person. These evil acts can symbolize darkness in any situation, such as violence, discrimination, and other cruel acts that people experience daily. Acts of darkness could cause harm to an individual physically or emotionally. In the novel, Heart of Darkness by Joseph Conrad, the word darkness is used to symbolize many events that happened in the continent of Africa. Three events that symbolize the word darkness are the Europeans cruel behaviors, Kurtz’s selfishness, and Marlow’s sexist statements. One event in the novel that displayed darkness was when the Europeans were cruel to the Africans. The main character, Marlow, went on a voyage to the Congo River. When Marlow arrived in Africa, he recognized that the Africans were being treated in an evil manner. In the novel, Marlow states, “They were dying slowly-it was very clear. They were not enemies, they were not criminals, they were nothing earthly now-nothing but black shadows of disease and starvation, lying confusedly in the greenish gloom” (Conrad, 82). This displayed that the Africans were in harsh conditions that…show more content…
Kurtz or the Europeans, but it is also displayed in the main character, Marlow. Marlow would occasionally speak sexist statements to himself, which shows that Marlow has a heart of darkness. In the novel, Marlow states, “It’s queer how out of touch with truth women are. They live in a world of their own, and there has never been anything like it, and never can be. It is too beautiful altogether, and if they were to set it up it would go to pieces before the first sunset” (Conrad, 76). This statement from Marlow signifies that he is an individual who thinks that women cannot do anything on this earth except make it worse. This definitely shows that Marlow has a heart of darkness. Therefore, darkness is used throughout the novel because of Marlow’s sexist
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