Light And Dark Forces In Joseph Conrad's Heart Of Darkness

The Heart of Darkness, by Joseph Conrad, displays the power of humans and nature. Joseph Conrad says, “ My task is by the power of the written word before all, to make you see.” His words display, the contradiction of humanity and their actions through the manipulation of the light and dark forces. The heart of darkness is ambiguity between humans, their malcontent with themselves, and how they bend to natures will.

The manipulation of light and dark is portrayed throughout the novella. “Yes but is like a flash of lightning in the clouds. We live in a flicker- may it last as long as the old hearth keeps rolling! But darkness was here yesterday,”(Conrad, 9) This displays the juxtaposition between light and dark and humans and their surrounding. So often humans see life in black and white but never the shaded gray. However, the might of the ego is miniscule compared to the forces that they have no control love, such as lightning. It looks beautiful however can be deadly due to the amount of light and heat it withholds. It exemplifies that beauty is only skin deep and even the most precious phenomenon’s are lethal. The darkness is within the soul, it is our ego and our ignorance. Plans are set out for

ahead of time. However, we are living in a flicker that can never stay constant, there will be constant back and forth just like a flame flickering on a candle. Like day and night. Before the rise of the resounding sun, there must be darkness.
Like Conrad, the novella displays the struggle of constant change and amends just like history. His parents were a part of a revolt against the Russians (Biography .com). He displays, the demands the wants of a human yet how unwilling humans are to face the consequences. “I had no difficult in finding the Company’s offices. It was the biggest thing in the town, and everybody I met was full of it. They were going to run an oversea empire, and make no end of coin by trade,” (Conrad 22). Thus, displaying the humans is enveloped in greed, but do not realize that their imperialistic view can lead to the downfall of many others. The greed and want for ivory sets every man for Africa, but the terrain is dangerous and often under estimated. Marlow believes he can proves everyone wrong, however even he cannot face the outcomes for his choice. For his choice to travel, leads to his own demise. Even is his life Conrad traveled around the world, but greed was displayed when he was said to be smuggling guns and weaponry (Britannica.com).
Furthermore, darkness and light is shown through the what Marlow and the omniscient narrator perceive.

“String of dusty niggers with splay feet arrived and departed; a stream of manufactured goods rubbishy cottons, beads, and brass-wire set into the depths of darkness, and in return came a precious ivory,” ( ). There is in depth imagery of what is seen. Darkness is shown through the niggers and how they looks. They perceive the essence of the human nature of filth, anger, and property. This is constantly displayed though the natives because they are seen as savages. However, it is ones own malcontent that leads to sharp contrast between light and dark. The natives have more than they need and yet the greed of humans makes the white mean take advantage of

them.
“The opening was barred by a black bank of clouds, and the tranquil waterway leading to the uttermost ends the earth followed somber under the overcast sky-seemed to lead into the heart of an immense darkness,” (Conrad 72). The earth is life and light. Giving all animals and humans the breath of life. However, the darkness is shown when humans aren’t satisfied with what they have but continuously want more. The earth gives all et it is never enough to please, and there must be ribald on the minority. “ The word ‘ivory’ rang in the air, was whispered, was signed. You would think they were prating to it. A taint imbecile rapacity blew through all, like a whiff from some corpse. By Jove!”(Conrad, 10) An object so light, ivory is placed by the context of obscurity, a rotting human corpse. While ivory displays the act of redemption and change within ones self. There is eleemosynary and beauty with ivory itself. Such a beautiful light yet so heavy and costly. The other displays the true nature of humans. How they are nothing but mud and eventually, they are leaving the earth with nothing. The selfishness and greed leads to rotting of ones own physical and mental state. The environment around them Marlow and the shipmates is untamed. There is no guarantee of anything, for everything is a flicker and uncertain.
The nature within the novella itself is an obstacle of quizzical means. The Congo was describes as a swindling. The rainforest was mute while in reality it might be the loudest place on earth. The light is shown when there is beauty in nature and how if listened to closely it is nothing but bliss. Bliss is innocence and light while thoughts and opinion deem to be obscure and treacherous. It is shown through out the novella, that not knowing what is happening seems to be easier and less of a nemesis. Human beings biggest darkness and fall is themselves whom they neglect. Humans opt to make decision that will benefit themselves before others. Humans are refractory beings and are so hidebound by thoughts, that they lead to their own demise such as the need for ivory or how curiosity does kill the cat. It shows that in the hand of the unknown such as nature, humans are a speck of dirt. They can be pulled into any direction because nature is life. It heals and restores everyday, despite the fact that there was darkness the day before.
The heart of darkness proves to be a quintessential novella, which shows the human s in a different light. There is constant manipulation between light and dark. Darkness being a humans own self, and light being the world around them. The earth nurtures and provides on a daily basis. Lightning storms to rays of the shining sun, it provides light and a way for hedonism to reach the soul. However, there can never be too much light in the darkness of the soul. Conrad displays the human as debauched and manipulative. Setting and the point of view display darkness and how it is perceived. Conrad was orphaned as a young child and his father was in prison (modernism. Research). Never seeing stability in his life, he displays that there isn’t stability in government and the governed through his heart of darkness. For it isn’t just humans that are dark but humanity and their needs. There is higher value for objects rather than people. The corruption and the distaste of one self is the true heart of darkness.