Penetrating the Darkness of the Congo

Over ten million Africans were killed in the Congo during the European imperialism invasion that in 1850. In Heart of Darkness, Joseph Conrad uses the setting to show the detrimental effects of European imperialism has on the mind, Africa, and those who would became intricate pawns in the capitalist greed of European companies. During the book Africa can be seen as a character that is fighting against the invaders.

While the characters in the book stay in Africa they find that their psyche becomes severely damaged. In the very beginning, Marlow discovers that Fresleven, “...was the gentles, quietest creature...Therefore...he whacked the the old nigger mercilessly...” (Conrad 8). As Fresleven interacted with Africa he starts to go mad. The great contrast between the person that Fresleven was and became indicates that Africa twists the mind. This gentle man turns into a killer because of working in Africa. But the incident that causes Fresleven's death dealt with money. The affects of imperialism in Africa kills him. Leaving him only bones in the ground.

Greed becomes a major motivation in the book that kills. Marlow's fascination with Kurtz never truly ends yet Kurtz greed clearly ruins him during his escapade in Africa. This once “...'universal genius'...” (Conrad 32), now just a delirious man. His greed drives him into insanity, “The word “ivory” rang in the air, was whispered, was sighed. You would think they were praying for it” (Conrad 24). Kurtz murders and pillages for ivory, long after he gets sick. It becomes a desperate race for him, trying to collect all of the ivory in Africa; even after he succumbs to the sickness that Africa provides.

All of the characters in the book become sick because of the effects of imperia...

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... make it harder for them to move through the wilderness. This comes from the fact that Africa mostly just wants the agents to leave. Marlow also recognizes that the forest is impenetrable (Conrad 40). Thus, Africa efficaciously protects most of the inner ends of itself against the agents.

Conrad takes a strong stance against European imperialism in Heart of Darkness. He persuasively shows not only the damage that imperialism has on Africa but also on the young men who are sent into Africa to plunder it for ivory to make money for the companies. He creates Africa as a character by allowing the setting to directly affect and interact with the other characters in the story, through the fog, the river, disease, and vegetation. By creating a metaphor of host and parasite he shows the dehumanization that occurs to the agents and the human qualities that happens to Africa.