More handpicked essays just for you.
Joseph conrad and heart of darkness time period
Major themes in heart of darkness
Major themes in heart of darkness
Don’t take our word for it - see why 10 million students trust us with their essay needs.
In Joseph Conrad’s “Heart of Darkness” there are many themes. Some themes include time, identity, and power. Each theme of “Heart of Darkness” helps lead into the next theme, as well as help Marlow narrate his story. The themes of time, identity, and power are the three most important themes of “Heart of Darkness”.
The theme of time is portrayed throughout the whole story of “Heart of Darkness”. At the beginning of “Heart of Darkness” Conrad starts out with a group of seaman on a ship called the Nellie at rest, the start of the theme of time, “ The Nellie, a cruising yawl, swung to her anchor without flutter of the sails, and was at rest. The flood had made, the wind was nearly calm, and being bound down the river, the only thing for it was
…show more content…
Before Marlow became a seaman, as an adult, he knew that part of his identity involved travel and escapades to the unknown, “ Now when I was a little chap I had a passion for maps. I would look for hours at South America, or Africa, or Australia, and lose myself in all the glories of exploration,” (Conrad 255). This quotation may not reveal who Marlow right away, but by knowing he had a passion for maps, and looked at hours at different countries, we can analyze that Marlow had the sense of adventure as a child. As that young child Marlow found his identity by sense of travel, “ At that time there were many blank spaces on the earth, and when I saw one that looked particularly inviting on a map ( but they all look that) I would put my finger on it and say, When I grow up I will go there,” (Conrad 255). From this we are able to glimpse who Marlow will most likely become, an adventurer, set to travel the world. As time passed and Marlow grew, his identity changed for the better. Unlike Marlow’s identity Kurtz’s identity did not change for the better, but for the worse, “ I seemed to hear the whispered cry, ‘ The horror! The horror!’,” (Conrad 306). With this quotation we are able to catch a glimpse of Kurtz’s life, part of his identity. These are his last words, but with these words you can tell that Kurtz realizes that what he has done in life is not good, but awful. Conrad …show more content…
Some might say that the more power you have, the better off you are, but this is not always the case. Even though Marlow did not have a lot of power, he was happy doing what he loved, and had much more respect than many of the other on the crew. Kurtz on the other hand, had a lot of power, but received little respect. Ivory was the power source for Kurtz, “ I had a small lot of ivory the chief of that village near my house gave me….. Well, he wanted it, and wouldn’t hear reason. He declared he would shoot me unless I gave him the ivory and then cleared out of the country, because he could do so, and had a fancy for it, and there was nothing on earth to prevent him killing whom he jolly well pleased,” ( Conrad 292-293). With this quotation, we can see not only Kurtz’s identity, but his obsession with Ivory, his power source. The Ivory is his power source, because he thrives for it, and it gives him power. The source of Marlow’s power though is not from greed, but from the work that he does, not only alone, but with the help of a cannibal crew member. It may not seem that Marlow is showing a lot of power, though if you look closely you can see that, his power is bigger and brighter than Kurtz’s, big and darker power. Even while he is telling the story about, Kurtz and the Congo, his listeners respect him, and his
The epiphany of Marlow in "The Heart of Darkness" has significance in the overall story. The theme of the story is how every man has inside himself a heart of darkness and that a person, being alienated like Kurtz, will become more savage. Marlow, in his epiphany, realizes the savagery of man and how being alienated from modern civilization causes one to be savage and raw. This savagery is shown especially in the death of the helmsman, which is where Marlow's epiphany takes place, but the savagery is also show in Kurtz. The link that Kurtz has to the natives and the death of the helmsman is that the natives work for Kurtz.
When Marlow finally reaches Kurtz he is in declining health. This same jungle which he loved, embraced and consumed with every ounce of his flesh had also taken its toll on him. Marlow finally meets the man whose name has haunted him on his river journey. Could this frail human be the ever so powerful Kurtz? The man who has journeyed into uncharted territories and has come back with scores of ivory and the respect of the native tribe. Yes, this was the very man and though he is weak and on his way to death his power still exudes from him.
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 become a god among the natives and has been brutally collecting the coveted ivory. Marlow finally convinces the deathly ill man to return to the ship where he finally dies. Upon his death, Kurtz’s facial expression causes Marlow to feel as though he may be seeing his entire life passing just before it ends; and finally, he murmurs his final words “The horror! The horror!” (Conrad, p. 64).
Within the text of Heart of Darkness, the reader is presented with many metaphors. Those that recur, and are most arresting and notable, are light and dark, nature and Kurtz and Marlow. The repeated use of light and dark imagery represents civilization and primitiveness, and of course the eternal meaning of good and evil. However, the more in depth the reader goes the more complex it becomes. Complex also are the meanings behind the metaphors of nature included within the text. It represents a challenge for the colonists, often also signifying decay and degeneration. Finally Kurtz and Marlow represent imperialism and the colonists. All these metaphors come together and contribute not only to the effect for the reader, but also to the overall meaning.
Heart of Darkness by Joseph Conrad is a novel about a man named Marlow and his journey into the depths of the African Congo. Marlow is in search of a man named Kurtz, an ivory trader. Though Marlow?s physical journey seems rather simple, it takes him further into his own heart and soul than into the Congo. The setting, symbols and characters each contain light and dark images, these images shape the central theme of the novel.
As Marlow assists the reader in understanding the story he tells, many inversions and contrasts are utilized in order to increase apperception of the true meaning it holds. One of the most commonly occurring divergences is the un orthodox implications that light and dark embody. Conrad’s Heart of Darkness brims with paradoxes and symbolism throughout its entirety, with the intent of assisting the reader in comprehending the truth of not only human nature, but of the world.
Marlow’s thoughts are so consumed by Kurtz, that he is built up to be much more of a man than he truly is. In turn, Marlow is setting himself up for a let down. He says at one point, “I seemed to see Kurtz for the first time...the lone white man turning his back suddenly on the headquarters, on relief, on thoughts of home...towards his empty and desolate station”(P.32). When Marlow reaches Kurtz’s station, he begins to become disillusioned. He begins to hear about, and even see, the acts that Kurtz is committing, and becomes afraid of him. He sees in Kurtz, what he could become, and wants nothing to do with it. He does not want people to know he has any type of relationship with him, and says in response to the Russian, “I suppose that it had not occurred to him that Mr. Kurtz was no idol of mine.” (P.59). It is at this point that he begins to discover the darkness in his heart.
Heart of Darkness was a huge milestone in the history of literature do to the impeccable way Conrad used ambiguity to describe his story. He does this by using symbols, themes, and archetypal images. These include light and dark, the Congo river, colors, and by not explaining everything to the reader. While reading the novel, the reader is actually required to interpret the text and really think about what certain details mean. The way Conrad wrote the novel is for the reader is to look for clues and develop ideas. It is completely subjective and trying to find exact answers is not an option. This writing style opened the eyes of many writers and changed the way literature was understood.
Every story has a plot, but not every story has a deeper meaning. When viewed superficially, Joseph Conrad's Heart of Darkness is a tragic tale of the white man's journey into the African jungle. When we peel away the layers, however, a different journey is revealed - we venture into the soul of man, complete with the warts as well as the wonderful. Conrad uses this theme of light and darkness to contrast the civilized European world with the savage African world in Heart of Darkness.
Two Themes in Heart Of Darkness There are many themes that run through the novel Heart of Darkness. There are however two main and significant ones. These are the theme of restraint and man's journey into self. The importance of restraint is stressed throughout Heart of Darkness.
Heart of Darkness, is not only an intense tale of pursuit, but also a psychological roller coaster as, through the characters of the story, Joseph Conrad shows us a powerful struggle between the Freudian personalities of id, ego and superego. The main characters of the novel, Marlow and Kurtz are mainly identified with the id and the super-ego type of personalities, and throughout the novel, these characters are placed in intense situations which makes them question their own beliefs and reactions, and ultimately their human personality. Hence, in between the characters, not only is there a battle in the physical sense, but also on the meta-physical level. This leads to a psychological imbalance between the human personalities of both the characters, and while one character is already dominated by his id to a large extent, the other character grapples with the struggle of his id with his super-ego.
In the novel Heart of Darkness, there are several themes including Good versus Evil, Power, Femininity, and Fate. Two themes are further prevalent and significant. These themes are restraint and identity. They are the two most noteworthy themes in the book because both capitalize on the complexity and flaws of human nature.
As expressed through the novel Heart of Darkness, humanity’s surroundings constantly dictate one’s behavior, both physically and emotionally, depicting mankind’s overall weakness. Such as with living in an area abundant with crime or in a quiet peaceful neighborhood, man’s actions become a result of what they perceive as being completely normal and rational. Not knowing any different, humans constantly adapt to their surroundings, as their focus becomes shifted to what they see and experience each and every day. In Heart of Darkness, the power of the dark jungle of the Congo and forest becomes quite apparent with the actions of both Marlow and Kurtz, as both turn to savage means in order to survive. While his environment allows him to have control over the native population, the African jungle also becomes an apparent influence upon him, as he is seen “crawling on all fours" (80). As Kurtz had completely surrounded himself with the natives, his actions involuntarily come t...
Heart of Darkness is a story full of irony and deception. At one point, Conrad made a very interesting point. He suggested that the light is used to indicate deceit in Heart of Darkness. Conrad uses the character of Marlow to make use of his own thoughts and views about the people in the Congo. He feels pity for them as he sees them falling down carrying heavy packages and Kurtz commanding them like a battalion of troops.
...il of desire, temptation, and surrender during that supreme moment of complete knowledge? He cried in a whisper at some image, at some vision,-he cried out twice, a cry that was no more that a breath- 'The horror! The horror!' "(Longman, 2000, p. 2240). This is what distinguishes the two men; Kurtz abandoned himself and went over the edge, but Marlow is aware of just how close he was to becoming what Kurtz was.