Heart of Darkness by Joseph Conrad (1902) is a novella of journey into the corruptibility of humankind. Like the narrator, Marlow, Conrad piloted a small steamboat up the Congo River. This area was then being ruthlessly exploited as the private property of King Leopold of Belgium. Conrad became morally shaken and physically ill from the experience. While some of the experiences in Heart of Darkness are autobiographical, much is imaginary, as is indicative of fiction.
Conrad, in 1897, just a short time before Heart of Darkness, wrote:
"The thinker plunges into ideas, the scientist into facts--whence, presently, emerging they make their appeal to those qualities of our being that fit us best for the hazardous enterprise of living. They speak authoritatively to our common-sense, our intelligence . . . It is otherwise with the artist. Confronted with the same enigmatical spectacle, the artist descends within himself, and in that lonely region of stress and strife . . . he finds the terms of his appeal. His appeal is made to our less obvious capacities [less obvious, that is, than intelligence and common sense] . . . The changing wisdom of successive generations discards ideas, questions facts, demolishes theories. But the artist appeals to that part of our being which is not dependent on wisdom . . . He speaks to our capacity for delight and wonder, to that sense of mystery surrounding our lives; to our sense of pity, and beauty, and pain; to the latent feeling of fellowship with all creation--and to the subtle but invincible conviction of solidarity that knits together the loneliness of innumerable hearts . . . which binds together all humanity--the dead to the living and the living to the unborn."
Heart of Darkness asks questions of epistemology, or what knowledge becomes valued over other knowledge; of the history of a brutal era of imperialism; of social and cultural conventions and their transmission; of psychology, or the private inner lives of humans; of religion as an institution; and, of literature as a form of a work of art. Like Kurtz’ journey back into time through his jungle environment, we, as contemporary readers, question our own particular versions of what is good, dark, and real about being human.
Questions for Contemplation[2]
1.
It has been said that Heart of Darkness by Conrad illustrates how “the darkness of the landscape can lead to the darkness of social corruption.” What does this statement mean? How can one’s environment --- whether an environment of the natural world or of the human-created society --- affect one’s actions, feelings, and morals? Is this statement believable or not? How have humans changed, grown, and fallen in demise through social corruption? What kind of changes lead to “progress” for the good of all? What parallels might you draw between Marlow’s journey in Heart of Darkness and the journeys of contemporary western society? In what ways can social change foster climates of hope?
2.
Heart of Darkness seems to blur the line between the so-called “advanced” society of Europe and the “primitive” society of Africa. What makes one culture “civilized” and another “savage” in the eyes of the western world? Are these distinctions valid? Do you think that the culture you live in is “advanced” or “civilized”? Why? Why not? What peer-reviewed, scholarly research might you draw in as support for your position?
3.
In Heart of Darkness, Kurtz is depicted as an upstanding European who has been transformed by his time in the jungle—away from his home, away from familiar people and food, and away from any community moral support that might have helped from his demise into a life of terror and madness. What implications does Conrad make about westerner away from the western society? Are those valid implications? Can contemporary western society move ahead through lessons learned from non-western societies? If so, how?
4.
Kurtz’s dying words are a cryptic whisper: “The horror, the horror.” What “horror” could Kurtz have been talking about? Is there more than one possibility? Why do you think Conrad made this scene so ambiguous? To what degree do humans have horror within them? Has Africa moved beyond its own “horrors” toward a sense of shared community? If so, how? If not, why not?
5.
Some readers claim that Heart of Darkness is strictly a political novella. Others, however, say it’s really a story about the human condition. What is the condition of being human, according to Conrad? How can contemporary society draw lessons from this text?
6.
Heart of Darkness can sometimes seem to readers like an incredibly dark, depressing story that paints civilizations in a very negative light. Did it seem this way to you, or did the story contain any positive moments? If so, what were they? Why did they seem positive? What lessons of hope can we draw from the text?
[2] Adapted from http://school.discoveryeducation.com/lessonplans/programs/heartofdarkness/
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A Dark Heart Reflecting the Evils of Society
Heart of Darkness, by Joseph Conrad, is a brilliant literary work, and its ambiguity allows for a plethora of interpretations. Buried deep within the text of this tale, these interpretations allow the reader to synthesize connections to modern society. Everything about this book is a connection to modern society starting with its title. The major themes also have strong socio-cultural ties. Some these themes include: racism, corruption, sexism, imperialism, and oppression. Only through evaluating all of these connections can the reader see the true messages of Conrad’s works.
Chinua Achebe shows how Conrad portrays a racist view of Africa. However I disagree with the belief that Conrad himself was racist, as Achebe believes. Conrad shows a racist view of Africa, not because he is racist, but because he wants to show the human heart as racist and judgmental. There is corruption and racism underlying in the hearts of all humans. Humans are born judgmental and thus Marlow’s descriptions of the Africans are anything but pleasant. In Marlow’s story he sees the Africans as almost equals to animals and he describes an African as speaking with a “violent babble of uncouth sounds” (127). Conrad uses Marlow to show how the human heart will not accept equality unless it is thrust upon him. In Africa there are no laws to enforce equality, and thus he shows that society is free to act naturally and corruptively.
Conrad also uses the character, Kurtz, to show the lust for power inhabiting all humans. Kurtz leaves all modernization as he moves to the Congo on his search for ivory. He becomes so intoxicated with this endeavor that he almost kills his friend for more ivory. He never wants to leave the Congo, which is ironic since it is described as a dark, evil nation full of cannibals. Why would one want to live there? The answer is that, in this primitive colonization, Kurtz has all the power. The natives see him as a god. Materialistically he is also fulfilled; he has guns, ivory, and even a mistress. All of these material items are more important to him than his friends and his fiancée who is left at home. Conrad is showing how the heart lusts for power and material goods over love and compassion. One would rather live in a third world country with all the material good they could desire, than living a middleclass life with love. The greed of society is explicitly portrayed through Kurtz’s actions and this lust for power is stronger than one’s ability to love.
-Pablo Sanchez
Through the novel, Conrad rarely mentions women which and when they are mentioned they are mistreated. For example, Kurtz cheats on his fiancé for an African woman. Also, Marlow’s aunt is shown as a wealthy woman with some power but it is explained that she can only have this power through men. This connects to society today through music and media. In many modern day songs, particularly in the rap genre, women are degraded and spoken of as if they were possessions rather than human beings. This is the way the women are viewed and treated in Heart of Darkness. Racism is also a predominant theme in the novel. During the course of the novel the African Americans are treated as slaves and used to work for the Belgians as they continue their quest for ivory in Africa. This is very similar to the movie Blood Diamond where the weaker African Americans are used as slaves to harvest diamonds for money. This can also be viewed as imperialism, where the oppressors are using the natives for their natural resources, land, and power. The madness of imperialism is often associated with rebellion. This can also be shown in the film when the protagonist steals from the oppressors and escapes to America. Another example of this is the most recent season of the television show 24. The people of Sengallah are being overthrown by rebellious men who wish to use the people as slaves and control the country. They attempt to overthrow the government and dethrone the prime minister. Even children’s films reflect the themes displayed by Conrad. A very powerful example of this is The Lion King. The lions are overthrown by the imperialistic hyenas. The hyenas invade the lions for possession of their land and food. The lions then rebel because they can no longer deal with the oppression pressed on them by the hyenas. Overall, many television shows, movies, songs, and commercials resemble the dominant themes in Heart of Darkness.
-Jamal Dunkin
At the center of Conrad’s tale of darkness and the abyss of eternal gloom is moral corruption of all men of the white race. Many of the themes presented in Heart of Darkness all spout out from this single element, which is the mother of all things wrong with human beings. Such examples of corruption are racism, violence, cruelty, insanity, disorder, deception, illegal activities, and lawlessness. Moral corruption is the large river with these little streams, including racism and insanity, lead out from. These examples do not just apply to society itself but also the individuals in such a society, like the characters Marlow and Kurtz. Marlow has been corrupted in terms of his values and sense of superiority over other races, which is not unlike the rest of his race. This is the type of corruption that has sunken deep into the hearts of men, especially the whites and the Europeans that try to take control of the river. However, in the public sphere, this stench of moral corruption with people like Marlow is almost undetectable and not quite so obvious. This because Marlow lives in an environment that he may not particular favor, but he is comfortable and used to this civilized environment filled with Englishmen and European citizens. However, when he sent on this mission into the wilderness of the Congo River, he is lost to it. He loses his ability to cloud his own evil and darkness and acts like the natives themselves. The experience of going down the river and being in the face of such horrors and evils clouds his judgment and ultimate gives in to the evils of like and the darkness in his soul.
Even Kurtz has fallen victim to this corrupting influence that has become a part of him deep inside him. Kurtz has cast off reason and allowed his most base and brutal instincts to rule unrestrained. He has permitted the evil within him to gain the upper hand. Kurtz's appalling moral corruption is the result not only of external forces such as the isolation and loneliness imposed by the jungle, but also, Conrad suggests, of forces that lie within all men and await the chance to emerge. He does not realize how far he all fallen from grace into this pit of corruption until he in the face of death, muttering his last words: “The horror! The horror!” Marlow nearly follows Kurtz in death because of their mirroring journeys into the heart of darkness and how they have been captured by the depths of moral corruptions. This element of corruption is equally prevalent in the 1979 film Apocalypse Now, based on Conrad’s tale, directed by Francis Ford Coppola, and starring Marlon Brando as Colonel Kurtz and Martin Sheen as Captain Willard (Marlow). Both the novel and the film emphasis that there may be no real authority in such a wild world of chaos with no civilization; there are no rules and no morals whatsoever.
-Klaatubaradaniktu
It is important to realize that Heart of Darkness depicts many recurring themes in the history of civilization, and these themes are still present in modern society. As Americans, we want to believe that our nation has risen above the oppression of minorities but this is not even close to the truth. If someone wants to see racism in this country, they can simply take a trip to the south and they won’t have to look very hard. Oppression has always been one group of people who make up a majority overpowering a minority group because the minorities are different and unknown. This is extremely important to note because for Marlow, the natives are unknown and the dark jungle is a major source of fear for the imperialists. Today, in America, we don’t care to think about the world around us. For the most part, we focus on our small part of the world and ignore the rest. It is important to see the history of imperialism and oppression around the world and see that we made the same mistakes in our history and are still making the same mistakes now. It is said that history repeats itself, and Conrad’s novel serves as proof that this is true and no one wants to do anything about it.
-Jack Hammer
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A Dark Heart Reflecting the Evils of Society
Heart of Darkness, by Joseph Conrad, is a brilliant literary work, and its ambiguity allows for a plethora of interpretations. Buried deep within the text of this tale, these interpretations allow the reader to synthesize connections to modern society. Everything about this book is a connection to modern society starting with its title. The major themes also have strong socio-cultural ties. Some these themes include: racism, corruption, sexism, imperialism, and oppression. Only through evaluating all of these connections can the reader see the true messages of Conrad’s works.
Chinua Achebe shows how Conrad portrays a racist view of Africa. However I disagree with the belief that Conrad himself was racist, as Achebe believes. Conrad shows a racist view of Africa, not because he is racist, but because he wants to show the human heart as racist and judgmental. There is corruption and racism underlying in the hearts of all humans. Humans are born judgmental and thus Marlow’s descriptions of the Africans are anything but pleasant. In Marlow’s story he sees the Africans as almost equals to animals and he describes an African as speaking with a “violent babble of uncouth sounds” (127). Conrad uses Marlow to show how the human heart will not accept equality unless it is thrust upon him. In Africa there are no laws to enforce equality, and thus the human heart is free to act naturally and corruptively.
Conrad also uses the character, Kurtz, to show the lust for power inhabiting all humans. Kurtz leaves all modernization as he moves to the Congo on his search for ivory. He becomes so intoxicated with this endeavor that he almost kills his friend for more ivory. He never wants to leave the Congo, which is ironic since it is described as a dark, evil nation full of cannibals. Why would one want to live there? The answer is that, in this primitive colonization, Kurtz has all the power. The natives see him as a god. Materialistically he is also fulfilled; he has guns, ivory, and even a mistress. All of these material items are more important to him than his friends and his fiancée who is left at home. Conrad is showing how the heart lusts for power and material goods over love and compassion. One would rather live in a third world country with all the material good they could desire, than living a middleclass life with love. The greed of the human heart is explicitly portrayed through Kurtz’s actions and this lust for power is stronger than one’s ability to love.
-Pablo Sanchez
Through the novel, Conrad rarely mentions women which and when they are mentioned they are mistreated. For example, Kurtz cheats on his fiancé for an African woman. Also, Marlow’s aunt is shown as a wealthy woman with some power but it is explained that she can only have this power through men. This connects to society today through music and media. In many modern day songs, particularly in the rap genre, women are degraded and spoken of as if they were possessions rather than human beings. This is the way the women are viewed and treated in Heart of Darkness. Racism is also a predominant theme in the novel. During the course of the novel the African Americans are treated as slaves and used to work for the Belgians as they continue their quest for ivory in Africa. This is very similar to the movie Blood Diamond where the weaker African Americans are used as slaves to harvest diamonds for money. This can also be viewed as imperialism, where the oppressors are using the natives for their natural resources, land, and power. The madness of imperialism is often associated with rebellion. This can also be shown in the film when the protagonist steals from the oppressors and escapes to America. Another example of this is the most recent season of the television show 24. The people of Sengallah are being overthrown by rebellious men who wish to use the people as slaves and control the country. They attempt to overthrow the government and dethrone the prime minister. Even children’s films reflect the themes displayed by Conrad. A very powerful example of this is The Lion King. The lions are overthrown by the imperialistic hyenas. The hyenas invade the lions for possession of their land and food. The lions then rebel because they can no longer deal with the oppression pressed on them by the hyenas. Overall, many television shows, movies, songs, and commercials resemble the dominant themes in Heart of Darkness.
-Jamal Dunkin
At the center of Conrad’s tale of darkness and the abyss of eternal gloom is moral corruption of all men of the white race. Many of the themes presented in Heart of Darkness all spout out from this single element, which is the mother of all things wrong with human beings. Such examples of corruption are racism, violence, cruelty, insanity, disorder, deception, illegal activities, and lawlessness. Moral corruption is the large river with these little streams, including racism and insanity, lead out from. These examples do not just apply to society itself but also the individuals in such a society, like the characters Marlow and Kurtz. Marlow has been corrupted in terms of his values and sense of superiority over other races, which is not unlike the rest of his race. This is the type of corruption that has sunken deep into the hearts of men, especially the whites and the Europeans that try to take control of the river. However, in the public sphere, this stench of moral corruption with people like Marlow is almost undetectable and not quite so obvious. This is because Marlow lives in an environment that he may not particular favor, but he is comfortable and used to this civilized environment filled with Englishmen and European citizens. However, when he sent on this mission into the wilderness of the Congo River, he is lost to it. He loses his ability to cloud his own evil and darkness and acts like the natives themselves. The experience of going down the river and being in the face of such horrors and evils clouds his judgment and ultimate gives in to the evils of like and the darkness in his soul.
Even Kurtz has fallen victim to this corrupting influence that has become a part of him deep inside him. Kurtz has cast off reason and allowed his most base and brutal instincts to rule unrestrained. He has permitted the evil within him to gain the upper hand. Kurtz's appalling moral corruption is the result not only of external forces such as the isolation and loneliness imposed by the jungle, but also, Conrad suggests, of forces that lie within all men and await the chance to emerge. He does not realize how far he all fallen from grace into this pit of corruption until he in the face of death, muttering his last words: “The horror! The horror!” Marlow nearly follows Kurtz in death because of their mirroring journeys into the heart of darkness and how they have been captured by the depths of moral corruptions. This element of corruption is equally prevalent in the 1979 film Apocalypse Now, based on Conrad’s tale, directed by Francis Ford Coppola, and starring Marlon Brando as Colonel Kurtz and Martin Sheen as Captain Willard (Marlow). Both the novel and the film emphasis that there may be no real authority in such a wild world of chaos with no civilization; there are no rules and no morals whatsoever.
-Bill Loney
It is important to realize that Heart of Darkness depicts many recurring themes in the history of civilization, and these themes are still present in modern society. As Americans, we want to believe that our nation has risen above the oppression of minorities but this is not even close to the truth. If someone wants to see racism in this country, they can simply take a trip to the south and they won’t have to look very hard. Oppression has always been one group of people who make up a majority overpowering a minority group because the minorities are different and unknown. This is extremely important to note because for Marlow, the natives are unknown and the dark jungle is a major source of fear for the imperialists. Today, in America, we don’t care to think about the world around us. For the most part, we focus on our small part of the world and ignore the rest. It is important to see the history of imperialism and oppression around the world and see that we made the same mistakes in our history and are still making the same mistakes now. It is said that history repeats itself, and Conrad’s novel serves as proof that this is true and no one wants to do anything about it.
-Jack Hammer
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If you’re looking for a great, exploratory read, Joseph Conrad’s Heart of Darkness does not disappoint. Heart of Darkness is a riveting tale following a nineteenth century, youthful and innocent sailor, Marlow, on his journey to Africa. What Marlow does not know is how quickly that innocence will disappear, replaced with the reality of imperialism.
Upon entering the Belgian Company, Marlow is given the job as Captain of a steamship with the itinerary of sailing to each of the Company’s stations. Before setting off, Marlow becomes intrigued with all the stories about a man named Kurtz, head of the Inner Station. Marlow begins to feel uncomfortable with the cruelty towards the African natives, along with some dislike towards his self from others. He reaches the Central Station only to find that the ship he was supposed to command was sunk. Although everyone says it is an accident, it is clear that someone else has done it to put Marlow at a disadvantage.
Once spending time fixing up his ship and arriving at the Inner Station, Marlow finally meets the legendary Kurtz, who appears to be both mentally and physically ill. Marlow experiences firsthand the hardships of sailing and Imperialism, seeing the toll it takes on Kurtz; and later, the damage that is done to himself.
Conrad sums up every emotion and memory of Marlow’s first experience at sea, allowing the reader to feel a part of Marlow’s change from a naïve rookie to a cynical captain. The story that has been a pleasure to read for over one hundred years has not faded into the background because of Conrad’s detail and precision in his novella, with symbols and messaged imbedded within the text. This process is a truly interesting adventure, great for readers who like to look beyond the obvious and feel like they themselves are a character in the book, personally connected to Marlow and his journey.aasist
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Most Helpful Review
5,745 out of 5,745 found the following review helpful:
“Highlights colonialism and imperialism in Africa…”, February 23, 2009
By Karen (Franklin, MA) - see all my reviews
Joseph Conrad’s controversial novella, Heart of Darkness, depicts many arguable issues and strikes points of interest such as colonialism and imperialism in Africa. Even though this novella is fictional, it is loosely based on Conrad’s adventure as he himself traveled the Congo River. Heart of Darkness’ main character, Marlow, narrates through the novella and takes the reader on his own journey of the Congo River and the search for Kurtz. Kurtz is seen as seen as a very important man who is highly sought after. After Marlow takes the job as a captain of a ship, he views many signs of cruelty in the stations the ship stops at. This trip of mystery and weary feelings cause the passengers of the ship to be apprehensive when a native village is seen. When they make it to the Inner Station, they expect Kurtz to be dead. A Russian trader, who narrates part of the novella, informs them that Kurtz is still alive. He speaks with Marlow and only Marlow knows that his final words were “The horror! The horror!”. In this novella, symbols such as the fog and the river are used to emphasize the mystery and darkness of imperialism and colonialism. This Imperialism in Africa is linked to today and how slavery has affected our country. The labor put on the natives by a higher power is pure brutality. At first glance, you would not suspect such subjects as imperialism, colonialism or even racism to occur in this book. However, Conrad integrates these subjects in a peculiar ways. If you are interested in the harmful effects of these subjects, you should read this book. Nevertheless, I found this book quite boring and dull. The storyline was lackluster and the ending was very drawn out. While reading this novella, I felt as if I could fall asleep.
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The Affects of the "Darkness"
A short novella describing the adventures of a crew aboard a French steamer on the Belgian Congo in Africa in the late nineteenth century, Joseph Conrad’s Heart of Darkness weaves an intricate and at times, depressing tale of the inner struggle within humans. Like many of those who have posted before me, I believe that Heart of Darkness depicts the affects of the environment on one’s psyche. The characters within the novella become corrupt and emotionally disturbed due to the nature of their surroundings. Africa, itself, is described as “barren” and “devoid of life.” The tone of the story as well as the descriptions of the setting are very bleak and mysterious. This “corrupt” African environment and the people that the characters encounter on the journey on the steamer affect them in various ways.
Marlow, the protagonist of the novella, embarks on a life-changing and soul-searching journey when he steps aboard the steamer. On Marlow’s trip through the Congo, he comes face to face with “the devil of rapacious and pitiless folly,” something of which he would never have come in contact with in his original land of England (Conrad 89). Marlow encounters many characters on his journey, none however as memorable or powerful as Kurtz. This is where the affect of environment becomes evident within the novella. Kurtz, a once dignified and regal ivory agent, falls victim to the atrocities aboard the steamer and in Africa. He is eternally scarred by the brutal experiences that occur during his time in Africa. Marlow comes from a modest and sheltered town in England. After being exposed to the experiences alongside Mr. Kurtz, Marlow ultimately ends his search for a soul, devoid of any true feeling. Because of their surroundings, Marlow and Kurtz both become damaged and meet similar fates.
After some research on Conrad’s personal history I came to understand why he portrayed Africa and the Congo in such a negative light. Because Conrad came from a predominantly white family and lived in predominantly white Europe, it is reasonable to believe that he viewed outsiders with somewhat racist tendencies. This only furthers the argument that Heart of Darkness shows the affect that a corrupt environment can have on its people. Much like today’s society, a flawed and fraudulent government can have great emotional, political, and psychological effects on its citizens.
In 1902, psychologist Charles Cooley came up with the concept of the “looking glass self.” In theory, this means that people learn to see themselves as outsiders see them. This theory explains how people in today’s society as well as the characters in Heart of Darkness’s society are affected by their environment and surroundings. Cooley’s “looking glass self” theory shows how people’s views of themselves can be altered, especially negatively, by the outside world’s opinions and outlooks on them. For many decades, history has led the white race to believe that they are superior to the other races. Cooley’s theory is abundantly evident throughout history when we study white dominance in society. Even today, although whites have become more accepting of the differences between the races, there are still lingering affects of the once common views of the white race. Heart of Darkness does an accurate job of portraying the once dominant white ideologies of other races. Conrad precisely depicts the affects of surroundings as well as the “looking glass self” theory in his portrayal of his characters in Heart of Darkness.
The novella "Heart of Darkness" by Joseph Conrad explores the institutions of colonialism through great detail, and attempts to explain the origins of these actions. Eloquent writing as well as detailed care to description gives extreme depth to the novella. The story, narrated by Marlow, takes place on the Congo river, and is enshrouded in mystery for the majority of the novel. All that is known is of the ivory trade that is occuring and the mysterious identity of Mr. Kurtz who is running a part of this trade deep in the Congo. The ideas of colonialism perpetuate throughout the novel and are highlighted by the actions of the characters. The real beauty in this exploration of the ideas of colonialism boils down to the connection to social darwinism however.
I first noticed this connection when i came across a line in Conrad's prose that said "It seemed somehow to throw a kind of light on everything about me—and into my thoughts." This line may appear ordinary at first, seeing as it accurately reflects the style of Conrad, however upon further examination it has a striking similarity to one of the opening lines in Darwin's Origin of Species which says "These facts seemed to me to throw some light on the origin of species." This connections might seem trivial, but when one further contemplates the ideas of Social Darwinism, it appears more relevant. Social Darwinism illicits a certain superiority of some species over others, allowing them to survive over others. This is known as the survival of the fittest. This idea is used as propaganda for colonialists everywhere, for reasoning of their actions. They are superior to the other cultures because the white colonialists are more educated and superior. Kurtz has a similar belief for the reasoning of his ivory trade.
Social Darwinism brings out the origins of the ideas of colonialism, and when this connection is finally realized, Conrad's "Heart of Darkness" can truly be appreciated for what it is. It is a statement of warning to the readers about the implications that science, and the intelligent mind can have upon society. One idea, can lead to an entire series of social consequences, such as the abuse of power or creation of propaganda, as in the colonialist period.
The novella "Heart of Darkness" by Joseph Conrad explores the institutions of colonialism through great detail, and attempts to explain the origins of these actions. Eloquent writing as well as detailed care to description gives extreme depth to the novella. The story, narrated by Marlow, takes place on the Congo river, and is enshrouded in mystery for the majority of the novel. All that is known is of the ivory trade that is occuring and the mysterious identity of Mr. Kurtz who is running a part of this trade deep in the Congo. The ideas of colonialism perpetuate throughout the novel and are highlighted by the actions of the characters. The real beauty in this exploration of the ideas of colonialism boils down to the connection to social darwinism however.
I first noticed this connection when i came across a line in Conrad's prose that said "It seemed somehow to throw a kind of light on everything about me—and into my thoughts." This line may appear ordinary at first, seeing as it accurately reflects the style of Conrad, however upon further examination it has a striking similarity to one of the opening lines in Darwin's Origin of Species which says "These facts seemed to me to throw some light on the origin of species." This connections might seem trivial, but when one further contemplates the ideas of Social Darwinism, it appears more relevant. Social Darwinism illicits a certain superiority of some species over others, allowing them to survive over others. This is known as the survival of the fittest. This idea is used as propaganda for colonialists everywhere, for reasoning of their actions. They are superior to the other cultures because the white colonialists are more educated and superior. Kurtz has a similar belief for the reasoning of his ivory trade.
Social Darwinism brings out the origins of the ideas of colonialism, and when this connection is finally realized, Conrad's "Heart of Darkness" can truly be appreciated for what it is. It is a statement of warning to the readers about the implications that science, and the intelligent mind can have upon society. One idea, can lead to an entire series of social consequences, such as the abuse of power or creation of propaganda, as in the colonialist period.
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Joseph Conrad’s Heart of Darkness is a novel full of criticism and worlds of cultural topics that can still be applied to society today. From his judgmental critical analysis on colonialism and imperialism to his underlying racism and discrimination, Conrad gives the world a novel, a puzzle, and a time-lapsing universe to delve into.
As soon as Marlow starts his epic tale through the Congo, Africa is presented as an entire new world to the reader. Conrad often times refers to traveling up the river as similar to “traveling back to the earliest beginnings of the world” (Conrad 76). This really is where his underlying racism begins. By relating Africa to prehistoric times, he is arguably implying that it is a fake, chaotic world where there is no civilization. So what is he saying about the people who thrive there? It is possible he is saying that the habitants of Africa are uncivilized “savages”, (a word that is very much so repeated often throughout the book). But then again, could he be saying something else? Conrad, through the mouth of Marlow, could be saying that he is afraid that even these barbarians could be from the same common ancestry as he himself is from.
As I read the book, I began to ponder more and more about the psychological aspects going through the crew’s minds as they were traveling through this prehistoric-like world. Marlow, in particular, seems to me like a direct link to Conrad’s feelings as he went about on some of his well known boating expeditions. For example, in Book II Conrad begins to use pairs of words, such as “tearing slowly” (Conrad 98), which in some way contradicts one another. When one thinks of the word “tearing”, one most likely thinks of a vehicle or something moving at a very high speed. With the adverb “slowly” complementing the word “tearing”, it begins to show how Marlow’s mind is becoming clouded by the journey. Conrad uses literary devices such as these throughout the novel to perhaps show the reader how Marlow—maybe even his own—mind was clouded on the journey through the heart of darkness.
This underlying theme of racism all throughout Heart of Darkness is a social theme that can even be related to society itself within the past century. As Conrad sees these African inhabitants as savages, has the rest of the world—even the smallest of nations—seen African Americans as less human? That certainly is a controversial topic that has been argued by many scholars much more educated than I throughout history but my argument is that it is certainly possible. From contemporary texts such as Chinua Achebe’s “An Image of Africa: Racism in Conrad’s Heart of Darkness” to the closing moments of Spike Lee’s Bamboozle, authors have noted how African Americans have been treated as lesser people.
Heart of Darkness is a compelling novel in which the reader can find himself getting lost inside of the literary devices, historical critiques, and philosophical contemporary subjects that Conrad embeds inside a world of his own.
Though Joseph Conrad's famous novella, Heart of Darkness, can teach us much about human nature, it can also very easily put us to sleep. The powerful characters and their intriguing motives Conrad expresses in his novella opened our eyes to the extreme lengths people will go to in order to climb the social ladder ultimately becoming "top dog". It also exposed us to the harsh and often over-looked world of African racism in its rawest and truest form. This concept was quite new to us considering all we have previously been taught about racism was the overexposed aspect of racism in United States history. If only Conrad had made his writing as exciting and interesting as the in-depth themes he conveyed in Heart of Darkness, perhaps more readers would discover it in all its glory.
A constant struggle for power is an underlying theme throughout Conrad's novella. It is interesting to watch the development of characters as their thirst for power strengthens. The Manager, for example, becomes more and more distressed and desperate to overpower Marlow each time Marlow opposes one of the Manager's decisions. For example, in Part I of the novella, Conrad describes the rational behind the French's violence toward a seemingly harmless area on the coast. After the French bombarded the area, "nothing happened. Nothing could happen" (Conrad 79). It is obvious the French were not fighting for protection, but solely to demonstrate their dominance over the Natives they fear. This relationship is a fascinating study of human nature, and is very relatable to today's society. Nowadays, it is not uncommon for people to become so blinded by their desires, that they reach the point where they no longer remember why they desired it in the first place. Conrad's characters show us that the greed and yearning for supremacy seen in his book is actually much more common in our lives than we first assume.
If you were to ask anyone in our age group about racism nine times out of ten they would respond with a fact or figure dealing with racism as a part of United States history, especially topics of slavery. Very little is taught about racism in other forms and in other locations. Heart of Darkness portrays a society in which the ones that are oppressed by racism are, not only, the people native to the land, but also the majority. After seeing the way the European settlers imposed their own society and beliefs upon the natives, it reminded us that racism and domination are not only seen in minority groups. As famed author Chinua Achebe tells us in his critique titled "An Image of Africa", Conrad sets his novel up in a way that "foils Africa to Europe" (Achebe 1). Despite the surface differences between Europe and Africa, there is an underlying consistency in human nature to fear those who appear foreign and "strange". This leads the Europeans to have the desire to control their foils, the Natives. The invading Belgium travelers oppressed the people native to the land solely because of their skin color. After investigation, it is obvious this prevalent theme can be easily found in the history of our own country, The Unites States. This unique form of racism can be found as far back in our own country's history as the way the first pilgrims arriving on the Mayflower treated the Native Americans despite the pilgrims having a smaller population.
Despite the great educational and psychological aspects of the story we found it intolerably boring, complicated and complex. The writing was unnecessarily wordy, often times confusing us rather than conveying a story. We also found that there was a gratuitous amount of description throughout the story. Again, the extra and unneeded words often sidetracked us from the actual plot. The story line was full of unneeded fluff and pieces that did nothing to move the story along. We also were not fond of the frame narration literary style. It added further confusion to the plot and we did not see any particular benefits.
Overall, we would not recommend Heart of Darkness to anyone looking for a light enjoyable read. For those looking for a story enriched with themes and new ways of seeing a society you thought you knew, then this may be the perfect book for you!
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Who is Joseph Conrad?
Joseph Conrad was born in 1857 in the Polish Ukraine. It was a separated nation, consisting of four languages, four religions, and many social classes. Part of the Polish-speaking population, including Conrad's family, made up the szlachta, an inherited class on the aristocracy level of social hierarchy, combining qualities of gentry and nobility. They had political power, even though they were financially desolate. Eventually, his father was arrested for suspicion of treason, and the family was thrown into exile. His mother shortly after developed tuberculosis, and died in 1865, followed by his father in 1869 of the same ailment. He became an orphan at age 11 (Gradesaver).
He then moved to France, where he had connections in many circles, but his bohemian friends were the ones who introduced him to opera, theater, and drama. He mastered his second language and the basics of seamanship, and by 1878, had made his way to England with the goal of becoming an officer on a British ship. He spent twenty years at sea (Gradesaver).
When he was not at sea, Joseph was exploring other ways to make money by writing letters or writing in journals. Conrad's third language, English, was trapped under his first two — Polish and French. This made his English seem strange, but from Polish and French prose styles, he adopted a liking for triple parallelism and rhetorical abstraction. In Conrad's time, literary critics often stated that his complex narration, pessimistic ideas, profound themes, and exotic style turned many readers away. Though his talent was recognized English intellectuals, he had not known popular success until the 1913 publication of Chance, which proved to be one of his better novels. For the remainder of his life, Conrad was the subject of more conversation and admiration than any other English writer of the time. He had a knack for companionship, and his circle of friends included authors such as Stephen Crane and Henry James. In April 1924, Conrad, who held a hereditary Polish rank of nobility and coat-of-arms, declined a British knighthood from Prime Minister Ramsay MacDonald. Shortly after, on August 3, 1924, he died of a heart attack (Gradesaver).
Most Helpful Positive Critical Review:
By “mnc5093” (Albuquerque, NM)
The novella, Heart of Darkness, by Joseph Conrad follows the main character Charles Marlow embarks on a journey up the Congo River in the undiscovered continent of Africa. It is a great novel that is dark and deeply psychological because there are so many sociocultural ways to interpret this colorful text. It is one of those classic novels that should be read by everyone because Heart of Darkness remains one of the best books ever written. It is not a novel to be blown through without thought. It is a seminal work about the ills of colonialism, as well as a postmodern look at the subject of mankind. One might interpret the text in a racist way, because it is true that there is a presence of racism in the language. However, when reading, you must open your eyes and see that Marlow and Conrad’s societies did not understand the new way of life. Conrad is not trying to be racist or hurtful, but rather explorative and explanatory to the new life he is experiencing for the first time. The narration is so veiled in layers of brilliantly crafted language that what is true is believed to be filled with uncertainty. It may take a few tries to completely understand and comprehend this intense text, but the completion is rewarding. Personally, I figure out something more every time I read Heart of Darkness. All in all, it is a brilliantly written novel that will live on in legacy for decades to come.
Most Helpful Negative Critical Review:
By "prince3589" (Franklin, TN)
The people who consider the novella, Heart of Darkness, must not lead the most exciting of lives. Joseph Conrad does, in fact, paint a psychological roller coaster that deals with loss of innocence and morality uncertainty, but he does it in a way that could put anyone to sleep. The strong, sometimes undecipherable language and thick, heavy prose made me have to stop and constantly question what it was that I was actually reading. I decided to read this book after stumbling across an essay written by Chinua Achebe that I found in a magazine titled “An Image of Africa: Racism in Conrad’s “Heart of Darkness” ”. After reading the way Achebe rips apart a book that is considered one of the greatest books of the 20th century, I had to see for myself, and to be honest, I could not agree with Achebe more. As an African American man myself, I also did find this work extremely racist. Who knew that the land that my family and so many other families around the US originate from dehumanizes people? Apparently Conrad did. One line in the book shows just how meaningless Conrad thought that the African people were, “They were intruders whose knowledge of life to me was an irritating pretence, because I felt so sure they could not possibly know the things I knew” (Conrad 156). At first I thought that could have just been making it more dramatic due to the time period in which he lived, but then I read that he himself had traveled the Congo River! I wonder if that is where Conrad developed his fixation on depicting “blackness” in such a negative manner. He describes one man in his text, “A black figure stood up, strode on long black legs, waving long black arms, across the glow”, and reminds us three times that the man is a person of color (Conrad 148). After sparking my own argument about this one quote, I realized that Achebe had found a problem with the same one! He mocks Conrad, saying “as though we might expect a black figure striding along on black legs to wave white arms!” (Achebe 251-261). I was offended by this book and think it is an absolute “horror” that it is being read in public schools around the country. Conrad writes this book with a definite flare of racism, and is now throwing his hidden theme of white superiority across the states, I thought we had moved past that as a nation.
Other people found the following reviews helpful:
By JL1984 (Athens, GA)
“Heart of Darkness is a very accurate portrayal of an imperialistic society. When Conrad describes the natives, he uses dark adjectives, such as ‘shadows’ and ‘unearthly.’ These words instantly show the dominance that the white Belgians have instilled. After reading this book, it is hard to understand how this was allowed to go on. Marlow tries to turn the other way when he sees acts of imperialism going on throughout the jungle, which is what the rest of the world did as well. Overall, Conrad describes a realistic situation, which makes it easier for the reader to comprehend.”
By Janet DuBois (Brooklyn, NY)
“Conrad’s use of symbols throughout the novel is incredible. The symbols may not be as obvious at first, but there are so many that fall into place over time. The way Conrad describes the jungle can symbolize the unknown. He constantly describes it as dark and confusing, which symbolizes the fact that the Belgians are not familiar with the land and the natives. The death of Kurtz can symbolize the end of the imperialistic reign in Africa. This book is filled with many symbols that help move the novel along and relate it to concepts the reader is aware of.”
By ucscdude83 (Santa Cruz, CA)
“I personally love the frame narrative style that Conrad writes this book in. Not only is it unique, which makes it fun to read, but also it allows the reader to gain inside knowledge of the character who is telling the story. I enjoyed knowing how Marlow truly felt at some points and how fluently he was telling the story. I also found it easier to read because it seemed like it was less formal than standard writing. Sometimes it is easier to understand someone speaking rather than understand his or her writings. I think the frame narrative was a very good idea by Conrad.”
By BK36 (Cleveland, OH)
“Every adventure has a mysterious aspect to it. In Heart of Darkness, that mysterious aspect is Mr. Kurtz. Mr. Kurtz is the leader of the imperialistic Belgians; Marlow’s journey to Africa is all leading up to meeting this larger-than-life figure. Throughout the novel, Marlow constantly refers to Mr. Kurtz and their inevitable first meeting. It was interesting to see how Marlow’s adventure seemed to be shaped around meeting Kurtz. Also, when he finds the truth about Kurtz and his evil ways, he still is as fascinated with him as before. Marlow’s obsession with this mystique character sets the tone for the rest of the story. The mysterious element of the main character adds an overall mysterious effect to the entire journey.
Achebe, Chinua. "An Image of Africa: Racism in Conrad's 'Heart of
Darkness'" Massachusetts Review. 18. 1977. Rpt. in Heart of
Darkness, An Authoritative Text, background and Sources Criticism. 1961. 3rd ed. Ed. Robert Kimbrough, London: W. W
Norton and Co., 1988, pp.251-261
Conrad, Joseph. The Heart of Darkness and the Secret Sharer. New York:
Signet Classics, 2008.
GradeSaver. "Biography of Joseph Conrad | List of
Works, Study Guides & Essays | GradeSaver." www.gradesaver.com. 24 February 2009. GradeSaver. 24 February 2009 http://www.gradesaver.com/author/joseph-conrad/.
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Amazon.com Book Review
Joseph Conrad’s Heart of Darkness is not a text that should be taken lightly. The books underlying messages of racism and imperialism makes it necessary for a close, in-depth reading. The story is told through two prime narrators; one being the protagonists, Marlow. Marlow’s story follows a rough outline of Conrad’s own life, and journey through the Congo. Throughout Marlow’s adventure he encounters different types of people, and different types of evil. The most prevalent theme is imperialism. In the novella, Conrad bashes imperialism and everything connected to it. Marlow, an English man, falls into a job opportunity with the Belgian Trading Company owned and operated by then, imperial Belgium. His job brings him to the position of steamboat captain on the Congo River, in the heart of Africa. Through the novella Marlow meets interesting characters that swallow the reader into Marlow’s life- as if it was actually happening. Re-reading Marlow’s story and journey the theme of racism becomes more evident. His descriptions of his surroundings represent Conrad’s own feelings about society. This book is a rare find in today’s world, and to those who haven’t had the joy to read this novella should. The story is captivating and definitely worth rereading to capture every bit.
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