2_moreno_robert

Roberto Moreno and Michelle Lee Flores

Readings in English Literature

Spring 2001

The Journey through Heart of Darkness

In Heart of Darkness, Joseph Conrad, uses different objects, events, and people as symbols that pull together the theme and purpose of the novel. The main theme is mainly represented in the struggle between the whites and natives. It also involves the quest to find ones self, and the question of whether or not it is really worth it.

Perhaps the most extensive symbol in the novel is the painting at the Central Station of a blindfolded woman carrying a lighted torch. The woman most likely symbolizes the Europeans who have come to civilize the natives. The torch she carries represents the European customs and values which the white men try to force upon the native Africans. The woman is blindfolded because the Europeans cannot see the negative effects their customs have on the natives.

Another symbol is the white piece of rope, discovered by Marlow, wrapped around a native's neck at the Outer Station. The fabric can be said to represent the attempt of Europeans to colonize the natives and the strangling effect it has on them. This in turn leaves you wondering, near the end of the novel, whether it was the natives who were barbaric or whether it was the whites. The natives had their civilization, and the whites destroyed it by enslaving them. The Thames River, mentioned in the beginning of the novel, is called a "gateway to civilization" because it connects to the civilized city of London (Montalvo). Throughout the novel it is suggested whites and their civilization are superior to the natives, but a reader wonders if the opposite is true.

The ivory is a symbol representing the struggle between white / black, light / dark. The managers and agents of the Company are so obsessed with obtaining ivory they forget about their morals and so-called civilized ways. They are so engulfed with the idea of collecting more ivory they are willing to destroy another civilization. The color ivory can also represent the whites and their passion. The differences of light and dark are also an important symbol that is found throughout the novel. We refer to the middle ages, when science and knowledge was suppressed, as the Dark Ages. According to Christianity, in the beginning of time all was dark, and God created light. According to Conrad, before the Romans came, England was dark. In the same way, Africa was considered to be in a "dark stage" (Csicseri).

Marlow's journey on the Congo River can be said to represent a journey to find ones self. As Marlow progresses further up the river in his search for Kurtz, he begins to learn more and more about himself. Marlow appears to be traveling deeply into his own mind (Montalvo). He comes to realize that he probably has more in common with the natives than the Europeans- -and their western philosophies- -who have come to civilize them. At the end of his journey, Marlow learns that everyone has a dark side, but that some people can conceal it better than others. This dark side is most apparent in Kurtz.

Kurtz represents man's dark side and what can happen when it envelops one completely. He is made up to be this "universal genius" (Conrad 151). Kurtz's prolonged exposure to the untamed regions of the Congo has removed all his ties to civilization. Kurtz no longer feels satisfied with just being a mere mortal, so instead transforms himself into an omnipotent being. Kurtz's descent into madness is firmly established with his disturbing final words, "The horror! The horror!" (Conrad 147). The "horror" he pronounces on his deathbed is a judgment upon how he has lived his life. We can definitely see Kurtz's demise as a possible end for Marlow if he had not left the Congo (Montalvo). Another point of significance is the inscription in the journal handed to Marlow by Kurtz. It stated, "Kill the Brutes!" Marlow tears this piece of paper out because it is not certain how the whites will perceive this quote. Will they see it as a cry for help from the natives, or as it really is, an epiphany in which he realized the whites are the brutes?

There are many symbols in this work, and Conrad uses them to reveal the whole purpose for the novel. Different themes such as the battle between darkness and light and the quest to find ones self are very important and play an significant role. Overall, the novel shows mans struggle to be who he is, without the corruption of the world that surrounds him.

Sources Cited

Conrad, Joseph. Heart of Darkness. New York: Norton & Co, 1988.

Csicseri, Coreen. "Themes in Heart of Darkness." University at Buffalo. Online.

1 Apr. 2001 <http://www.acsu.buffalo.edu/~csicseri/theme05.htm>.

Montalvo, Jessica. "Classic Note on Heart of Darkness." Classic Notes by Grade

Saver. Online. 2000. GradeSaver. 1 Apr. 2001.

<http://www.classicnote.com/ClassicNotes/Titles/heartofdarkness/

fullsumm.htm>.









			Roberto Moreno and Michelle Lee Flores Readings in English Literature Spring 2001 The Journey through Heart of Darkness In Heart of Darkness, Joseph Conrad, uses different objects, events, and people as symbols that pull together the theme and purpose of the novel. The main theme is mainly represented in the struggle between the whites and natives. It also involves the quest to find ones self, and the question of whether or not it is really worth it. Perhaps the most extensive symbol in the novel is the painting at the Central Station of a blindfolded woman carrying a lighted torch. The woman most likely symbolizes the Europeans who have come to civilize the natives. The torch she carries represents the European customs and values which the white men try to force upon the native Africans. The woman is blindfolded because the Europeans cannot see the negative effects their customs have on the natives. Another symbol is the white piece of rope, discovered by Marlow, wrapped around a native's neck at the Outer Station. The fabric can be said to represent the attempt of Europeans to colonize the natives and the strangling effect it has on them. This in turn leaves you wondering, near the end of the novel, whether it was the natives who were barbaric or whether it was the whites. The natives had their civilization, and the whites destroyed it by enslaving them. The Thames River, mentioned in the beginning of the novel, is called a "gateway to civilization" because it connects to the civilized city of London (Montalvo). Throughout the novel it is suggested whites and their civilization are superior to the natives, but a reader wonders if the opposite is true. The ivory is a symbol representing the struggle between white / black, light / dark. The managers and agents of the Company are so obsessed with obtaining ivory they forget about their morals and so-called civilized ways. They are so engulfed with the idea of collecting more ivory they are willing to destroy another civilization. The color ivory can also represent the whites and their passion. The differences of light and dark are also an important symbol that is found throughout the novel. We refer to the middle ages, when science and knowledge was suppressed, as the Dark Ages. According to Christianity, in the beginning of time all was dark, and God created light. According to Conrad, before the Romans came, England was dark. In the same way, Africa was considered to be in a "dark stage" (Csicseri). Marlow's journey on the Congo River can be said to represent a journey to find ones self. As Marlow progresses further up the river in his search for Kurtz, he begins to learn more and more about himself. Marlow appears to be traveling deeply into his own mind (Montalvo). He comes to realize that he probably has more in common with the natives than the Europeans- -and their western philosophies- -who have come to civilize them. At the end of his journey, Marlow learns that everyone has a dark side, but that some people can conceal it better than others. This dark side is most apparent in Kurtz. Kurtz represents man's dark side and what can happen when it envelops one completely. He is made up to be this "universal genius" (Conrad 151). Kurtz's prolonged exposure to the untamed regions of the Congo has removed all his ties to civilization. Kurtz no longer feels satisfied with just being a mere mortal, so instead transforms himself into an omnipotent being. Kurtz's descent into madness is firmly established with his disturbing final words, "The horror! The horror!" (Conrad 147). The "horror" he pronounces on his deathbed is a judgment upon how he has lived his life. We can definitely see Kurtz's demise as a possible end for Marlow if he had not left the Congo (Montalvo). Another point of significance is the inscription in the journal handed to Marlow by Kurtz. It stated, "Kill the Brutes!" Marlow tears this piece of paper out because it is not certain how the whites will perceive this quote. Will they see it as a cry for help from the natives, or as it really is, an epiphany in which he realized the whites are the brutes? There are many symbols in this work, and Conrad uses them to reveal the whole purpose for the novel. Different themes such as the battle between darkness and light and the quest to find ones self are very important and play an significant role. Overall, the novel shows mans struggle to be who he is, without the corruption of the world that surrounds him. Sources Cited Conrad, Joseph. Heart of Darkness. New York: Norton & Co, 1988. Csicseri, Coreen. "Themes in Heart of Darkness." University at Buffalo. Online. 1 Apr. 2001 <http://www.acsu.buffalo.edu/~csicseri/theme05.htm>. Montalvo, Jessica. "Classic Note on Heart of Darkness." Classic Notes by Grade Saver. Online. 2000. GradeSaver. 1 Apr. 2001. <http://www.classicnote.com/ClassicNotes/Titles/heartofdarkness/ fullsumm.htm>.