heart of darkness-symboliszm
Joseph Conrad's use of light and darkness to represent good and evil in the Heartof Darkness helps in developing the theme and the plot of the novel. Conrad uses thesymbol of light and darkness repetitively throughout the novel in order to disclose hisinsight to the reader; Conrad uses light and darkness when referring to the Thames andCongo river, the skin color and hearts of the whites and blacks, and the black mistress and Conrad's use of light and darkness is evident from the opening of the novel. Thestory opens on the tranquil Thames River aboard the cruising yawl called the Nellie. All iscalm on the water as the lights of London twinkle around the boat. The Thames River,which is seen as calm, 'civil' and bright, is an obvious contrast to the Congo River thatMarlow navigates in Africa. The Congo is full of darkness and fractiousness. Ironically,the bright Thames is described similarly to
Many of these themes, if not grasped by the readerthrough the use of symbols and other literary devices, generate a misinterpretation of thenovel. It is only a whiteman's command, at the urging of Kurtz, that the natives attack the steamer. Therefore, the allegations deeming Conrad racist are merely the result of ignorantreaders who do not comprehend the style of writing which he employs. It isintentionally ironic that the black man in the novel has a purer (light) heart than the whiteman, whose heart is callous, cruel and baleful (dark). Duringthe onset of the novel, in which none of Marlow's story is disclosed, the narrator isignorant to the horrors of European imperialism, and he subsequently describes theThames as bright and lit. TheManager is starving the cannibals on board Marlow's steamer to death, and although theyeagerly eye the body of the dead helmsman and also the physique of the plump Russian,they restrain their native urges and do not attack the living or the dead. However, during the closing of the novel, in which the startling cruelty of the Europeans is divulged, the narrator describes the Thames as strikinglydifferent: immensely dark. Through the use of lightness and darkness Conrad inveighsthat regardless of where the white man exists, in civilized London or deepest Africa, heseems to bring darkness: inhumanity to his fellow man. The use of the symbols of light and darkness assist in developing many majorthemes in the Heart of Darkness. Kurtz's black mistress in Africa is very demonstrative, wearing bright clothingand jewelry and acting in a loud, wild manner, clearly displaying strong emotions. Conrad uses light and darkness in context of the color of skin of the whites and blacks, as well as the corresponding good and evil of their hearts. Thebrightness and passion of Kurtz's black mistress are revealed from her bright attire whilethe passiveness of Kurtz's intended is evident from her dark clothing. In contrast to the greedand cruelty of the white men in Africa, who voraciously and recklessly seize ivory at anycost to human life, Conrad depicts the black natives as having more self-control. The white Intended's attire of black shows her bond with the black woman, whilethe black mistress's bright clothing and jewelry display this common bond as well; inherentin both is a love for Kurtz.
Common topics in this essay:
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Intended Belgium,
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Acceptance Essays
