Joseph Conrad's Heart of Darkness: Symbolism of Light and Dark
             What are the characterizations of a civilized person? Is it a person who conforms to a standard social molding, which "we" determine, sophisticated? Is it being education and staying within the societal stereotypes? In Joseph Conrad's 1901 literary masterpiece, Heart of Darkness, these concepts of what is considered to be "civilized" in our European-adopted culture is the main theme of the story. Conrad's theory that when man are taken away from civilization that the true darkness of a man's heart is truly discovered and the "savage" within takes over.
             Joseph Conrad uses symbolism to enhance the main theme of the novel by setting certain symbolic elements in opposition to contrasting elements. In order to achieve this, he relies heavily on metaphors. Repeating throughout Heart of Darkness was the contrast between elements representing as being light and elements characterized as being dark. Light carries with it the metaphorical meanings of what is good, true, civilized, and humane. The word darkness and the use of dark elements, epitomize everything that is evil, obscure, and uncivilized. Heart of Darkness is embedded with complex layering of interconnected and overlapping symbols. Conrad's use of symbolism, metaphors, and irony was necessary in order to convey the story's overall theme.
             Africa was, to the Europeans, a place of another type of darkness. It was a place of the unknown, danger, disease, and violence. Charlie Marlow (the protagonist and central character) spoke fondly of the large blank map of Africa when he was a boy. It was empty because explorers had not recorded the features of that part of the world. A few examples in where Joseph Conrad uses this stylistic device of the element of dark and light was in the telling of the story of the two captains. Fresceven and Danes were stationed at a post near a native village. Due to a squa...