When considering a work of literature, the title can be just as
             important as the context of the story. Literary devices such as contrast and
             repetition help develop the symbolism of Joseph Conrad's novel, Heart of
             Darkness. The use of contrast can be seen within the differences between the
             black and white people along with the differences between the civilized and
             uncivilized. The phrase "Heart of Darkness" itself is repetitious to describe
             certain places, events, and people. Joseph Conrad successfully relates his
             title to the African continent, the people, how the people were treated, and
             The title can relate to the wilderness in the center of Africa where
             Marlow is headed. In the story, the commander sees England as many men
             viewed Africa. It is a "sea the colour of lead" and "sky the color of smoke"
             which conveys the place as dark and gloomy. Furthermore, Englishmen
             wanted to colonize Africa and they were willing to sacrifice their lives for the
             journey. Marlow shows that wilderness really isn't a place for men to be.
             The sheer size of "darkness" makes the people powerless, despite the fact
             that they feel that they can make improvements in Africa. Through it all, the
             darkness provides many challenges for the civilizers and as a result, their
             conditions become worse, causing them to achieve very little. Wilderness is
             a very significant symbol because it is not only the background in which the
             story takes place, but almost a "character" of the story.
             Conrad uses racism to get across the point of how the people were in
             the novel. He constantly refers to the natives as black savages, niggers,
             brutes, and "them". "Black figures strolled out listlessly.......the beaten
             nigger groaned somewhere"........"They passed me with six inches, without a
             glance, with the complete, deathlike indif
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