The contrast between the ideas of light and dark in Heart of Darkness is yet what sets the backdrop for the story. These revolving colors are not only seen in man but in nature as well. Both represent many things that consume their surrounding and have the ability to alter ones perceptions. Morality and social values are two of the thematic elements that these two shades touch upon and intertwine with this idea that since there is evil it must have a reciprocal, thus being the good.
             Light and its representation in this novella defies that of its normal symbolic use. Instead of being something pure and truthful it is seen as something harsh and contains no truth, only lies. Conrad implies that this idea imperialism and absurdity are what draw the lines between entering this light, a world filled with lies, or staying in a world of truth, a world confused by moral standards and social issues such as social biases and stereotypes. Here we, the more educate commune of people, must choose the lesser of two evils. We are confronted by this lurid light that ironically lies to us, making us believe that this is the pure path, but in reality it isn't. This scintillating fog soon consumes us and blocks the real truth as we walk around blindly through this forest that we call our world, making us "sinister" or evil. (p92) This contradicts the idea of man being born inherently evil. We aren't born yet made evil. (Perhaps this is where nature and man have something in common; they are both seen as evil even though they really aren't, they just wear these colors as a mask.) Most times the truth can be overwhelming and unknown so we decide to follow the path, never searching for new truth. We never take our eyes off this light. Yet, "there is no joy in the brilliance of sunshine." (p102) From birth till death we see this light, flashing as we enter and dissipating as we exit into this "Black S...