In Joseph Conrad's 1906 classic, Heart of Darkness, the main character of Marlow, partakes of a quest into the deepest part of the jungle, losing much of what he holds dear while gaining a glimpse of the deeper recesses of his own conscious. With an overly simple, yet deeply philosophical plot line, Conrad gives Marlow's journey, what seems to be many of the basic attributes of what Joseph Campbell calls the "Hero's Journey." My question is this - Is Conrad's writing following the criteria of the "Hero's Journey," or does Heart of Darkness have a scheme all its own?

Joseph Campbell (1904-1987) is one of the premier mythologists who wrote a great deal of books in the 40s up through the 80s, on the hero as an archetypal image and its place in modern day society. His first, and probably most famous piece, The Hero With A Thousand Faces, outlines the basic aspects of the archetypal "Hero Journey." In it, Campbell describes the journey as consisting of three major sections; the departure, the initiation and the return. This basic outline, each with their own subcategories, should perta

Now, Marlow has transgressed the first part of the Hero's Journey. He has gone through the five steps, with exception of the Refusal, and is posed to start his Initiation. From this point though, Conrad makes a curve. The next sections of the book are more of a journey within a journey. Marlow, once he has reached his destination, has to start all over, just to start down the river, to his second destination; Kurtz.

The second part of the Departure, is a Refusal of the Call. This is usually because of one's culture, dignity or hard work. Campbell says this is the time when "the subject loses the power of significant affirmative action." (59) This step, however, is not represented in HofD. Marlow claims that he was excited about the trip and anxious to proceed. One possible reason this is not present is the fact that Marlow is not the writer. We see him through the author's eyes, giving way to the possibility that there was some anxiety, but unmentioned for the sake of retaining face.

Finally, Marlow has passed through his journey's departure (twice) and is set to go on to the Initiation. The Initiation consists of six steps and is usually the climbing action of a story. The six steps include The Road of Trials, The Meeting with the Goddess, Woman as the Temptress, Atonement with the father, Apotheosis and The Ultimate Boon.

The next step is his Meeting with the Goddess. Although Campbell, uses a woman as his primary example, seeing one's self in a type of unity, does not necessarily mean love. For Marlow, his realization of unity and purpose comes directly after his last trial, while contemplating the probable death of Kurtz. "I...became aware that that was exactly what I had been looking forward to - a talk with Kurtz." For Heart of Darkness, this step has two points; the realization of purpose and the actual meeting with Kurtz. Campbell says this occurs at "the nadir, the zenith, or at the uttermost edge of the earth, at the central point in the cosmos, in the tabernacle of the temple, or within the darkness of the deepest chamber of the heart. (Campbell 109)" The last local is perfectly worded for Marlow's position, in the heart of the jungle, in the heart of darkness. This is the point where Kurtz is realized both mentally and physically bringing about a union in Marlow's conscious. Bringing him to self-unification.

Next comes Supernatural Aid. This is the stage at which the hero has committed oneself to the journey and gains a guide or helper. The supernatural help, to Marlow, is his aunt who was "determined to make no end of fuss to get me (Marlow) appointed skipper of a river steamboat" (Conrad 7).

Still, the same steps apply. First, the Call to Adventure. This time, the change in Marlow's life is the news of his actual descent down the river toward an ivory outpost, managed by Kurtz. Next, is the Refusal of the call, which is again not presented by Conrad, possibly for the same reason. Third, is the Supernatural Aid. In this section, instead of the aunt giving aid, it becomes a fellow agent. The agent I'm referring to is the accountant with the "white collared, pressed shirt." Marlow refers to this rarity as "a miracle" and truly hears about Kurtz first from this gentleman. Campbell says that the supernatural aid "gives a talisman of sorts, to aid the hero in his journey" (71-72). The so-called talisman given to Marlow is information about his next destination. The fourth step, is the Crossing of the F

Some common words found in the essay are:
Belly Whale, Road Trails, Supernatural Aid, Atonement Father, Temptress Woman, Crossing Threshold, Kurtz Campbell, Heart Darkness, Call Adventure, Darkness Marlow, heart darkness, supernatural aid, belly whale, call adventure, hero's journey, refusal call, crossing threshold, stage hero, ultimate boon, step initiation,
Approximate Word count = 2345
Approximate Pages = 9 (250 words per page double spaced)