heart of darkness-symboliszm

A detailed Summary of heart of darkness-symboliszm

Joseph Conrad's use of light and darkness to represent good and evil in the Heart

of Darkness helps in developing the theme and the plot of the novel. Conrad uses the

symbol of light and darkness repetitively throughout the novel in order to disclose his

insight to the reader; Conrad uses light and darkness when referring to the Thames and

Congo 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. The

story opens on the tranquil Thames River aboard the cruising yawl called the Nellie. All is

calm 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 that

Marlow navigates in Africa. The Congo is full of darkness and fractiousness. Ironically,

the bright Thames is described similarly to

similar. The white Intended's attire of black shows her bond with the black woman, while

their differences in appearance and temperament, the love they feel for Kurtz is very

seems to bring darkness: inhumanity to his fellow man.

cruelty of the Europeans is divulged, the narrator describes the Thames as strikingly

Europeans even though they know the intent is to be evil and destructive. It is only a white

that regardless of where the white man exists, in civilized London or deepest Africa, he

Approximate Word count = 630
Approximate Pages = 3 (250 words per page double spaced)

Category: Novels

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