Heart of Darkness

A detailed Summary of Heart of Darkness

Heart of Darkness by: Joseph Conrad

The author placed the novel's setting on a stream boat on a river near London. "The Nellie, a

cruising yawl, swung to her anchor without a flutter of the sails, and was at rest" (1). Then the

narrator tells his story in a flash back which he tells about Marlow's experiences in the African jungle

specifically on the Congo river. The majority of the story is told in flash back about the voyage in to

The central character is obviously Marlow. He is a man of modesty and courage, which are not

stereotypical traits of a sailor which he has become. The book focuses morally on his personal character

and then describes to the norm of the rest of the world. The character that Marlow becomes obsessed with

later is Kurtz. He is a mysterious dark man who made money trading ivory down the Congo river. "'In the

will no doubt meet Mr. Kurtz.' On my asking who Mr. Kurtz was, he said he

was a first-class agent" (85) here Marlow is talking to a captain and first finds out about Kurtz. Later

he finds out that he transports ivory. Among other insignificant characters on the boat deck of the

his arms dropped, the palms of hands outwards, resembled an idol. (69)

Symbolism plays a large role in the novel by placing two powerful forces against each other. The

novel. According to Conrad, the will to give into the uncivilized man does not reside in Kurtz alone.

while (75)" the novel is sharply interrupted and suddenly reverts back to the boat deck in the Thames

out in the first meeting of Kurtz and Marlow. "Fence post spears with human heads rest in the yard [of

The Heart of Darkness looks deeply into the mist of man's soul. Conrad's depth suggests that he

Kurtz believes he will be dying soon. Marlow attempts to soothe him, but he is unchanged. That night

Approximate Word count = 1204
Approximate Pages = 5 (250 words per page double spaced)

Category: English

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