Fire in Heart of Darkness
Within Heart of Darkness, there are many different reoccurring motifs. These motifs help drive the plot and reveal deeper meanings in the novel. One of these motifs is Conrad’s use of fire. Throughout the novel, Conrad uses fire to describe objects, reveal elements of the novel, and symbolize deeper meanings. Early in chapter one, the sun is described like fire. “Dull red without rays and without heat, as if about to go out suddenly, stricken to death by the touch of that gloom brooding over a crowd of men.” This statement was made to describe the scene, and paint a larger picture of what to come. “Flames glided in the river, small green flames, red flames, white flames, pursuing, overtaking, joining, crossing each other - then separating slowly or hastily.” This scene describes lights bouncing off of the river as flames. A dying man’s eyes were described as a “white flicker… which died out slowly.”
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Some common words found in the essay are:
Heart Darkness, Conrad Fire, deeper meanings, light dark, mans eyes, woman holding torch, conrad fire, contrast light dark, dying mans eyes, contrast light, eyes fire, holding torch, describe objects, throughout novel, woman holding,
Approximate Word count = 617
Approximate Pages = 2 (250 words per page double spaced)
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