Heart Of Darkness-Symboliszm Essay, Research Paper
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
the Intended.
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 the dark Congo. In the closing lines of the
novel, the Thames seems to be flowing “into the heart of an immense darkness ( ). During
the onset of the novel, in which none of Marlow s story is disclosed, the narrator is
ignorant to the horrors of European imperialism, and he subsequently describes the
Thames as bright and lit. However, during the closing of the novel, in which the startling
cruelty of the Europeans is divulged, the narrator describes the Thames as strikingly
different: immensely dark. Through the use of lightness and darkness Conrad inveighs
that regardless of where the white man exists, in civilized London or deepest Africa, he
seems to bring darkness: inhumanity to his fellow man.
Conrad uses light and darkness in context of the color of skin of the whites and
blacks, as well as the corresponding good and evil of their hearts. In contrast to the greed
and cruelty of the white men in Africa, who voraciously and recklessly seize ivory at any
cost to human life, Conrad depicts the black natives as having more self-control. The
Manager is starving the cannibals on board Marlow’s steamer to death, and although they
eagerly eye the body of the dead helmsman and also the physique of the plump Russian,
they restrain their native urges and do not attack the living or the dead. In a similar
manner, the savages along the Congo do not attack the steamer bearing the greedy
Europeans even though they know the intent is to be evil and destructive. It is only a white
man s command, at the urging of Kurtz, that the natives attack the steamer. It is
intentionally ironic that the black man in the novel has a purer (light) heart than the white
man, whose heart is callous, cruel and baleful (dark).
The two women in Kurtz’s life are also described with the use of light and
darkness. Kurtz s black mistress in Africa is very demonstrative, wearing bright clothing
and jewelry and acting in a loud, wild manner, clearly displaying strong emotions. In
contrast, Kurtz’s Intended in Belgium is fair, mild-tempered, and draped in black. The
brightness and passion of Kurtz s black mistress are revealed from her bright attire while
the passiveness of Kurtz s intended is evident from her dark clothing. However, despite
their differences in appearance and temperament, the love they feel for Kurtz is very
similar. The white Intended s attire of black shows her bond with the black woman, while
the black mistress s bright clothing and jewelry display this common bond as well; inherent
in both is a love for Kurtz.
The use of the symbols of light and darkness assist in developing many major
themes in the Heart of Darkness. Many of these themes, if not grasped by the reader
through the use of symbols and other literary devices, generate a misinterpretation of the
novel. Therefore, the allegations deeming Conrad racist are merely the result of ignorant
readers who do not comprehend the style of writing which he employs.
Другие работы по теме:
Briar Rose Essay Research Paper In a
Briar Rose Essay, Research Paper In a nutshell: Briar Rose is the story of the Holocaust intertwined with the fairy tale of Sleeping Beauty. The story begins with the death of the “Gemma,” the grandmother of Becca. Through out Becca?s life
Untitled Essay Research Paper I messed up
Untitled Essay, Research Paper I messed up; I made a mistake, But please, haste do not take. I love you more than any action or words could ever express, Still I find my heart drowning in loneliness.
King Henry IV And Joseph Strorm
: Archtypical Fathers Essay, Research Paper King Henry IV and Joseph Strorm: Archtypical Fathers An ideal father is one who is both caring and understanding. To fit this
Hollow Men Essay Research Paper n TS
Hollow Men Essay, Research Paper n T.S. Eliot’s poem The Hollow Men, T.S. Eliot contrasts his straw-filled hollow men with the “lost violent souls” of Mr. Kurtz and Guy Fawkes. Mr. Kurtz is a
Untitled Essay Research Paper In the Heart
Untitled Essay, Research Paper In the Heart of Darkness, it is very easy to forget what is real and what is civilized. The rivets that Marlow talks about, to fix his boat, are very symbolic of his need to become riveted to reality. Marlow feels that he is slipping into savagery from what he sees around him. In the story, The Heart of Darkness, by Joseph Conrad, there is a fine line between civilization and savagery and Marlow needs the rivets to help him find himself in his own soul or where his own reality is.
Joseph Essay Research Paper Joseph was seventeen
Joseph Essay, Research Paper Joseph was seventeen , he was loved in Israel . His father loved Joseph and his brothers were jealous . Brothers were thinking of killing Joseph . They threw him into the well . Then they got him out and sold it to Midianie for twenty
Genesis Essay Research Paper Analysis PaperGenesis 39
Genesis Essay, Research Paper Analysis Paper Genesis 39: 1-23 In this passage, there are many spiritual factors in this chapter. God uses many phrases to translate into spiritual factors that were used back then and today also.
My Love Essay Research Paper You are
My Love Essay, Research Paper You are my everything My one true love My heart will sing If we can stay forever in love When I first laid eyes upon you My jaw dropped
Poem Essay Research Paper I went to
Poem Essay, Research Paper I went to bed last night Wishing on a star Your light shines in my heart No matter where you are It’s hard for me to say My words are sometimes few
Joseph Stalin And Adolph Hitler Essay Research
Paper 3-2-98 Joseph Stalin and Adolph Hitler Once lived the two most horrible people on earth. Both of those people were leaders of a country and both of them killed millions and millions of people just to rise to power. Their names are Adolph Hitler and Joseph Stalin.
Oh Really Essay Research Paper Oh Reallyyou
Oh Really? Essay, Research Paper Oh Really, you think i am a lark, the dogs they run and bark, but when i say to them, shut up shut up shut up, you say to be nice to them,
Joseph Priestley Essay Research Paper Joseph Priestley
Joseph Priestley Essay, Research Paper Joseph Priestley was born in England on March 13, 1733, and showed a great talent for science and languages from an early age. Priestley performed many important scientific experiments, among them the discovery that the gas produced by the fermentation of grain (later identified as carbon dioxide) could be dissolved in water to produce the pleasant drink called seltzer.
Poem My Friend Essay Research Paper My
Poem: My Friend Essay, Research Paper My Friend My lonely soul is shivering in despair I have never in my life made a more precious sarifice I have given my heart away
Stalin His Life Essay Research Paper No
Stalin His Life Essay, Research Paper No man more fully epitomized this era than Joseph Stalin did. As political, economic, and social leader, Joseph Stalin has emotionally, physically, psychologically, politically, economically, and socially affected Russia even to this day.
Heart Essay Research Paper TO MY HEARTHEART
Heart Essay, Research Paper TO MY HEART: HEART–WE WILL FORGET HER, YOU AND I TONIGHT. YOU MAY FORGET THE WARMTH SHE GAVE, I WILL FORGET HER SIGHT. WHEN YOU HAVE FORGOTTEN THAT NAME AND THAT NAMES WOE, I SHALL BEGIN MOVING ON, SURELY BUT SLOW. THE DARK IS OMINOUS, PLEASE TURN ON THE LIGHT, I WILL CONTINUE TO FORGET, LEAVING BEHIND THE FRIGHT.
Heart Of Darkness Kurtz According To Marlow
Essay, Research Paper The Last Disciple: Joseph Conrad s Heart of Darkness When a man s life is the sea he has much time to think about that life and who he really is or might be. In Heart of Darkness Joseph Conrad introduces readers to two such men who are at different stages of their quest to find out who they are.
Zues Essay Research Paper A Stranger in
Zues Essay, Research Paper A Stranger in the Valley of the Kings by: Ahmed Osman The book “Stranger in the Valley of the Kings” was an account of the pharaohs of Egypt in the Hyksos’ rain over Egypt.
Jewishness Of Jesus Essay Research Paper Joseph
Jewishness Of Jesus Essay, Research Paper Joseph Foster Humanities 120 November 29, 2000 The Jewishness Jesus Jesus was raised a Jew from the time he was born. All of Jesus? ancestors were Jews. His family followed all of the Jewish customs starting off with his circumcision when he was eight days old (Luke 2:21).
Joseph Stalin Essay Research Paper Joseph StalinJoseph
Joseph Stalin Essay, Research Paper Joseph Stalin Joseph Stalin is credited as being one of the most powerful leaders of all time. He helped his country, the Soviet Union, become a dominating world power. Born on December 21, 1879 under his original name Iosif Vissarionovich Dzhugashvili, he renamed himself Stalin meaning “man of steel.” Stalin was the unchallenged leader of the USSR from 1929 until his death in 1953.
Amy Foster Essay Research Paper
“Amy Foster” and “The Mythology of Love”In “Amy Foster”, Joseph Conrad has written a great story that shows the different types of love felt between Amy and Yanko as described by Joseph Campbell in his essay on “The Mythology of Love”. The relationship of Yanko and Amy is dynamic and changes as the story progresses.
A Short Essay On Conrad Black
’s Depiction Of Women Essay, Research Paper Joseph Conrad?s novella, Heart of Darkness, the representation of women is extremely limited. Conrad?s portrayals are extreme stereotypes meant to depict
Crying Again Essay Research Paper The Sky
Crying Again Essay, Research Paper The Sky is crying again And i am crying again. When did it start? When will it end? How’d i wind up with out a friend? Tears from my heart cling to my soul.
Rasin In The Sun Two Influences Of
The Day Essay, Research Paper Two Influences of the Day Through the play ” Raisin in the Sun, ” Beneatha Younger is exposed to two men who she both has an interest in. This being Joseph Asagai and George Murchison. Both men have some similar characteristics, but also differences which make their actions stand out from each other.
Alwayz And Forever Essay Research Paper Alwayz
Alwayz And Forever Essay, Research Paper Alwayz and Forever in my heart you will stay. My love for you grows with each passing day. Always and Forever I will remain faithful and true.
Heart Disease Essay Research Paper 4 COMMON
Heart Disease Essay, Research Paper 4 COMMON HEART DISEASE 1. CONGENITAL HEART DISEASE : IS THE DAMAGE TO THE HEART THAT CAN OCCUR BEFORE OR DURING THE BIRTH OF A BABY. THAT HAPPENS
You Need A
… Essay, Research Paper You need a man, a man like me, Together we will sail across the sea. You need a man who doesn’t run away in fright, You need a man that will stay with you all night.
The Heart Essay Research Paper The heart
The Heart Essay, Research Paper The heart is the pump that powers the human body. With every heart beat it sends life giving blood throughout the body. The blood carries oxygen and food to the cells. Beating of the heart begins seven months before you are born. The heart is large, hollow, and muscular. The heart is divided into two pumps that are side by side.
Joseph And Forgiveness Essay Research Paper Joseph
Joseph And Forgiveness Essay, Research Paper Joseph and Forgiveness The story of Joseph has several important themes, but the one I thought was the most significant was the unbelievable forgiveness of Joseph toward his brothers.
An Excerpt From Joseph Freeman
’s AN AMERICAN TESTAMENT Essay, Research Paper from An American Testament by novelist and apparatchik Joseph Freeman (1936) Reconciliation to the city is only a prelude to our transformation. The conflict of