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Impressionism And Symbolism In Joseph Conrad's Heart Of Darkness

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Heart of Darkness, written by Joseph Conrad in 1899, has undergone immense scrutiny since publication. This narrative piece introduced new formal elements that reflected the innovations of literature during the late nineteenth century. One specific element that seems to be of interest to literary critics and analyzers is the use of two narrators in one story. And to add onto this distinctive quality, the storytelling behind Heart of Darkness incorporates both impressionism and symbolism. With impressionism came sensory images and a misty and hazy atmosphere throughout the novella, while symbolism introduced abstract metaphors that strengthened the meaning of the entire story. I. Impressionism: Right from the start, the image of a mist, or a haze, greets the reader. Marlow’s story is not centered on meaning, but rather, surrounded by it. The meaning isn’t …show more content…

Many believe that Marlow’s journey parallels the descent into hell with the introduction of the two women knitting black wool. It leads people to wonder why only two of the Fates were identified and why this was used in this context. Only three characters had actual names. This omission is used so that any unnecessary and irrelevant detail would be left out so readers could recognize bigger ideas and topics. There is an idea of a rite of passage that Marlow goes through that starts with his journey to the Congo. Since this is such a huge deal for him, Marlow becomes “initiated”, in a way, by starting to also take part in the fraudulent activity of the Company. Many of Conrad’s characters have a structural purpose. By expanding their characteristics, Conrad elevates their illustrative function to something of greater importance. III.

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