The Theme Of Darkness In Joseph Conrad's Heart Of Darkness

The novel Heart of Darkness written by Joseph Conrad exemplifies the darkness that each and every individual possesses in their hearts and minds. In Conrad’s novel, he exhibits the tale of two mens’ realization of the dark and evil inside of them. The character of Marlow, or one of the narrators, embarks on an adventure to the Congo on which he witnesses the dark potential of everybody in society. On this adventure through the Congo, Marlow encounters Kurtz, whom is described as a remarkable man and universal genius by almost everybody. In fact, Kurtz, has created himself to be a god in the eyes of the natives giving him unprecedented power. Clearly, as the novel progresses, the idea of Marlow being what Kurtz could have been, and Kurtz being what Marlow could have been is expressed. Through these characters and various others throughout the novel, the theme of darkness is expressed throughout. The novel by Joseph Conrad develops the theme of darkness throughout the novel in the beginning, in the middle, and in the end. In the beginning of the novel, the theme of darkness is shown in a variety of ways. Darkness is shown through how the Congo River/forest is defined by many people and darkness is also shown through the native people of the Congo. The Congo River/forest is seen as a place of darkness through the overgrown vegetation and through the overgrown trees. The Congo illustrates no places of sunshine nor happiness. Overall, the Congo almost seems as if it is