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Explore the themes of imperialism, madness, evil, futility, and contradiction in Joseph Conrad's novella. Learn how Marlow's journey reveals the hypocrisy and absurdity of European colonialism in Africa.
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The protagonist of Heart of Darkness. Marlow is...
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Because Heart of Darkness makes use of a frame narrative,...
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Heart of Darkness centers around Marlow, an introspective...
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Explore the themes of colonialism, civilization, truth, racism, and work in Joseph Conrad's novella Heart of Darkness. LitCharts provides color-coded analysis, quotes, characters, symbols, and more.
Explore the main themes of Joseph Conrad's novel, such as darkness, imperialism, alienation, and chaos. Learn how the characters and the narrator grapple with these themes through their journeys and experiences in Africa.
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Imperialism One of the major themes of Heart of Darkness is imperialism. Imperialism is actually European colonization of countries from Asian and African continents for resources. However, it was hidden in the slogan of spreading civilization. Marlow accepts taking African’s land from the people is not right. Kurtz is in Congo pretending to civili...
White Man’s Burden Another prominent theme of the novel is ironyof Marlow’s voyage and the purpose. He journeys toward Congo to meet popular station manager, Kurtz. Though Kipling’s words “white man’s burden” wring in his ears, he sees the opposite. The white man, including Mr. Kurtz, has been engaged in killing the natives to plunder the resources...
Lack of Truth The superficial themes of the novel are imperialism and cruelty of the European powers. However, the theme of the lack of truth lies at the heart of the text. All the European powers engaged in Africa are occupying their land and plundering resources while propagating it as a civilizing mission. Marlow says that several things are lef...
Colonization Colonization means establishing control over the indigenous people of a country or a place. This theme also runs parallel to diverse other themes in Heart of Darkness. In one of the situations, Marlow, the spokesman of Conrad, clearly states that conquest of the earth means “taking it away from those who have a different complexion.” I...
Exploitation The ivory trade is the main trade throughout the Congo River. However, Marlow does not clarify or accept the amount of brutal exploitation that happened in the name of trade. It is only mentioned in oblique words such as “the horror” and the postscript of Kurtz “Exterminate all brutes,” which points out the truth about the trade and th...
Racial Discrimination The novel Heart of Darkness shows that racial discrimination is dominating in Africa and other parts of the world. Marlow also understands that “different complexions and flattened nose” means, Europeans were permitted to take the possession of the land from that race. Marlow too called the locals savages including the Intende...
Alienation and Isolation Although alienation and isolation are often understood as a psychological issue of an individual, the novel Heart of Darkness has presented alienation and isolation of both; psychological as well as social. Marlow’s departure hints to social alienation and isolation which tries to rob him of his humanity. Kurtz is the prime...
MoralCorruption Moralcorruption is another underlying theme of the novel, Heart of Darkness. Kurtz goes to Congo to civilize the locals. However, he becomes a top agent of the company in robbing the locals of their treasure and exporting ivory. He is engaged in corrupt practices of punishing those who oppose him and becoming their demigod. The same...
Violence There are two types of violence; the first one is provoked cruelty. For instance, Kurtz incites the natives to attack the steam carrying Marlow. The second one is the violence among the natives and the heads on the sticks around Kurtz house. Here Kurtz who claimsto change the savages has become a savage. He uses violence to dominate the na...
Human Greed and Deception Marlow says that he has seen “the devil of greed, and the devil of hot desire” which refers to the ivory trade at the expense of the native Africans’ freedom and life. The European companies have been competing against each other to extract treasures as soon as possible. Using violence, they go on killing spree and massacr...
Aug 3, 2021 · Explore the modernist and imperialist themes of Joseph Conrad's novella Heart of Darkness, published in 1899. Learn how Conrad challenges the conventions of the imperial adventure story and undermines the language of colonialism.
Heart of Darkness study guide contains a biography of Joseph Conrad, literature essays, a complete e-text, quiz questions, major themes, characters, and a full summary and analysis. Best summary PDF, themes, and quotes.
Explore the major themes of Conrad's classic novella, such as good vs. evil, race, identity, power, and more. Download infographics and get homework help from Shmoop.
