What is the physical journey in Heart of Darkness?
The physical journey is the vehicle through which self-exploration takes place. The physical journey becomes a journey into “the heart of darkness.” It is through the journey where men like Kurtz and Marlow better understand their own sense of being.
How does the journey in Heart of Darkness add to the meaning?
The culmination of Marlow’s journey leads into the heart of darkness, or in a more worldly sense, Hell. Heart of Darkness fosters the allusion that hell is within us, that it is the evil existing deep inside our souls. Marlow visits this place when he finally encounters Kurtz, and his innocent morals are challenged.
At what point does Marlow begin the story of his journey to Africa in Heart of Darkness?
Marlow’s story begins in what he calls the “sepulchral city,” somewhere in Europe. There “the Company”—an unnamed organization running a colonial enterprise in the Belgian Congo—appoints him captain of a river steamer. He sets out for Africa optimistic of what he will find.
What are three themes in Heart of Darkness?
The main themes of Heart of Darkness include darkness, alienation and loneliness, and chaos and order. Darkness: Marlow sees “darkness” in the practices of imperialism, though the book maintains the racist implication that it is the uncivilized land and people that led to Europeans’ corruption.
What does Heart of Darkness say about colonialism?
Heart of Darkness shows that in practice the European colonizers used the high ideals of colonization as a cover to allow them to viciously rip whatever wealth they could from Africa.
How does Marlow change in Heart of Darkness?
During the course of the book, Marlow transforms from an enthusiastic, curious adventurer to a pessimistic, broken westerner. And that, my good people, is what happens when one looks too deep into men’s Heart Of Darkness.
What did Marlow learn on his journey?
At the end of his journey, Marlow learns that everyone has a dark side to them, but some people can conceal it better than others.) He goes from light to darkness while usual stories go from dark to light (Paradise Lost and Regained.)
What is the heart of darkness in heart of darkness?
The “door”, as these wormholes are called, is “a rectangle of complete darkness — the heart of darkness”. This is a more complicated kind of Conrad reference. Here, “heart of darkness” is a shorthand for European stereotypes of Africa, which Conrad’s novel did its part to reinforce.