Heart Of Darkness Essay, Research Paper

As we follow Marlow?s journey to the Congo of Africa, the absurdities of the events he encounters becomes complex. Marlow?s mission is to retrieve the chief agent of a British Ivory trade company, Kurtz a failed philanthropist to the African Natives engulfed by the primeval nature of the dark jungle. Throughout the Heart of Darkness, Joseph Conrad uses irony to emphasis and point out that the quest for truth and light through blinded ambition will only lead to permanent darkness. We will see how certain characters and settings further the irony that Conrad alludes the reader to recognize.

As we follow Marlow?s journey to the Congo of Africa, the absurdities of the events he encounters becomes complex. Marlow?s mission is to retrieve the chief agent of a British Ivory trade company, Kurtz a failed philanthropist to the African Natives engulfed by the primeval nature of the dark jungle. Throughout the Heart of Darkness, Joseph Conrad uses irony to emphasis and point out that the quest for truth and light through blinded ambition will only lead to permanent darkness. We will see how certain characters and settings further the irony that Conrad alludes the reader to recognize.

Each setting that Marlow journeys through symbolizes different levels of darkness. The deeper he travels into the jungle, the more wicked the events and surroundings become. In front of the office to the ivory company sat two women knitting black wool. Marlow gets a bad feeling, recognizing that these to women foreshadow his trip. ?An eerie feeling came over me. She seemed uncanny and fateful. Often far away there I thought of these two, guarding the door of Darkness?? (11). Ironically he mentions the woman?s fateful characteristic, which alludes the reader to the Greek Fates in mythology who represents destiny. As we reach the Outer Station, we see that the natives no longer look like humans but rather like ? black bones? and ?shadow of disease and starvation? (17). This hideous sight horrifies Marlow as he makes his way to see the accountant of the company. By the detail description, we can see that Marlow is becoming fearful. We can also see this when Marlow sits in with the accountant to escape from the chaos around him. In the accountant?s office is where Marlow is first introduced to the name Kurtz. However, due to the overwhelming work for the accountant Marlow learns very little about Kurtz from him, and because Marlow can only tie a name to Kurtz, he becomes interested in finding out who he is.

It is dark now and Marlow becomes merely a voice to the men on the Nellie. He continues his story now at the Center Station where he meets the Manager of the company, perhaps the most evil from all the stations. The Managers insensitivity to the natives and the evil plots reassures Marlow?s feeling of uneasiness towards him. It is at the Center Station that Marlow discovers Kurtz? painting of a blindfolded woman carrying a lighted torch. ?The background was somber- almost black?the effect of the torchlight on the face was sinister? (25). Certain scenes within the story appear more ironic than others, for Conrad uses them to reveal the theme of the book. The irony of this painting is that the woman is blindfolded so the need of a torch, which provides light, is absurd. Conrad wants the reader to see that this painting represents the ivory company in that the blind ambition to bring light to the natives is nothing more than sinister intentions and that the painter, a participa

nt, failed to recognize it until it was too late. In awe of this painting Marlow becomes captivating and determined to meet this great agent who has powered his will to continue his trenchant journey. From Marlow?s tone, we can see that he is no longer fearful but rather feverish to continue his journey fueled by his own quest to meet Kurtz.

He was given a chance to reflect on the horrors of the white man?s ruthlessness, brutality, and greed before his morality deteriorated completely. Also the level of idolatry of Marlow is not at the same level as Kurtz. We can see this during the interruptions and comments made by the men listening to Marlow?s story on the Nellie. They were not as transfixed by his voice as was Kurtz by the natives.