Heart Of Darkness Essay, Research Paper

works, one can discuss only what he or she sees: their perspective. One person s view is not better or more right then the other, people just see things from different angles. We cannot describe the penetrating essence received from our experience to another person. When I read a story, the idea that I receive from the author s words is through a window in which only I can see, my outlook

The criteria for which I base my opinion on is somewhat simple and straight forward. I appreciate works that the author can actually relate to. This ensures that the novel is realistic and has feeling and mood. An excellent book also contains more information than what can be read on the surface. I enjoy digging deep into the words of the author to see whether more meaning can be found, a lesson or ethical implication.

Joseph Conrad s Heart of Darkness is based on Conrad’s own experience as the captain of a West African river steamer in 1890. Conrad reveals the story of Marlow, the protagonist, who travels up the Congo in search of Kurtz, an ivory trader. Marlow’s voyage from the coast takes him past signs of Europe exploitation of the natives toward the “heart of darkness,” where Kurtz, once an idealistic young man, is now the leader of what Marlow calls “unspeakable rites.” Conrad’s story hints at horrors that Marlow is unable to describe, leaving the reader to imagine actions that lie outside civilized human behavior. Within the adventure, as one follows Marlow deep into the jungle abyss, a variety of different themes and symbols allow the reader to formulate a new viewpoint each time the story is read.

I believe that Conrad s work can be applauded and described as one of the best literary works published. The fact that Marlow is a mirrored image of Conrad s journey into the Congo gives the story a realistic point of view.

Joseph Conrad went into the Congo in 1890. He traveled to the Outer Station, as did Marlow, and eventually returned back to Europe. The dates that were recorded for his excursion also parallel the events documented in Heart of Darkness. Charlie Marlow is thirty-two years old when the plot opens. Conrad, born in 1857, began his expedition to the Congo three years after he wrote his first short story in 1889. Even minor events in the story were found in Conrad s diary from the Congo.

Many believe that Conrad is speaking of a man s search for self-knowledge. I believe that Marlow/Conrad, were on a hunt to reveal the dark, inner workings on man. Marlow seeks the affirmation of truth. He seeks out to find Kurtz , to hear Kurtz words; yet he also seeks inner truth . Throughout the black people are believed to signify truth and reality, they have white souls . In contrast, the ravenous whites have black souls .

A myriad of objects throughout Conrad s book actually are believed to represent something other than they actually are. This creates an essence throughout the book, for which, every person can find their own meaning in Conrad s work. Some of the symbolism that I found intriguing is the reoccurring theme of the jungle. I believe that it symbolizes truth and reality for Conrad.

Another aspect of Conrad s book that intrigued me was the lack of color that he used in describing the surroundings. I believe this helped him exemplify the horror and corruption that appeared in his journey. Conrad/Marlow left to go into the darkest part of the jungle and bring light, yet they both started to slip into the darkness themselves.

I vote Joseph Conrad s Heart of Darkness an exceptional and brilliant book. Since Conrad actually took a journey into the jungle, he could relate to the feeling and mood he set Marlow into when writing this novel. The deep inner meaning throughout the book in objects and in color allows the reader to discover more than what is on the surface of the book. Each reader can interpret what he or she will of each object and incident. I believe with this each reader can see a different meaning of the story aside the basic plot. This book meets all aspects of criteria to be an excellent bookOn my scale Heart of Darkness deserves the utmost applause and praise for being of exceptional quality