Comparison Of Apocalypse Now And Heart Of Darkness

Although one is a book and the other is a movie, both Apocalypse Now which is directed by Francis Ford Coppola and Heart of Darkness by Joseph Conrad portray very detailed scenes by using various elements in their respective works. A key part that stands out is the events that lead to death of the helmsman which contains many similarities, but also many differences between the two works. Some similarities like the iconic fog serve to convey a message of the helplessness that the characters feel because of the mystery of their surroundings and uncertainly of their mission. In Heart of Darkness, during their trip to the inner station, the crew experiences a thick fog which impedes them from advancing any further toward their destination. An important difference in the book is that both the general manager and Marlow come to a mutual consensus that the fog makes it too dangerous to go forward. This agreement between Marlow and the chief accountant symbolizes the fear that both men feel about the perils that the fog may conceal. This is supported by the author who highlights the dialogue between these two men with very different mindsets. Meanwhile in the movie, only the helmsman believes that crew should wait until the fog lifts in order to advance. Furthermore Captain Willard (Martin Sheen) forces the helmsman to move onward stating, “You’re not authorized to stop this boat chief” (Francis Ford Coppola). This dialogue exposes how Willard is focused only
The fog is one of the most important details leading up to the death of the helmsman which is an event that changes both Marlow and Willard’s perspective of their missions. The realization that both the men come to is the risk of their mission is larger than what they initially