Heart Of Darkness Imperialism Essay

Heart of Darkness is a captivating adventure tale of a journey into the Belgian Congo designed to give us a thrill. The main character, Marlow, is intrigued by the mystery of Africa as represented on the map and travels up the Congo to seek the unknowns in Africa. We’re told Marlow’s journey into the jungles of Africa, getting a glimpse of the provoked attacks on other Europeans for ivory. Joseph Conrad creates a symbolic journey into Africa, digging deep into the darkness of human conscience.
Conrad brings his readers deep into his story through painted images as if we are there with him. He uses specific word choices, metaphors, and smooth transitions. The darkness of human conscience developed from the European’s hunger for ivory.
Imperialism has long been “The dreams of men” (X), but he describes it as “seed of commonwealths, germs of empires” (X). Imperialism creates massive wealth, but also brings disrupts the function of the world as one country overpowers another. Conrad describes these “..germs of empires..” floating “...on the ebb of that river into the mystery of an unknown earth!” (X) The unknown earth is the mystery of the rivers and Africa and all Europeans want to expand in this area. They are able to escape the “...heart of darkness..” but the darkness never leaves Kurtz. Conrad states “...Kurtz’s life as running swiftly, too.. ebbing out of his heart into the sea of inexorable time.” (X) As the distance from the heart of darkness increases, Kurtz’ health deteriorates. It is as if Kurtz has a dark relationship with the Congo to where he can’t survive without the darkness. Marlow describes Kurtz’s transforming into an evil being. He states “But his soul was mad. Being alone in the wilderness, it had looked within itself.. it had gone mad”