The Darkness Of Kurtz example essay topic

When considering a work of literature, the title can be just as important as the context of the story. Literary devices such as contrast and repetition help develop the symbolism of Joseph Conrad's novel, Heart of Darkness. The use of contrast can be seen within the differences between the black and white people along with the differences between the civilized and uncivilized. The phrase 'Heart of Darkness' itself is repetitious to describe certain places, events, and people. Joseph Conrad successfully relates his title to the African continent, the people, how the people were treated, and the soul of Kurtz. The title can relate to the wilderness in the center of Africa where Marlow is headed.

In the story, the commander sees England as many men viewed Africa. It is a 'sea the colour of lead' and 'sky the color of smoke' which conveys the place as dark and gloomy. Furthermore, Englishmen wanted to colonize Africa and they were willing to sacrifice their lives for the journey. Marlow shows that wilderness really isn't a place for men to be. The sheer size of 'darkness' makes the people powerless, despite the fact that they feel that they can make improvements in Africa. Through it all, the darkness provides many challenges for the civilizer's and as a result, their conditions become worse, causing them to achieve very little.

Wilderness is a very significant symbol because it is not only the background in which the story takes place, but almost a 'character' of the story. Conrad uses racism to get across the point of how the people were in the novel. He constantly refers to the natives as black savages, niggers, brutes, and 'them'. 'Black figures strolled out listlessly... the beaten nigger groaned somewhere'...

' They passed me with six inches, without a glance, with the complete, deathlike indifference of unhappy savages. ' Marlow praises the book keeper almost as if it's the natives' fault for enduring a life in such waste. The boo keeper states that the natives aren't criminals, but are being treated as if they are. At the same time, he respects the book keeper for his looks while not despising him for his indifference. In the novel, the African Americans are considered inferior and the continent of Africa is considered as another world. Despite the fact that the African Americans appear as better people than the Europeans, who are described as insane and pointless in this novel, they are still thought of as inferior to the white man.

In addition to the fact that the natives are treated as less than equals, they are treated with extreme brutality. During Marlow's adventures, he witnesses the efficiency along with the harsh tactics in the Company's stations. The natives of the regions are forced into the Company's service, and they suffered terribly from overwork and poor treatment. 'It was unearthly... they howled and leaped, and spun, and made horrid faces; but what thrilled you was just the thought of their inhumanity-like yours-the thought of your remote kinship with this wild and passionate uproar.

' These natives are faced with evil and seem to have no power to overcome these powers. White men came to Africa to civilize the natives, but they forced them out of their land. Savagery of the white man is a major theme in this novel and the natives suffer under it. The tendency to conform to savagery can be seen through Kurtz. He is a 'hollow man', a man without basic integrity.

Once Kurtz is cut off from civilization, it brings out his dark side. When he enters into his 'heart of darkness' he is blocked away from the light. Kurtz turns into a persecutor, murderer, thief, and above all, he allows himself to be worshipped as a god. His evil is more than evident when he states that he wants to, 'exterminate all the brutes. ' When Marlow meets Kurtz, who has totally done away with civilization, he reduces himself to a position where he cheats everyone including himself.

Wilderness helps bring out the brutality within his soul. The darkness of Africa collides with Europe's evils through the impact of Kurtz's final statement. 'The horror! The horror!' Kurtz realizes that all the things in which he was taught to believe, are basically horror and greed which is now shown through the colonizers. His horror tells of his mistakes along with Europe's mistakes. All of Kurtz's mistakes are established when he is cut off from civilization.

Through it all, Joseph Conrad is able to relate his title to several facets of the novel. This can be seen in the darkness of the wilderness, the darkness of the people, the darkness of the way the natives are treated, and the darkness of Kurtz. It is through all of these aspects that we truly see 'The horror! The horror!'.