Opposing Forces in Heart of Darkness Essay - 1628 Words

Opposing Forces in Heart of Darkness In Heart of Darkness, Joseph Conrad sets up the opposing forces of black and white in order to convey the theme that every man has his own heart of darkness that is simply masked by the superficial light of civilization. The novella focuses primarily on Charlie Marlows journey into the African Congo, but simultaneously deals with many underlying themes. Marlow understood the basic premises of imperialism, but was unprepared for the world he encountered while in the wilderness. The world of the African jungle does not abide by the same laws with which Marlow had been raised in civilized Europe. There is an inherent savagery in the jungle that Marlow had not previously encountered and†¦show more content†¦In this case, the color white, usually associated with purity or goodness, becomes a symbol for the evil that was imperialist colonialism. The black of the natives skin, bearing the color often associated with evil and inner darkness, is a stark contrast to the white of the yarn. The fact that Marlow responded with questions – Why? Where did he get it? (27) shows that he had not yet come into an understanding of the effects of imperialism on the wilderness. Marlow responds to the sight of the dying natives by running away from the horror, and continuing on his journey. Proceeding on his journey, Marlow encounters the Accountant of the Outer Station, a man dressed entirely in neatly pressed white linen. This man is directly representative of the ideas that Marlow associates with the civilization from whence he came. Despite the conditions in the Congo, for all of its savage and problematic nature, the man had stayed clean and conscientious. Marlow stated that, in keeping clean and orderly, the man had verily accomplished something (28). The man, though he is the outward representation of the ability to stay civilized, actually appears to be quite inhumane. His work keeps him right in the heart of the goings on at the station, and his response to whites and natives alike is the same; he responds to everyone with relative apathy and disregard. His bookwork for the station -Show MoreRelated Light and Dark in Apocalypse Now and Heart of Darkness Essay1677 Words   |  7 PagesNow and Heart of Darkness    In Joseph Conrads Heart of Darkness, Marlow chooses a brighter path than his counterpart in Francis Ford Coppolas Apocalypse Now, Capt. Willard. The two share in the duty of searching for and discovering Kurtz, as well as taking care of his memory, but their beliefs before encountering him place the characters at opposing ends of a theme. These opposing ends are light and dark, representing good and evil. 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