In a thoughtful narrative, Marlow recounts a previous journey into the jungle in search of a man named Kurtz, chief of the Interior Station and a large supplier of ivory. Along his journey, he encounters a number of hypocritical and exasperating Europeans, pitiable natives, and a jungle that takes on a life force of its own. Conrad himself had personal experiences in Africa and states that the novel is "experience pushed a little (and only very little) beyond the actual facts of the case for the perfectly legitimate- (Conrad 11) in his notes. ... (Hampson XXXii) Conrad's depiction of his ...

• Word Count: 2001
• Approx Pages: 8
• Grade Level: Undergraduate

Demonstrate an Understanding that the Irrationality of Savagery is the Central Theme in of Joseph Conrad's Novella "Heart of Darkness- In Joseph Conrad's novella "Heart of Darkness- the reader is presented with the character of Marlow the protagonist, who begins by telling the passengers onboard a ship about his experiences in the Belgian Congo. The novella gradually becomes increasingly sinister as Marlow progresses ever closer to the centre of the jungle following a river "a snake- that had "charmed- him into going to the Congo Moreover, at the centre of this river lies the "hea...

• Word Count: 1006
• Approx Pages: 4
• Grade Level: Graduate

Important Note: If you'd like to save a copy of the paper on your computer, you can COPY and PASTE it into your word processor. ... I originally wanted to look at it just in terms of Apocalypse Now, and how the story of Heart of Darkness was updated to fit a different environment and time period, while still being true to many of the events, characters, ideas and themes presented in the story. ... The other is the significance of the Kurtz character. ... In terms of Apocalypse Now, there were many little plot differences, the most significant seeming to be that the Marlow character (Wil...

• Word Count: 724
• Approx Pages: 3
• Has Bibliography
• Grade Level: High School

For many novels an author's choice of title has an impact on the reader's understanding or reaction to the story because it ties in with key events, characters or places in the novel. ... In this novella the title reveals the motif of darkness that is strong throughout the story; " absolutely everything in the book is cloaked in darkness" (Spark Notes, "Themes, Motifs and Symbols"). ... This direct reference to the title implies that the heart of the jungle is a place of darkness, a center of evil. ... When one begins to delve into the character Kurtz, it is clear to see t...

• Word Count: 937
• Approx Pages: 4

Let us begin with Marlow, the first character in Heart of Darkness with whom we truly become acquainted. ... Despite Marlow's determination to boast of his experiences, it is perhaps most imperative to note that he honestly earned for himself a kind of "dark wisdom" in the Congo that was absent before his employment there (Graver 88), which is vital in giving full credit to the events that took place on that winding jungle river as life-changing forces in Marlow's life. ... Whether his discomfort was a result of the eeriness that came from each of these supporting characters in so...

• Word Count: 2372
• Approx Pages: 9
• Grade Level: High School

This leads us to the character of Kurtz. ... By calling Africa an "enigma" he recognizes that these natives have their own identity and character which should be understood, or at least accepted by the white man. ... The whole concept of colonialism, along with the character of Kurtz solidifies the idea of the "Modernist crises". ... As Marlow progresses through the jungle, he comes to associate the unconscious with evil. As Hena Maes-Jelinek points out in her York Notes accompaniment to "Heart of Darkness", the idea of the unconscious is first presented by the doctor who examines Marlow. ...

• Word Count: 1769
• Approx Pages: 7

Golding's own experiences with the inner darkness of man are clearly reflected in the actions and thoughts of his characters. ... He describes the conditions in the jungle as "Thick- and "Sluggish-. ... This determinism is exhibited as Marlow sits in the jungle, helpless, as he waits for rivets to come to repair his ship. ...

• Word Count: 4223
• Approx Pages: 17
• Grade Level: High School