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

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

The cruelty and squalor of imperial enterprise contrasts sharply with the impassive and majestic jungle that surrounds the white man's settlements, making them appear to be tiny islands amidst a vast darkness. Marlow arrives at the Central Station, run by the general manager, an unwholesome, conspiratorial character. ... The dense jungle and the oppressive silence make everyone aboard a little jumpy, and the occasional glimpse of a native village or the sound of drums work the pilgrims into a frenzy. Marlow and his crew come across a hut with stacked firewood, together with a note sa...

• Word Count: 3088
• Approx Pages: 12
• Grade Level: Undergraduate

The beginning chapter sets up the problems of the entire novel with great efficiency. It tells us what is going on at present with Obi's trial and backtracks to the past in order to reveal what kind of man Obi is: an educated man, a young man who is Nigerian but who has studied in England. Most sign...

• Word Count: 7844
• Approx Pages: 31
• Grade Level: High School