In Joseph Conrad's "Heart of Darkness," his form of storytelling is widely seen through the use of symbolism. Conrad's character, Marlow, describes Europe and the Europeans using white and light; depicting their civility. Marlow describes Africa and Africans in terms of blackness and darkness, showing the savagery and the horror of the unknown. Conrad further explores this notion of dark and light symbolism through the infamous Mr. Kurtz. As one gets deeper into the story, Conrad breaks apart the common uses of symbolism and transforms these ideas into more complex and personal meanings. Conrad uses Marlow to evoke the existentialist tendencies of the world he lives in. "Heart Of Darkness" takes us on a journey that not only shows the inner growth of a man, but also helps to reflect on the true essence of life as a reader.
In "Heart Of Darkness," Conrad explores the unconventional sense of light giving way to darkness. When Marlow first arrives to Brussels, he says "In a very few hours I arrived in a city that always makes me think of whited sepulcher."(Conrad 7) The phrase "whited sepulcher" comes from the biblical Book of Matthew, and it implies death and confinement. Conrad uses this phrase to symbolize the Europeans and the company Marlow works for. The company's mission is to civilize and enlighten the natives, but in reality, the work they are doing is power and money driven. The map that Marlow sees in the company offices shows the continent with "blotches of color, a lot of blue, a little green, smears of orange, a purple patch, to show where the jolly pioneers of progress drink the jolly lager-beer. However, I wasn't going into any of these," continues Marlow, "I was going into the yellow. Dead in the centre. And the river was there-fascinating-deadly-like a snake."(Conrad 7). The yellow, dead in the centre, is The Congo River.