Many people do not discover their true selves before encountering something that opens a way for them to grow and develop on a personal level, and it is highly individual how a person reacts on different experiences. Consequently, it is very difficult to understand and be certain of how a particular person's mind works. The complexity of mankind's psychology and the mysteries of human nature have attracted many writers through history. Especially, the issues of self-development and self-discovery have been frequent in literature. Yet many times this theme is developed in connection to other themes found in the text. This is certainly the case in Joseph Conrad's novella Heart of Darkness. This essay will focus on reinforcing that Heart of Darkness explores something deeper than the physical journey made to Congo. In fact, it is more about the inner-journey the main character makes into his unconscious where he has to confront the realities of his true self. .
There are several important themes such as civilisation vs. savagery and the critique of the imperialism in Heart of Darkness. Yet it becomes apparent very early that the novella is concerned with something much more complicated than the evident conflicts that are to be found in the text. About all of the places, characters and even actions leads the reader to realise that the journey the main character Marlow is taking will result in some kind of enlightenment for him. The anonymous narrator describes Marlow when he is telling his story on the boat Nellie accordingly; " He had the pose of a Buddha preaching in European clothes and without a lotus flower -(20). This quotation directs the reader's attention to Buddha and what he symbolises; "The word Buddha means "enlightened- or "awakened- and is a title given to those who have attained the supreme state of perfect enlightenment and awakening -. Already here there is a major indication of that Marlow will come to some sort of an "awakening- as the story progresses.