Joseph Conrad's story, Heart of Darkness is one that deals with many different aspects of nature and man himself. Conrad often associates the nature of man as an offset of Mother Nature. The complex role of the setting, including the jungle, pervasive darkness, and the London frame setting are all examples of man's innermost fears and joys.
In the beginning of the story, the setting is that of a beautiful scene of the London frame. "In the offing the sea and the sky were welded together without a joint, and in the luminous space the tanned sails of the barges drifting up (Narrator, 185)."" It provides a sense of relaxation and space for the mind to dream. After the sun begins to set, and just before Marlow begins to tell his story, the setting becomes to grow darker; dark with the nature of the dark story Marlow will soon prevail. The narrator refers to a "brooding gloom- to the West just as Marlow (p.187) starts to say, "And this also, has been one of the dark places on the earth."" So just as you are prepared to hear a story, the setting has changed as if to foreshadow the events to come.
Continuously throughout the story, darkness plays a significant role on the setting. I sums up all the evil, fear, and unknown to man simplicities we may or may not face everyday. Also, the darkness is related to the people that were exploited during the expedition by means of racism. The Whites being superior to the Blacks, as they thought. Their inner evil of racism (darkness) was "justified- by calling the Africans "criminals, enemies, rebels."" Thus, exploiting the people with a darkness.
Darkness seems to be referred to more as Marlow's story unfolds. He first uses darkness while describing the Roman conquest, as if comparing to his own. "They were men enough to face the darkness (Marlow, 188),"" and, " It was just robbery with violence, aggravated murder on a great scale, and men going blind "as is very proper for those who tackle a darkness (Marlow, 188).