(855) 4-ESSAYS

Type a new keyword(s) and press Enter to search

The Inner-Journey in Joseph Conrad's Heart of Darkness

            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.


Essays Related to The Inner-Journey in Joseph Conrad's Heart of Darkness

1. Conrad's Heart of Darkness

Joseph Conrad's novella Heart of Darkness represents its time period by conveying racist ideas. ... The characterization of the Africans in Heart of Darkness disturbs Achebe. ... Achebe feels that Conrad made Africa, in Heart of Darkness, a foil to the goodness and light of Europe. ... Through the feelings of many of the Europeans in Heart of Darkness, Conrad communicates a tone of negativity towards the continent itself as well as its inhabitants. ... In Heart of Darkness, Conrad shows the greed, evil, and corrupted values of European colonialism and expresses feelings of disgust and ...

  • Word Count: 1376
  • Approx Pages: 6

2. Heart of Darkness

My thesis statement for this Literary Analysis Project is that "In Joseph Conrad's novel, Heart of Darkness, Conrad uses the European invasion of the Congo as a demonstration of man's natural will to control those who he believes are weaker and inferior to himself." ... In Joseph Conrad's book Heart of Darkness there are many, many references to race and to the Africans as a "savage" people. ... The natives in Joseph Conrad's novel, Heart of Darkness are portrayed as characterless, bland elements of little worth. ... On page 51 of Joseph Conrad's Heart of Darkness, it ...

  • Word Count: 1626
  • Approx Pages: 7
  • Grade Level: High School

3. Heart of Darkness

Joseph Conrad's Heart of Darkness began in his personal experience working on a Congo River steamer in 1890, five years after King Leopold of Belgium established the Congo Free State. The Heart of Darkness has two storytellers: Joseph Conrad, the author, and the story's narrator, Marlow. ... In Heart of Darkness, suggests bringing the light (Europeans) into darkness (Africa), the "civilizing" mission actually uncovers the "darkness" as its own heart. ... In the novel, Heart of Darkness, the author Joseph Conrad makes some comments, and he uses different terms to describe people of...

  • Word Count: 895
  • Approx Pages: 4
  • Has Bibliography
  • Grade Level: High School

4. Heart of darkness

The journey through the Heart of Darkness by Joseph Conrad is a voyage through the treacherous Congo River. ... (Heart of Darkness, Joseph Conrad p.77) Marlow had second thoughts about his trip up the Congo River. ... (Heart of Darkness, Joseph Conrad p.105) The savages of the huts alongside the river are full of wild passions and are unpredictable that behaved like animals. ... (Heart of Darkness, Joseph Conrad p.107) His journey through madness becomes more common as Marlow and his crew move further upriver into the strange and unknown. ... (Heart of Darkness, Joseph Conrad p.109...

  • Word Count: 955
  • Approx Pages: 4
  • Grade Level: High School

5. Heart of darkness

Chinua Achebe in his essay on Heart of Darkness describes Joseph Conrad as a racist in how he characterizes the native Africans in the novel. ... In Chinua Achebe's essay, "An Image of Africa: Racism in Conrad's Heart of Darkness,"" Achebe contends that Joseph Conrad's portrayal of Africa, and the African people, in his book Heart of Darkness, is that of a racist. ... However, Conrad wrote Heart of Darkness at the beginning of the 20th Century. ... However, after all the riches he found, he still could not escape the Heart of Darkness. If Conrad wrote this book to show the a...

  • Word Count: 852
  • Approx Pages: 3
  • Grade Level: High School

6. Heart of Darkness

Abstract This paper introduces and discusses the book "Heart of Darkness," by Joseph Conrad. ... Women in "Heart of Darkness" play an important and distinctive role in the tale. They represent civilization (and the lack of it) far away in the jungles of Africa, where the "darkness" lies in wait for every man. ... She is also proud and "wild and gorgeous" (Conrad 135), which are adjectives Conrad never uses to portray the women back home. ... The fact that she appears so briefly in the novel shows how Conrad ultimately dismissed her, and by dismissing her, he dismisses all women everywhere....

  • Word Count: 285
  • Approx Pages: 1
  • Grade Level: High School

7. Darkness in Conrad's Heart of Darkness

It had become a place of darkness" (Conrad 11). ... When Marlow begins travelling down the river into the Congo, he states, "we penetrated deeper and deeper into the heart of darkness" (Conrad 58). ... At the end of the novel, Marlow looks out over his surroundings (Europe) and sees " the heart of an immense darkness" (Conrad 132). ... After his death, Marlow visits Kurtz's Intended, feels the presence of Kurtz and hears "the beating of a heart- the heart of conquering darkness" (Conrad 125). ... The second reveals imperialism as the heart of corruption in Europe, and the last shows K...

  • Word Count: 937
  • Approx Pages: 4

8. The Heart of Darkness by: Joseph Conrad

Joseph Conrad's novel Heart of Darkness uses character development and character analysis to really tell the story of European colonization. ... Chinua Achebe, a well known writer, once gave a lecture at the University of Massachusetts about Joseph Conrad's Heart of Darkness, entitled "An image of Africa: Racism in Conrad's Heart of Darkness." ... "Heart of Darkness was written, consciously or unconsciously, from a colonialist point of view" (Singh 278). ... Overall, the natives appeared better humans than the Europeans in Heart of Darkness. ... By completely agreeing with eit...

  • Word Count: 1377
  • Approx Pages: 6
  • Grade Level: High School

9. Heart Of Darkness

Underneath the literal journey encountered in Joseph Conrad's Heart of Darkness lies a tale saturated with subtle, yet, significant imagery that brings forth the true meaning of the novella. Throughout Heart of Darkness Conrad uses a plethora of simple colors, objects, and places to convey multifaceted images and ideas. ... Blatant, but often passed over is the symbolism of the number three in Heart of Darkness. ... Towards the close of Heart of Darkness he finds himself amidst a swarm of small flies. ... Symbolism as such is one of the great examples of Conrad's intelligence Heart...

  • Word Count: 1071
  • Approx Pages: 4
  • Grade Level: High School

10. Is Conrad a Racist?

When reading The Heart of Darkness, by Joseph Conrad the opinions of Conrad's racism always surface. ... I also believe that some of what Achebe says regarding The Heart of Darkness is false or exaggerated. ... Now the second question is wether or not Heart of Darkness should be taught in schools and regarded so highly. ... Heart of Darkness is a novel that reflects the thoughts of time in our history. ... Even Heart of Darkness has its memorably good passages and moments." ...

  • Word Count: 903
  • Approx Pages: 4
  • Grade Level: High School

Got a writing question? Ask our professional writer!
Submit My Question