Joseph Conrad, an English-Polish author has made a considerable contribution to the artistic scene of Great Britain. As a writer, Conrad was noted for his unique writing style, accentuated by the fact that English was not the man’s first language. Having lived during the period of rapid discovery and societal change, the man was able to witness many of history’s most formative events from the front row. His experiences and astute observations of the world around him allowed Conrad to become a notable person in his time and one of the leading voices in English literature. His works concern the simultaneously unique and universal human experience in that time, serving as a commentary for society’s adaptation to change. Many of his heroes and narratives bring up the themes of alienation from society, an inability to adapt to the environment around oneself, to understand the people that live there. One of such works that is most notable among his creation is the 1899 “Heart of Darkness”, which is one of the man’s most well-known works. In this paper, the main themes and literary components of the book will be discussed, in an effort to better understand the nature of Conrad’s work.
One of the more evident and permeating themes in this work is loneliness and alienation, both of which are experienced by the narrator, Marlow. While in Brussels, the man feels like a stranger among the people of Europe, while also being born in Europe. Marlow is plagued by loneliness and an inability to truly connect with someone. Another theme that can be considered the primary on the in the piece is imperialism, and its effect on its subjects. Great Britain is in the process of colonizing Africa, and the company Marlow works with has established trade with a particular African territory. Through his journey between the company’s stations, Marlow encounters the widespread cruelty and exploitation of the native people that is justified under the guise of a productive relationship. The man Marlow is supposed to meet, Kurtz, is noted to be extremely efficient in procuring ivory in the area, which later on turns out to be the result of taking in by force from the people of Africa. The narrative shows the disgusting duality between the stated intentions of the British company and their methods of getting to their goals. Under the guise of business relation and trade, the European invaders use their superior power to subjugate and exploit the natives, deriving benefits from free labor. Another theme that can be seen in this work is the fear of unknown, and the relationship between individuals and the wilderness around them. Having to venture deep into the jungle, Marlow and the rest of the “Pilgrims” have a hard time adjusting to their environment, becoming more erratic and paranoid during the trip. The audience can see how the life in the wilderness has affected an unprepared human mind most accurately in the character of Kurtz, who has quite literally gone mad living in the African jungle. The book highlights how a lack of normalcy and human contact can affect a person’s psyche, and chatter their sense of self.