Joseph Conrad book, “Heart of Darkness”

Joseph Conrad book, “Heart of Darkness”

Joseph Conrad book, “Heart of Darkness” concentrates around one character by the name Marlow who is a sailor by profession. Marlow travels round many nations to fulfil his professional obligations. Marlow travels to many parts in Africa; he spends a lot of his time in Congo. Marlow was with an imperial company as a riverboat captain. In the process of executing is routine works in Congo, he realizes the high levels of brutality and harsh treatments the Africans face in the hands of the colonial masters. The native inhabitants in Congo get recruited into imperial Company’s enterprises. The work for long hours and get treated inhumanely by the company’s agents. The miseries the Africans face in their lands makes them live in fear and agony. The masters have set their small islands amid Africans where they live their own good life. “Heart of Darkness” reveals the bitter truth of African lives during the era of colonization. This paper explores on literary devices used in the “Heart of Darkness” paying close attention to themes of imperialism, colonialism, exploitation and corruption.

“Heart of Darkness” reveals imperialism that was common in many African and Asian states. Imperialism was mostly exercised by the European nations where they could control African and Asian countries to exploit their labor and resources. According to Conrad, the colonialists came in the name of spreading civilization, but they were looking for raw materials to feed their mother countries. Marlow is against the act of taking lands from the Africans. Kurtz uses his position to promote his ivory trade mission and exploit Congo’s resources. As Marlow travels in Africa, he reveals how imperialism has greatly interfered with the lives of the Africans. The Europeans take advantage of Africans’ innocence to exploit their resources.

Imperialism goes hand in hand with colonization. Through Marlow’s narration, it is evident that the Europeans have exercised complete control over the locals so that they can exploit their endowments. Marlow says, “taking it away from those who have a different complexion.” The Europeans feel that they are superior compared to Africans, and this pushes them into treating them as lesser humans. The whites think that their race is stronger; in Conrad’s story, they are moving from one state to another, spreading their influence because they feel they are better.

The theme of exploitation is also evident in Conrad’s narration. The ivory trade in Congo is the primary source of brutality and oppressiveness. The locals get recruited against their own will to work for the Europeans for little or no pay. Marlow terms the treatment of Africans as horrific and brutal. Kurtz uses his idea of civilization to lure and trick people into working for him. Kurtz also incites the locals to attack those who oppose him; for instance, in incited the locals to attack a steamer that was carrying Marlow. In the process, the casualties are from both sides, including the innocent locals. Africans experience high levels of exploitation; the situation gets worsened by the fact that Africans get lured into killing even their own.

The theme of corruption is also evident in the novel. Marlow goes to Congo intending to civilize the locals and help them to overcome their troubles, but in the real sense, he participates in robbing the community. He works for a company that targets on stealing for the innocent community to enrich themselves. He works as a top agent for an imperial company that robs locals in Congo their ivory and exports it. He also punishes those who are against him and positions himself as a demigod. Lots of stations working in Congo engage in corrupt and violent activities. Kurtz uses violence to defend himself by punishing uncooperative locals.

In a nutshell, “heart of darkness” reveals the challenging situations that Africans face in the hands of colonial masters during the colonization era. The author Conrad uses a narrator by the name Marlow who depicts on the whole situation. The colonial masters lead by Kurtz exploits and rob the Africans their resources. Marlow pictures out the situation in Congo where he works as a top agent for an imperial company. The Europeans steal ivory from the Congolese and export it. Europeans use their power and knowledge to exploit the innocence of the Congolese. They use for their missions and their advantage. Themes of imperialism, colonization, exploitation and corruption are evident in the heart of darkness.” The story reveals the dark side of colonialism and imperialism.