“We live as we dream – alone”
Author: Joseph Conrad
Conrad is a Polish-English novelist known for his fictional works. In his later life, he joined
the French Merchant Marine and earned a living as a gunrunner. He is a sensitive writer who
put in deep metaphysical significance in the novel. His famous works include Lord Jim,
Nostromo, Victory, etc. Heart of Darkness is his fictional account of Colonial Africa. It’s a
well-known novel because of its English and Polish sensibility.
About the novel:
Heart of Darkness is an autobiographical account of Conrad’s in-life experiences of the voyage across the African continent, along the river Congo. The title of the novel refers to the interior of the dark country called Congo. However, metaphorically it signifies the human mind and his inner-consciousness. The novel is being narrated by a fictional character named Marlow.
Genre: Polish-British Novella
Tone: Dark and deep
Type: Novel
Year of publication: 1899
Major themes
Madness runs parallel to imperialism in the novel.
The novel is associated with a lot of ambiguity and moral confusion.
The forced intrusion of European in Africa is contradicted.
Opposite of Kipling’s saying of ‘white man’s burden’ as Kurtz poses as a murderer.
Marlow signifies the narrative to be ‘away from the truth of things.’
Discrimination based on color, leading to alienation.
Corruption, violence, greed, and deception.
