Themes are overarching ideas and beliefs that the
writers express in their texts including poetry, fiction, and plays. Heart of
Darkness has various themes which run parallel to at least one another. Conrad has used prominent recurring ideas wrapped in ambiguous
language. a number of the main themes in Heart of Darkness are discussed below.
Themes in Heart of Darkness
Theme #1
Imperialism
One of the main themes of Heart of Darkness is imperialism.
Imperialism is really European colonization of nations from Asian and African continents for resources.
However, it had been hidden within the slogan of spreading civilization. Marlow accepts
taking African’s land from the people isn't right. Kurtz is in Congo pretending to civilize
the people and was engaged within the ivory trade and involved in horrific ancient
rituals of sacrificing humans to appease the native Africans. Marlow describes
the ravages of imperialism during his journey to the guts of Africa.
Theme #2
White Man’s Burden
Another prominent theme of the novel is irony of Marlow’s
voyage and therefore the purpose. He journeys toward Congo to satisfy popular station manager, Kurtz. Though Kipling’s
words “white man’s burden” wring in his ears, he sees the other . The man , including Mr Kurtz, has been engaged in killing
the natives to plunder the resources. There are heads erected on the poles round the station where Mr Kurtz is staying. Marlow
believes that his voyage is “heavenly mission” of a man to spread the enlightenment of Christianity within the darkness.
Theme #3
Lack of Truth
The superficial themes of the novel are imperialism and
cruelty of the European powers powers. However, the theme of the shortage of truth lies at the guts of the text. All the European powers engaged in Africa are occupying their land
and plundering resources while propagating it as a civilizing mission. Marlow
says that several things are overlooked and, in his words, “away from the reality of things.” The ironic language used from the very
start occasionally shows that Marlow cannot speak the reality . He finally tells another mislead avoid disappointing Kurtz’s Intended that Kurtz
had said her name before dying.
Theme #4
Colonization
Colonization means establishing control over the indigenous
people of a rustic or an area . This theme also runs parallel to diverse other
themes in Heart of Darkness. In one among the situations, Marlow, the spokesman of Conrad,
clearly states that conquest of the world means “taking it faraway from those that have a special complexion.” In other words, he's indicating that the Europeans think they're of a better race. They destroy their land by the colonization
and eventually steal Africa’s resources.
Theme #5
Exploitation
The ivory trade is that the main trade throughout the Congo . However, Marlow doesn't clarify or accept the quantity of brutal exploitation that happened within the name of trade. it's only mentioned in oblique words like “the horror” and therefore the postscript of Kurtz “Exterminate all brutes,” which points
out the reality about the trade and therefore the people involved. In fact, Marlow is additionally the a part of this exploitation where locals are misled and
mesmerized by Kurtz. they're also enticed to attack the people not standing in
line with the most agent, Kurtz, including the attack on the steamer
carrying Marlow. These attacks also cause death to locals quite the targets. The exploitation continued even after
Kurtz’ death.
Theme #6
Racial Discrimination
The novel Heart of Darkness shows that racism is dominating in Africa and other parts of the planet . Marlow also understands that “different
complexions and flattened nose” means, Europeans were permitted to require the possession of the land from that race. Marlow
too called the locals savages including the Intended of Kurtz. She tells him
how racism has led to the white men’s action of creating ideas of civilizing those savages. The words of Kipling that it's “white man’s burden” echoes within the end when Kurtz dies, speaking of the horror that
he committed against the African people.
Theme #7
Alienation and Isolation
Although alienation and isolation are often understood as a
psychological issue of a private , the novel Heart of Darkness has presented
alienation and isolation of both; psychological also as social. Marlow’s departure hints to social
alienation and isolation which tries to rob him of his humanity. Kurtz is that the prime example of this alienation therein he mixes up with the locals and tries to become one among them. His alienation completes together with his final outburst of “horrors” when he involves know the results of his actions. Marlow’s initial
Buddha-like posture, too, confirms this alienation and isolation.
Theme #8
Moral Corruption
Moral corruption is another underlying theme of the novel,
Heart of Darkness. Kurtz goes to Congo to civilize the locals. However, he
becomes a top agent of the corporate in robbing the locals of their treasure and exporting ivory. he's engaged in corrupt practices of punishing those that oppose him and becoming their demigod. an equivalent goes on at the opposite stations where Marlow sees many small agents engaged within the same practices.
Theme #9
Violence
There are two sorts of violence; the primary one is provoked cruelty. as an example , Kurtz incites the natives to attack the steam carrying
Marlow. The other is that the violence among the natives and therefore the heads on the sticks around Kurtz house. Here Kurtz who claims to vary the savages has become a savage. He uses violence
to dominate the natives to rob and punish them if they interfere in white men’s
business.
Theme #10
Human Greed and Deception
Marlow says that he has seen “the devil of greed, and therefore the devil of hot desire” which refers to the ivory trade at the
expense of the native Africans’ freedom and life. the ecu companies are competing against one another to extract treasures as soon as possible. Using violence, they are going on killing spree and massacring the innocents. The pieces of
evidence of this human greed and deception are often seen clearly when Kurtz displays heads on the
poles around his station.
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