Heart Of Darkness: Analysis Of The Story’s Dark Side Essay Samples

1. The Heart of Darkness was written by Joseph Conrad a Polish writer in the mid-19th century. The book centers its focus on the treatment of Africans as slaves, having no rights like their European counterparts. The novel was painfully accurate for it corresponds to the real situations of the world during the heights of the colonial powers. For example, ivory trade made the merchants grew rich whilst the constant hunting for elephants made them nearly extinct; another feature of the story is the cruel treatment of the Europeans to the African slaves. Also, Conrad’s accurate portrayal of Africa provides a vivid picture of the effects of colonialism to the lives of the African people; the economy, and the morality. In many ways, Marlow can be described as a capable man unlike Kurtz who was idealistic on the world around him.
2. Scholars throughout the years have made a psychological analysis of the characters as well as the story of the Heart of Darkness. The Heart of Darkness focuses Africa in the light of colonialism; Conrad portrays the dark effects of colonialism on the African people and to their economy. In addition, the novel is also a journey to the recesses of the human psyche. Conrad associated the darkness to his illness as well as to his recovery. After the bitter experience in the Africa, Marlow became a man of courage and associated the darkness of Africa not only as the color of its natives but also the darkness reflects the morbid history of colonialism and slavery; a world of suffering created by the Europeans of the mid-19th century.