Heart of Darkness Essay: Introductory Paragraph

Throughout Joseph Conrad's Heart of Darkness we, the reader, follow the journey of a sailor, Marlow, as he travels up the african Congo in search of Kurtz, an infamous agent of the "Company".  During this journey, Marlow and the crew experience numerous challenges that are all endured in attempt to reach Kurtz.  An idealized man, feared and known for his brutality and increasing unpredictable decisions, Kurtz at the literal level, appears to be someone simply gone crazy in the confinement of the jungle.  However, using psychoanalytical criticism derived from Frederick Karl's "Introduction to the Danse Macabre:...", we are able to gain insight into the Freudian id that Kurtz symbolizes about the dangers of power and our inner self.

Heart of Darkness: The Psychological Journey

As Marlow travels on his boat with his crew, up the Congo, deeper and deeper into Africa, the challenges that await him on his journey are not just physical but, also the psychological.  Traveling to such a rural, traditional, and undeveloped country and the power that comes with will extremely test their wills and their morals.  The ability to do whatever they want can quickly be abused in a place where their are no consequences.  The biggest and most dangerous part of their journey is not losing themselves along the way.

Heart of Darkness Blog #6 pg. 430

In Joseph Conrad's Heart of Darkness, a painting of Kurtz is described.  In the painting is a blindfolded women holding a torch.  This representation serves to symbolize justice.  However; the torch can symbolize the search or want for justice.  That in this dark and foreign land power and ambitions have gone to the leader's heads and justice has been lost.  This painting can also serve as a symbol that their is no justice there and this a place where justice is actually blind, unable to prevent the violence and corruption.

Heart of Darkness Blog #1 pg. 429

In Joseph Conrad's Heart of Darkness, Marlow starts off his story describing England as it was in the "very old times".  This is done as a way to help the reader understand the similarity of  Rome and England and  of England's current mission in Africa.  Just like Africa, the Romans considered England an primitive place.  However; eventually it was transformed into a thriving nation.  In this Conrad could possibly be foreshadowing the future of the congo and Africa in the novel, but just like England, it will not come easily or peacefully.  Great strife will first have to be met before Africa will be able to rise and prosper as its own nation.