Heart Of Darkness Imperialism

Joseph Conrad’s story of Heart of Darkness is one that is centered upon the events of a man named Marlow an upper middle class white European as he journeys to meet a man who is built up as a legend by those in the company he is hired to. Conrad describes the extreme and harsh treatment of the natives at the hands of the Europeans throughout the novel makes a point to condemn imperialism by showing the irony and hypocrisy present in many of the situations Marlow encounters. In truth Marlow’s entire journey through the jungle can serve as an example of delving into the darker parts of human nature the further in he goes to find Kurtz. He interacts with a wide range of Europeans in the company that he works for on his journey to meet Kurtz at

He sees black slaves chained together and being forced to perform manual labor and are clearly malnourished and uncared for. At the sight of the chain gang even Marlow who had started the journey with the belief that Imperialism was a noble idea began to question how these supposed noble people could treat the natives in such a way, “My idea was to let the chain gang out of get out of sight before I climbed the hill…I’ve seen the devil of violence, the devil of greed, and the devil of hot desire but the stars! These were strong, lusty, red eyed devils... (pg. 83)” As Marlow moves away from the chain gang he begins to move towards the stations main building, but along the way he encounters more slaves who are dying of disease and starvation, “They were dying slowly-it was very clear. They were not enemies, they were not criminals, they were nothing earthly now-nothing but black shadows of disease and starvation, lying confusedly in the greenish gloom” (pg..84). To contrast this Conrad introduces us to the company’s chief account who is an extreme contrast to the natives. Marlow describes him as very clean and in very white clothing that was free from any dirt despite the conditions around him. Marlow claims that he only mentioned the accountant due to the fact that he is the first one to mention the name of Kurtz to Marlow; however, Conrad includes this character

Marlow eventually begins to learn of the hatred that the manager has a hatred for Kurtz and wants to ensure that no one is able to replace him at his position. Because of this Marlow begins to suspect that the sinking of his ship was intentional and all a part of the managers plan to ensure that Kurtz would die at his station before anyone could help him with is illness. Further evidence is presented when the manager and his uncle are discussing Kurtz near Marlow’s wrecked vessel. “…he bothered me enough when he was here.”(pg.103). The manager and his uncle then proceed to acknowledge that they do not believe in the ideas of Imperialism and instead are only interested in their own benefit and seem disgusted with the ideals of Kurtz when he was at the station. “Each station should be like a beacon on the road towards better things, a center for trade of course, but also for humanizing, improving, instructing.” Conceive you-that ass!”(pg. 104) This shows that the company has no intention of raising the natives up to the status of Europeans. Marlow begins to learn more and more about the façade that the company has the more he hears the manager and those around him speak. In a sense the deeper he goes into the jungle the crueler and