A Comparison of the Manifestation of Evil in Literature

Evil is a commonly used theme in literature; it is used to provide contrast between the protagonist and his/her trials. In Joseph Conrad’s Heart of Darkness, Shakespeare’s Othello, and Edgar Allan Poe’s “The Cask of Amontillado”, the horror of evil is manifested into the plot, affecting the characters in the story. Evil is embodied into story because of those who neglect it, its concentration into one character, and its manipulative power.

The characters who encounter evil often pass it off as nothing; they downplay the suspicion of malevolence. Marlow recollects his encounter with the company physician:

“I always ask leave, in the interests of science, to measure the crania of those going out there,” he said. “And when they come back, too?” I asked. “Oh, I never see them,” he remarked; “and, moreover, the changes take place inside, you know.” He smiled as if at some quiet joke. “So you are going out there. Famous. Interesting, too.” He gave me a searching glance, and made another note. “Ever any madness in your family?" he asked, in a matter-of-fact tone. I felt very annoyed. (Conrad 38)

Marlow ignores this troubling information, obliviously continuing on his ill-fated path to encounter evil. Marlow also remembers there being “a touch of insanity” (Conrad 41) when his crew comes across a French ship shooting at the African coastline. He notices the insane evil, yet still presses on his doomed journey to the heart of darkness. Marlow additionally shares his retrospective thoughts on his first moments in the Congo:

We called at some more places with farcical names…all along the formless coast bordered by a dangerous surf, as if Nature herself had tried to ward off intruders; in and out of rivers, streams of death in life, whose ba...

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...ntillado”. The manifestation of evil is allowed to proceed because of the characters’ obliviousness, especially when greed, lust, and gluttony afflict them. Additionally, the evil manifests itself into one character such as Kurtz, Iago, or Montresor, who then affect the rest of the characters within the story. Consequently, the characters that are the epitome of evil and darkness abuse the power of evil to manipulate others and further spread malevolence. Evil becomes prevalent when it is not acted upon; it can be used to manipulate and thus destroy.

Works Cited

Conrad, Joseph, and Paul O'Prey. Heart of Darkness. London: Penguin, 1989. Print.

Poe, Edgar Allan. “Cask of Amontillado.” Handout. ENG 4U1 (Mrs. Fergus). Assumption College School. November 2013. Print.

Shakespeare, William, and Roma Gill. Othello. Rev. ed. Oxford: Oxford University Press, 1993. Print.