Heart Of Darkness Imperialism Essay

In Joseph Conrad's novel Heart of Darkness, the issues of Imperialism are discussed. Madness is shown as an outcome of Imperialism through the metaphor of the flabby devil and the band of men known as the Eldorado Exploring Expedition. Chaos is also demonstrated through concepts like the shackled monster and in the attack against the Europeans as well. Corruption is another result of Imperialism and can be seen through the manager's crooked personality and Kurtz's character. Thus, Conrad reveals the madness, chaos and corruption that is the very result of Imperialism. First of all, the flabby devil is an example of madness in the novel that eventually leads to Imperialism. This metaphor appears when Marlow has finally arrived at Outer station

They have no concern for the natives and are willing to kill to get what they want, this demonstrates their lack of morals and compassion. They have no "serious intention" because they are only working for themselves to reach their own goals and Marlow realizes their selfish ways will only bring violence. This violence can be seen through the damage they cause to the environment and to its people all just for ivory. It is because of people like the Eldorado Exploring Expeditions that Imperialism is filled with madness, the Europeans have no real intentions for their behaviour, they simply want to have a power status but do not possess any real courage, it is done through force. In Imperialism, the superior figures have this power that they enforce over the population to get what they want. This shows how they lack any humanity and are filled with pure evil. Therefore, the Eldorado Exploring Expedition is an example of how madness is an outcome of

This attack begins when Marlow and the men on the steamer encounter some fog on their way to Kurtz's Inner Station but it lifts suddenly to reveal the savaged cries of the natives. The men provoke the natives by creating a sense of fear, so they retaliate by attacking: "…Deep in the tangled gloom, naked breasts, arms, legs, glaring eyes-the bush was swarming with human limbs in movement" (Conrad 67). Here Conrad describes the attack on the Europeans is described in a certain way to demonstrate that it was symbolic for the jungle attacking them because the natives and the wilderness were working as one unit to drive out the Europeans. The natives retaliate to show the Europeans that they do not belong, the jungle put up a 'barrier' to keep them out. The entire attack was a symbol of the wilderness and how chaotic it can be when there are savages flighting against savages, the result will always be destruction. It also demonstrates how Imperialism only results in chaos because there is public backlash, people will stand up and fight for their homes, which is why the natives attacked the Europeans. As a result, chaos leads to Imperialism because it causes devastation through examples like the natives attacking the