Heart Of Darkness Analysis

Fire From The Sky

Function of Light and Dark in Three Texts

Light and dark are one of the strongest components in the narrative of The Heart of Darkness, Things Fall Apart, and Apocalypse Now. The images that are expressed through the texts act as a parallel to each character as well as give insight into the inner emotions of the characters. Focusing closely on the symbolism of darkness, fog, and fire within the three texts will help the reader delve inside the novels and film.

Within The Heart of Darkness, the reader can find themselves questioning what the symbolism of darkness really is. It can be hard to discern what it really means, especially because seems to be cloaked in it. Take Africa, England, and Brussels as an example, they were

In the novel, Okonkwo is associated with burning, fire, and flame, hinting at his acute and troubling anger - the only emotion that he allows the people he surrounds himself with to see. However, the problem with fire, as Okonkwo recognizes in chapters 17 and 24, is that it destroys everything it touches. Okonkwo is physically and emotionally destructive. For instance, he kills his Ikemefuna and Ogbuefi Ezeudu’s son, and he keeps his adoration towards Ikemefuna and Ezinma to himself, instead relaying a colder, more masculine aura. Eventually, Okonkwo succumbs to his intense rage, allowing it to control his actions until it destroys him, just as fire feeds on itself until all that is left is ash. The concept of weather is important to the reader’s understanding as well. In Things Fall Apart, gloomy weather like rain and drought symbolize Okonkwo’s spiritual and emotional arrogance. Rain is vital to the community of Umuofia. Without it, families cannot be fed and people cannot be brought up normally. However, Okonkowo experiences an inner drought, a metaphorical barrenness in his heart. Focused on becoming better than his father, he has no love for his son and he cannot express any kind of feeling for his family. Moreover, the Igbo believe in particular gods for various aspects of nature. Often, they recognize the source of a drought as the consequence of a irreverent act that has taken place on their soil. This is an allegory for Okonkwo. By killing Ikemefuna, he becomes blasphemous and this leads to his emotional drought. The Igbo believe that in order to restore the rain and the land, a sacrifice must take place, a self-punishment for sin, thus concluding to Okonkwo’s suicide. He offers himself to the save his village and to compensate the sins he placed upon the