The Heart of Darkness by Joseph Conrad: The Darkest Side of Human Nature

Critical Book Review: The Heart of Darkness by Joseph Conrad

Throughout the history of civilization, global force have used the direction of morality and a subjective interpretation of good versus evil to advance their economic and political stronghold. A great example lies in Heart of Darkness by Joseph Conrad, where sexism, racism, human rights violations and economic imperialism all go against one another to disclose examples of the darkest side of human nature. Through the storyteller, Marlow, Conrad describes his personal experiences in the Congo, obscuring the lines between fiction and fact, and opening up variety types of controversy and debate which will, for centuries, cast disbelief on his own morality and motivation.

It is obvious that Conrad has an original style of narration in Heart of Darkness, which I’d say a major influence is his childhood experiences. There are several readers who may get offended by his style of narration, however I did not take any of it to offense for the most part. In Heart of Darkness, Conrad uses an unidentified first person narrator, there is no identity or name given, and other than that of the narration itself, Marlow has no role in the story. I read what he is saying, but not once in the story do I know any emotions to what he is thinking or feeling. For me, this created a separation from the narrator which added an extreme level of complication to the story. The distance and separation forced me as a reader to engage in my own imaginations and it allowed me to become a participant in the story's ultimate meaning.

Although this strategy may or may not meet the purpose that the narrator originally intended, it allowed me to become more personally connected to the story, and in effect, ...

... middle of paper ...

...e were profoundly racist to. The inner message of this story goes beyond the explanation of colonial exploitation and racism. Although exploitation does play a major role on the surface of theme of this novel, I took that the deeper message and theme has to do with the transformation issue of how power can corrupt the one who withholds. There are certain boundaries set by concise and there’s a certain comfort level brought to remain within those boundaries. Contrary when our boundaries are crossed or one steps in our comfort zone we as people tend to create unacceptable behaviors.

In this novel I see Conrad exploring territories beyond those boundaries, about what happens when an individual does cross the boundaries that are set up by conscience and social conditions just because he seems to find himself in circumstances where he is able to cross these boundaries.