... together and is so overwhelmed by this that he tries to let it out of sight as soon as possible. However, trying to avoid this shocking sight, he stumbles onto one much worse: "Black shapes crouched, lay, sat between the trees leaning against the trunks, clinging to the earth, half coming ... out, half effaced within the dim light, in all the attitudes of pain, abandonment and despair- -They were dying ... nothing but black shadows of disease and starvation, lying confusedly in the greenish gloom.""(p 24) Marlow is horrified by the sight of a curled up man dying at his feet. His respons...

• Word Count: 4081
• Approx Pages: 16
• Grade Level: High School

... showing the savagery and the horror of the unknown. Conrad further explores this notion of dark and light symbolism through the infamous Mr. Kurtz. As one gets deeper into the story, Conrad breaks apart the common uses of symbolism and transforms these ideas into more complex and personal meanings. ... of hot desire; but by all the stars! There were strong, lusty, red-eyed devils, that swayed and drove men - men, I tell you. But as I stood on this hillside, I foresaw that in the blinding sunshine of that land I would become acquainted with a flabby, pretending, weak-eyed devil of a rapac...

• Word Count: 1049
• Approx Pages: 4
• Grade Level: High School

... ; he is their "God of Darkness." Marlow looks at this man with pity and anger. Kurtz" mind has become distorted and the savagery, which lay deep within his heart, has no light to hide it. He not only loses his mind but his soul, resulting in utter and complete darkness of ... as others, is the result of the characters individual behaviour. This is demonstrated through Kurtz" power over the Natives, which almost destroys Marlow. Marlow must struggle with himself because he is beginning to see the "real" person that he is and fears himself. While observing the dying Kurtz, Marlow realizes ...

• Word Count: 2429
• Approx Pages: 10
• Grade Level: High School

... of racial superiority. The natives in Joseph Conrad's novel, Heart of Darkness are portrayed as characterless, bland elements of little worth. In one passage of Heart of Darkness, on page 22, Conrad writes, "Black shapes crouched, lay, sat between the trees leaning against the trunks, clinging to the earth, half coming out ... of detail spent on any of the "helpers" in the passage. Conrad goes on to write on page 22 of Heart of Darkness, "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...

• Word Count: 1626
• Approx Pages: 7
• Grade Level: High School