... then goes on to discuss how short and meaningless our lives really are compared to the light of all life and history. Another important aspect of the paragraph is the use of the word, "knight- representing nobility accomplished during the flicker of civilization. It is not only what Marlow says that makes him fit in with the solemn setting but it is also his appearance: Marlow is pointedly described as sitting ... the river the forest becomes more and more impenetrable. The river is dark brown and just barely flowing, the forest becomes so thick right before they reach the inner station...

• Word Count: 4389
• Approx Pages: 18
• Grade Level: High School

... culture clash, wilderness, disease, insanity and death and returns to Europe a changed man. Marlow himself considers this experience as a kind of enlightenment: "It was the farthest point of navigation and the culminating point of my experience. It seemed somehow to throw a kind of light on everything about me - and into my thoughts. It was sombre enough, too - and pitiful - not extraordinary in any way ... . 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, h...

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

... further and further into the depths of the dark forest of the Congo when he states, "And I remember I confounded the beat of the drum with the beating of my heart " representing his lack of ability and judgement to differentiate between the Congo and civilisation as he is lured further into the forest. But fortunately, Marlow comes to a realization that he can no longer live in the forest as he has been exposed to the "horrors " of the forest and ultimately escapes ... , Kurtz said his infamous line "The horror, the horror ". The intended can be seen as the representation of the European...

• Word Count: 1417
• Approx Pages: 6
• Grade Level: Undergraduate

... , a great silence, an impenetrable forest." (Conrad 59) The action of travel upriver is another instance of the African environment trying to halt the progress of the whites while traveling downstream gives them a quick way out of the "darkness" and back to civilization. This alludes to Kurtz and his "choice of nightmares." "The brown current ran swiftly out of the heart of darkness, bearing us down towards the sea with twice the speed of our upward progress; and Kurtz ... . "One evening coming in with a candle I was startled to hear him say a little tremulously, 'I am lying here in the d...

• Word Count: 1071
• Approx Pages: 4
• Grade Level: High School

... stream, a great silence, an impenetrable forest.? (Conrad 59) The action of travel upriver is another instance of the African environment trying to halt the progress of the whites while traveling downstream gives them a quick way out of thedarkness? and back to civilization. This alludes to Kurtz and hischoice of nightmares.? "The brown current ran swiftly out of the heart of darkness, bearing us down towards the sea with twice the speed of our upward progress; and Kurtz ... . "One evening coming in with a candle I was startled to hear him say a little tremulously, 'I am lying here in th...

• Word Count: 1071
• Approx Pages: 4
• Grade Level: High School

... as himself. As Marlow meets Kurtz, he identifies with him and finds many of the same qualities in himself. He idolizes Kurtz, he sees a free and rebellious quality that he wishes he could possess. Marlow sees that Kurtz has embraced his savage side when he travels with the savages into the forest. Marlow tries to distance himself from Kurtz in his mind. He tries to ... make himself believe that he is not like Kurtz and he will not and can not do the things Kurtz does. When he follows Kurtz he stays at the edge of the woods, not venturing any further. This represents Marlow ... becomes ...

• Word Count: 2227
• Approx Pages: 9
• Grade Level: High School

... well as dark and cold. "Dark human shapes could be made out in the distance, flitting indistinctly against the gloomy border of the forest (136)." This quote clearly states the dark style of Conrad's writing. More darkness is brought out in the first meeting of Kurtz and Marlow. "Fence post spears with human heads rest in the yard [of Kurtz] (153)."Kurtz passion for gore and other deviating tendencies reflects that ... he stayed they longer he realized the savage beast was present all over the so called "civilized" world. Theme: The darkness, the mysterious unknown, and opposing all pro...

• Word Count: 1204
• Approx Pages: 5
• Grade Level: High School

... of Darkness, a foil to the goodness and light of Europe. He deems that Conrad characterized Africa as the seed of all evil and a vessel headed "back to the earliest beginnings of the world"(Achebe 3). He also feels that Conrad is disturbed by the thought that the continents of Europe and Africa belong to the same earth. In his opinion, Conrad contrasts the two rivers, with the Thames representing the calm goodness of civilization and the ... the feelings of many of the Europeans in Heart of Darkness, Conrad communicates a tone of negativity towards the continent itself as well as its inha...

• Word Count: 1376
• Approx Pages: 6

... also indicates how blind Marlow was for the atrocity involved in the ivory trade at the beginning of his journey to Africa. Thus the lighted torch reveals that light will be shred on the sad truths of the ivory trade and also the on dark side of his own soul. Moreover, his visit to the Central station, manifests the idea about that the deeper Marlow goes into the dark forest, the deeper does he travel into his ... own mind: The earth seemed unearthly. It was unearthly and the men were ... ...

• Word Count: 1409
• Approx Pages: 6

... begins to identify with Kurtz who Marlow believes understands the jungle, the heart of darkness, better than any other white person so Marlow lon! gs to meet Kurtz and to discuss their shared experiences . The relationship between Marlow and Kurtz symbolizes the constant push and pull of light and dark forces within everyone. Kurtz: Once the best ivory poacher in Africa, Kurtz falls prey to ... delusions of grandeur and insanity caused by a combination of poor health and the realities of life and death in the jungle . Both a poet-genius and a murderer, Kurtz ... a break in Marlow's sto...

• Word Count: 4309
• Approx Pages: 17
• Grade Level: High School