In, "Heart of Darkness," Joseph Conrad uses the nature of the Congo river as a symbol to express the chaos and condition in the heart of both the conquerors and the conquered. By using symbolism, Conrad deeply explores the overall theme of the dehumanizing and futile aspects of imperialism. Conrad personifies the river to symbolically reflect the feelings of the people being conquered. He says the river has a, "vengeful aspect," but the author does not imply that the river itself desires revenge, but ... a devastating alteration against their lives due to the mistreatment they receive, theref...

• Word Count: 595
• Approx Pages: 2
• Has Bibliography
• Grade Level: Graduate