Part One

 

In Part One of Heart of Darkness, the story begins aboard a boat called the Nellie, anchored on the Thames River. The narrator introduces Marlow, who starts telling the story of his journey to the Congo as a steamboat captain for a European trading company. Marlow describes his fascination with maps as a child and how he eventually secured a job with the Company, which trades ivory in Africa.

Marlow’s journey from Europe to Africa is marked by disturbing signs of the brutal impact of colonialism. Upon arriving at the Outer Station, he witnesses the shocking exploitation and suffering of the native Africans, who are treated inhumanely and left to die in despair. He also meets the Company’s Chief Accountant, a man who represents the hypocrisy of the imperial mission, maintaining a polished appearance while surrounded by misery. The Accountant mentions Kurtz, an ivory trader of great importance and charisma, whose reputation looms large over the narrative.

As Marlow makes his way to the Central Station, he learns that his steamboat has been damaged and will require extensive repairs, delaying his journey to Kurtz. The ominous atmosphere and stories about Kurtz set the stage for the deepening darkness Marlow will encounter.

 

Part Two

 

In Part Two of Heart of Darkness, Marlow continues his journey deeper into the Congo River, facing mounting tension and eerie surroundings. At the Central Station, he learns more about Kurtz, the enigmatic and powerful ivory trader whose influence looms large. The Manager and other Company employees express concern about Kurtz’s deteriorating health but also seem envious of his success. As Marlow’s damaged steamboat is repaired, he becomes increasingly uneasy about the darkness surrounding Kurtz and the station’s operations.

Once the repairs are complete, Marlow and his crew set out for Kurtz’s Inner Station. The journey up the river is ominous and filled with a sense of foreboding, as the jungle seems alive and hostile. The environment becomes a metaphor for the encroaching darkness, both literal and psychological. The steamboat is attacked by unseen assailants, leading to chaos and fear among the crew. As they fend off the attack, Marlow realizes the peril of their mission.

Throughout this part, Marlow reflects on the nature of civilization, the thin veneer that separates humanity from savagery, and his growing obsession with meeting Kurtz. The suspense builds as they approach the heart of the jungle, where Kurtz awaits, embodying the novella’s themes of moral and existential darkness.

 

Part Three

 

In Part Three of Heart of Darkness, Marlow finally arrives at Kurtz’s Inner Station, where he encounters the harrowing reality of Kurtz’s rule. The once-revered ivory trader has succumbed to madness and moral corruption, exerting a god-like influence over the indigenous people, who worship him and participate in brutal rituals. Marlow meets a devoted follower, the Russian Harlequin, who reveals Kurtz’s erratic behavior and the darkness that has overtaken him.

Kurtz is physically frail but still possesses an overwhelming charisma and power. As Kurtz’s health deteriorates, he entrusts Marlow with his writings, which contain a mix of profound insights and disturbing declarations. In a climactic moment, Kurtz whispers his final, haunting words, “The horror! The horror!”—an expression of his realization of the darkness within himself and humanity.

Marlow witnesses Kurtz’s death and reflects on the moral implications of what he has seen. Returning to Europe, he struggles with the memories of the Congo and Kurtz’s fall from grace. When he visits Kurtz’s grieving fiancée, Marlow lies about Kurtz’s last words, claiming they were of love, shielding her from the grim reality. Part Three concludes with Marlow’s contemplation of humanity’s inherent darkness.

 

 CHARACTERS OF HEART OF DARKNESS

 

Here are the main characters of Heart of Darkness by Joseph Conrad:

1. Marlow

• Role: The protagonist and narrator of the story. Marlow is an introspective sailor who takes a job as a riverboat captain for a Belgian trading company in the Congo.
• Character Traits: He is skeptical of imperialism and serves as a critical observer of the darkness he encounters in Africa. Throughout the journey, Marlow grapples with the moral ambiguities and corruption he witnesses, especially in the figure of Kurtz.
• Significance: Marlow’s experiences and reflections drive the novella’s exploration of human nature and imperialism.

2. Kurtz

• Role: A central figure and ivory trader for the Company, Kurtz is a charismatic and influential man whose moral and psychological decline is pivotal to the story.
• Character Traits: He is initially portrayed as an idealistic and talented man, but the isolation and power in the Congo reveal his capacity for evil. His final words, “The horror! The horror!” symbolize his realization of the darkness within himself.
• Significance: Kurtz embodies the theme of the corrupting influence of unchecked power and the darkness lurking within human beings.

3. The Russian Harlequin

• Role: A young, eccentric Russian trader who admires Kurtz and serves as a loyal follower.
• Character Traits: Naïve and devoted, he views Kurtz as a genius and explains some of Kurtz’s behavior and influence to Marlow.
• Significance: His character provides insight into Kurtz’s god-like status among the locals and the extent of Kurtz’s moral decay.

4. The Manager

• Role: The steamboat station manager at the Central Station.
• Character Traits: He is a bureaucratic and manipulative figure who maintains power through inaction and exploiting others’ fear. The manager is envious of Kurtz’s influence but lacks his charisma.
• Significance: The manager symbolizes the inefficiency and moral bankruptcy of the colonial enterprise.

5. The Brickmaker

• Role: An opportunistic and conniving character at the Central Station.
• Character Traits: He aspires to rise within the Company and tries to manipulate Marlow for personal gain.
• Significance: The brickmaker represents the selfish and ambitious attitudes pervasive within the Company.

6. Kurtz’s Fiancée (The Intended)

• Role: Kurtz’s devoted and idealistic fiancée, who remains in Europe.
• Character Traits: She is portrayed as innocent and naive, believing Kurtz to be a great and noble man.
• Significance: Her character highlights the theme of illusion versus reality. Marlow’s decision to lie to her about Kurtz’s final words underscores the novella’s exploration of truth and deception.

7. The Pilgrims

• Role: A group of greedy and petty European agents working for the Company.
• Character Traits: They are depicted as incompetent and selfish, more interested in seeking ivory than in fulfilling any “civilizing” mission.
• Significance: The pilgrims embody the hypocrisy and greed of European imperialism.

8. The Cannibals

• Role: Indigenous crew members on Marlow’s steamboat.
• Character Traits: Despite being labeled as “savages,” they are portrayed as more disciplined and respectful than the European pilgrims.
• Significance: Their presence serves to contrast European “civilization” with the supposed “savagery” of the Africans.

These characters collectively highlight the novella’s themes, including the darkness within humanity, the ambiguity of civilization, and the moral consequences of imperialism.

 

THEMES OF HEART OF DARKNESS 

 

Heart of Darkness by Joseph Conrad explores several complex and interwoven themes that contribute to its lasting impact. Here are the key themes:

1. Imperialism and Colonialism

• The novella offers a critical examination of European colonialism in Africa. Conrad exposes the hypocrisy of the imperial mission, which claims to “civilize” the indigenous people but instead brings exploitation, cruelty, and moral decay. The Europeans are portrayed as driven by greed, and the brutal treatment of the African people highlights the true darkness of imperialism.

2. The Darkness Within Humanity

• One of the central themes is the darkness that lies within every person. The journey into the Congo becomes a metaphor for a psychological journey into the depths of the human soul. Marlow and Kurtz confront the capacity for evil within themselves, suggesting that civilization only masks the inherent darkness that lurks in all humans.

3. Moral Ambiguity

• The novella is filled with moral complexities and blurred lines between right and wrong. Kurtz, once an idealistic and cultured man, succumbs to the darkness and commits unspeakable acts, while Marlow struggles to understand the moral implications of what he has witnessed. The narrative leaves questions about morality and humanity unanswered, reflecting the ambiguity of human nature.

4. Madness as a Consequence of Isolation

• The theme of madness is explored through characters like Kurtz, who lose their sanity as they are isolated from European society and civilization. The unrestrained environment of the jungle, combined with absolute power, causes Kurtz to descend into madness. Marlow himself feels the psychological impact of the journey, reflecting on how isolation and the wilderness can unearth inner darkness.

5. The Illusion of Civilization

• The novella challenges the notion that European civilization is superior to the so-called “savagery” of the African wilderness. The Europeans’ behavior in Africa reveals the thin veneer of civilization that quickly dissolves in the face of power and greed. Conrad suggests that civilization is fragile and that the true “savages” are often those who claim to be civilized.

6. The Power of Language and Storytelling

• The narrative structure, with Marlow recounting his story aboard the Nellie, emphasizes the power of storytelling and the limitations of language. Marlow struggles to convey the full horror of his experience, highlighting how language can both illuminate and obscure the truth. The theme explores the subjectivity of storytelling and how people interpret and distort reality.

7. Alienation and Isolation

• Characters in the novella experience profound isolation, both physically in the remote wilderness of the Congo and psychologically in their encounters with the darkness within themselves. Marlow feels disconnected from the world he once knew, and Kurtz’s total isolation from European society leads to his moral and mental disintegration.

8. The Hypocrisy of Religion and Morality

• The Europeans often claim moral and religious justification for their actions, but the novella reveals the deep hypocrisy behind these claims. Kurtz himself embodies this hypocrisy, as he writes noble-sounding essays about uplifting the native people while committing horrifying acts. The theme highlights the emptiness of moral and religious rhetoric when disconnected from genuine humanity.

These themes intertwine throughout Heart of Darkness, creating a powerful critique of imperialism and a haunting exploration of human nature’s inherent complexity and potential for darkness.