Heart of Darkness
Race
Usually, people view the color white as symbolizing good and black representing bad.
However, this theory is challenged when referring to race in the Heart of Darkness. White
men seem to be the evil ones, subjecting African Americans into hard labor. However,
the white men view it as “enlightening” the Africans. This outlook is instead completely
racist and wrong.
Shmoop Editorial Team. "Heart of Darkness Theme of Race" Shmoop.com. Shmoop
University, Inc., 11 Nov. 2008. Web. 28 Nov. 2011.
Identity
Identity in Heart of Darkness revolves around the evilness of its characters. Each villain
in the story possesses evil characteristics. Whether its lack of compassion, ignorance, or
lack of restrain, each character struggles in some way with inhumanity. Their problem is
that the characters have been infected with the love of greed and selfishness that they
have, in turn, become hollow.
Shmoop Editorial Team. "Heart of Darkness Theme of Identity" Shmoop.com. Shmoop
University, Inc., 11 Nov. 2008. Web. 28 Nov. 2011.
Power
Power is definitely a desire in Heart of Darkness. The characters are all controlled for their
love of power. This love for power is driven by greed, which destroys all senses of mortality
and humanity. They work hard to suck up to Marlow because of his aunt’s influences. Kurtz
works hard to become better than all other African. Even Marlow is attached to power.
Shmoop Editorial Team. "Heart of Darkness Theme of Power" Shmoop.com. Shmoop
University, Inc., 11 Nov. 2008. Web. 28 Nov. 2011.
Feminity
Women in this book are seen as minor and unimportant. They are subjective to men and
rarely speak for themselves. Women are seen as small and naïve. Marlow only seeks them
in the idealistic world.
Shmoop Editorial Team. "Heart of Darkness Theme of Women and Femininity"
Shmoop.com. Shmoop University, Inc., 11 Nov. 2008. Web. 29 Nov. 2011.
Time
Conrad uses time to highlight certain elements of the plot. The reader follows him into
the past. His trip into the interior parallels with his journey back in time. The river is
connected with the current of time. On this current, Marlow flows forwards and
backwards.
Shmoop Editorial Team. "Heart of Darkness Theme of Time" Shmoop.com. Shmoop
University, Inc., 11 Nov. 2008. Web. 29 Nov. 2011.