Heart of Darkness
Symbols
Identity—Kurtz & Marlow
The contrast—Light & Darkness
Themes
Presentation by Lillian, Viola,
Kate, Mei
Symbols in Heart of Darkness
Snake is a symbol of evil. Marlow
mentions that “the river was therefascinating-deadly-like a snake.” This
reference creates a dark image. (p.1963)
l Fog is associated with darkness. Fog
not only obscures but distorts; it gives
one just enough information to begin
making decisions but no way to judge the
accuracy of that information, which often
ends up being wrong. (p. 1989)
l
l The colors of a rainbow marked on
the map represent European
imperialism in Africa. (p.1963)
Yellow is associated with corruption,
decay, and most importantly ivory.
(p.1963)
l Ivory- represents economic freedom, social
advancement, and an escape from a life of
being an employee. The word has lost all
connection to any physical reality and has
itself become an object of worship. (p. 1973)
l The “Whited Sepulcher” is Brussels, where
the Company’s headquarters are located. A
sepulcher means tomb and implies death and
confinement. The phrase “ whited sepulcher”
comes from the biblical Book of Matthew. In
the passage, Matthew describes “ white
sepulchers” as something beautiful on the
outside but containing horrors within (the
bodies of the dead). (p. 1963, 1975, 2011)
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The River Congo1. The river separates Marlow from the
African interior, while on the river, he is
exterior to .
2. It also seems to want to expel Europeans
from Africa so its current makes travel
upriver slow and difficult. Besides, going up
the river is like traveling back to the earliest
beginning of the world. On the contrast, the
flow of water makes travel downriver rapid
and going down the river means to return to
“civilization.”
• The river also symbolizes rebirth. Marlow’s
voyage is like a journey of discovery, both
externally in the jungle, and internally in
Marlow's own mind. The deeper he
penetrates into the heart of the jungle, the
deeper he delves within himself. Through this
journey, Marlow realizes something from Mr.
Kurtz. He returns to civilization with his new
knowledge.
• The River Thames is suggested as a
peaceful, tranquil river. (p.2011)
• The wilderness
1. It appears solid, immovable, and
ominously threatening. (p.1979)
2. The natives’voice seems to be coming
from the wilderness itself. (p.1987)
3. The full significant of the wilderness can be
seen only through Kurtz, because it is he
who surrenders to the power of wilderness.
Through the influence of the wilderness,
basic human nature is revealed in him. ( p.
2007)
• The two black hens represent the savage
and uncivilized natives. (p. 1962)
• Jupiter symbolizes externally imposed
authority. (p. 2003)
A Study of Identity
from Kurtz & Marlow
• Kurtz:
-- loss of self
ex.: “Mr. Kurtz lacked restraint in the
gratification of his various lust….” (2001).
ex.: “no restraint, no faith, and no fear….” (2008).
-- a cheat for a cheat (by nature)
ex.: “the wilderness had found him out early, and had
taken on him a terrible vengeance for the fantastic
invasion” (2001).
ex.: “The horror! The horror!” (2010).
• Marlow:
-- an exploration of the hidden self
-- disillusionment
ex.: “I went no more near the remarkable man who
had pronounced a judgment upon the adventures
of his soul on this earth” (2010).
-- a study of initiation
ex.: “I seem to have lived through” (2011).
ex.: “It was a moment of triumph for the wilderness,
an invading and vengeful rush which, it seemed
to me, I would have to keep back alone for the
salvation of another soul” (2013).
The Contrast between
Light and Darkness
I. The beginning:
(1) Light = knowledge, cognizance, civility
and civilization
• Example: p.1975, p.1959
(2) Darkness = mystery, savagery and
uncivilized
• Example: p.1968. P.1969
II. Into the heart of the African jungle:
• --Marlow begins to understand savagery as
a primitive form of civilization. Therefore, a
reflection on his own reality, the light-dark
metaphor shifts.
(1) The light offers Marlow the realization
• Example: p.1968
(2) The darkness is gloomy and filled with a
mournful stillness instead of the wanton
savagery.
• Example: p.1968, p.1969
--The partiality and dimness of the light reflects
Marlow’s half-awareness.
• (3) A pun of Marlow’s understanding of light
• Example: p.1969
III. Marlow’s conclusion:
(1) Kurtz’s actions reflect human nature. P.1999.
P.2001
(2) All civilizations are shrouded in darkness.
P.1982. 2017
Themes in Heart of Darkness
•The Hypocrisy of Imperialism
•Civilization vs. Savagery
The Hypocrisy of Imperialism
• Marlow’s journey of torture, cruelty, and
near-slavery.
• Justifying imperialism with the
rhetoric— “trade”, “civilization.”
• “suppression” & “extermination” –
expose the evil practices behind
European activity in Africa
• An oppression of nonwhite is more
sinister.
Civilization vs. Savagery
• The story implies that civilizations are created by
the setting of laws and codes that encourage men
to achieve higher standers. Civilization, however,
must be learned. Like London itself, a symbol of
enlightenment in the story, was once one of the
darker places of the earth before the Romans
forced civilization upon the darker tendencies.
• Civilization acts as a buffer.-- to prevent men
from reverting back to their darker tendencies
• The tendency to revert to savagery is seen in
Kurtz.-- throwing off his restraints
• Two opposite examples of human condition—
Marlow & Kurtz
• Civilization is superficial.-- The level of
civilization is related to the physical and moral
environment
• Every man has a heart of darkness covered by
the light of civilization.