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Joseph Conrad, in his masterly novella The Heart of Darkness, uses all his potential in replicating the inner personal conflict between good and evil in every man transmitting this with existentialist issues of alienation, mystification, uncertainty, individual limit or surplus and ethics in general.
By reflecting the inner conflict of its main character that parallels the author in more than one way, Conrad achieves the captivating power of cautioning the individual against a life according to the basic impulses that would turn one mad and make face the existential crisis between good and evil. Similarly, the theme of darkness, as evident from the title of the work, in its spiritual sphere, underpins the merit of the novella. In effect, the work transforms our idea of good and evil or light and darkness – what seems to be good (light) is really evil (darkness) and vice versa.
The foremost theme of the novella, the existential conflict between good and evil is revealed to us through its major character Marlow who both complicated and philosophical. The physical journey that Marlow undertakes becomes a moral and spiritual journey of his life which confronts the questions of good and evil, light and dark, civilization and barbarism, and others which contradictory to each other.
All the narration of the story is directed towards the ultimate identification of these and Marlow’s character is vital in this effort. It is through Marlow’s character, actions, and dialogues that we, primarily, understand the major themes of the novel. However, the remarks by the other narrating voices and characters also direct towards the ultimate conclusion about the novella’s theme the character of Marlow.
The organization of the novella around the major event of Marlow’s journey is astonishing. All the events and the journey are directed towards the definitive realization of the nature of mind. The narrative style and the diction of the work confirm the theme of spiritual and moral darkness along of human mind.
The work is notable for its cyclical character in the geographical illustration, chronological arrangement, and narrative style. Beginning in the present time, i.e. the 1890s, the events take place through several years in the past, ultimately returning to the present. The arrangement geographical movements in the work also is in almost circle, beginning in Europe, moving through the African locality, and finally reaching back to the starting point. The narrative style, in different person, also has such a rounding structure.
Starting with an unnamed narrator the novel finds Marlow as its narrator who talks about his visits to a European city, later narrating the major part of the story and finally ends in a narration by the unnamed narrator. The major account of the work appear in the first person point of view which appeals to the reader. The account is that of an involved, all knowing first person which makes the work close to the heart of the readers.
The symbolic use of the title Heart of Darkness meaning the interiors of dark in human mind suggests the scope of the work in its deeper interpretations beyond the literal meaning. The fog referring to the darkness, literal journey through the jungle meaning the psychological journey through the interiors of mind and other such symbols enhances the beauty of Conrad’s craftsmanship.
Heart of Darkness is particularly appealing to the reader for its internal unities in time, action, and place. All the action of the story revolves round its major character and the action of the work centres mainly around his journey, life, and experience making it a complete whole. There is a fixed period in history as the time of action beyond which the work does not move and all these events happen centring the two main places of Europe and Africa. Therefore, the novella enjoys the classic unities of time, place, and action.
In a general appreciation of the work, one may find that Heart of Darkness portrays all the merits of a true craftsman creating his most loved piece of art with the clay of its plot, character, symbolism, point of view, tone, and structure all of which makes the masterly theme of darkness and its conflict with light. The theme of inner personal conflict between good and evil is reached at through the portrayal of different yet inter related events. No wonder, Conrad achieves the great fame of his literary career for this spectacular piece of art.
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