Evil is a commonly used theme in literature; it is used to create a contrast between the protagonist and his trials. In Joseph Conrad's Heart of Darkness, Shakespeare's Othello, and Edgar Allan Poe's “The Cask of Amontillado,” the horror of evil manifests itself in the plot, affecting the characters in the story. Evil is embodied in the story because of those who neglect it, its concentration in a single character and its manipulative power. Characters who encounter evil often make it seem like nothing; they minimize suspicions of malice. Marlow remembers his meeting with the company doctor: “I always ask permission, in the interest of science, to measure the skulls of those who go there,” he said. “And when they come back too?” I asked. “Oh, I never see them,” he remarked; “and what’s more, changes happen within, you know.” He smiled as if at a discreet joke. “Then you go there. Famous. Interesting too. He gave me an inquisitive look and took another note. “Have you ever had madness in your family?”, he asked matter-of-factly. I felt very bored. (Conrad 38) Marlow ignores this disturbing information, unconsciously continuing his unfortunate path toward encountering evil. Marlow, too, remembers that there was “a touch of madness” (Conrad 41) when his crew encountered a French ship firing on the African coast. He notices senseless evil, but continues his doomed journey into the heart of darkness. retrospective thoughts on his first moments in Congo: We visited other places with wacky names... all along the shapeless coastline fringed by dangerous waves, as if nature itself had tried to push intruders in and out of the rivers, streams; death in life, whose bottom...... middle of paper ......ntillado”. The manifestation of evil is allowed to unfold because of the characters' unconsciousness, especially when greed, lust, and gluttony afflict them. Additionally, evil manifests itself in a character such as Kurtz, Iago, or Montresor, which then affects the rest of the characters in the story. Therefore, characters who embody evil and darkness abuse the power of evil to manipulate others and further spread malevolence. Evil becomes widespread when it is not stopped; it can be used to manipulate and thus destroy. Works Cited Conrad, Joseph and Paul O'Prey. Heart of Darkness. London: Penguin, 1989. Print. Poe, Edgar Allan. “Amontillado barrel.” Handout. ENG 4U1 (Mrs. Fergus). Assomption College School. November 2013. Print. Shakespeare, William and Roma Gill. Othello. Rev. Oxford: Oxford University Press, 1993. Print.