“Heart of Darkness” by Joseph Conrad is a very contemplative and symbolic work of literature. On the surface, the story is about the journey of a man named Marlow, working for an ivory company and seeking adventure in the heart of sub-Saharan Africa. On a deeper level, however, the story is about the titular “darkness.” It is an exploration of this word, revealing that all that is evil resides in the hearts of men. All characters in “Heart of Darkness” have been meticulously polished to allow for further development on the theme of darkness. The whole theme can be summed up in the individual relationships of Africa and Europe with darkness, but nevertheless, the reader must realize that all is not as it initially seems in "Heart of Darkness" . Say no to plagiarism. Get a tailor-made essay on “Why Violent Video Games Should Not Be Banned”? Get the original essay In “Heart of Darkness,” little is held back in the depiction of Africa as a backward and uncivilized place. This is immediately apparent when Marlow's description of his travels is recounted. For example, consider Marlow's observation about the Africans at the Outer Station: "They were not enemies, they were not criminals, they were nothing earthly now - nothing but shadows black with disease and famine. » This is obviously not resounding support for the African population. To illustrate that these feelings are not simply those of one man, Marlow, note Kurtz's scribbling: "Exterminate all the brutes," in reference to the Africans. Indeed, even the landscape of Africa is described in a way that makes it brutal, dark and evil: "The living trees, bound together by the vines and all the living bushes of the undergrowth, could have been changed in stone, even from the thinnest twig to the lightest leaf... it didn't seem natural. Africa is truly meant to be seen as a dark place by the reader of “Heart of Darkness.” However, despite this, it is not about the titular "darkness". Europe and its inhabitants, on the other hand, seem to be depicted as entities of light in "Heart of Darkness". For example, after Marlow observes the poor and dirty Africans outside the Outer Station, he enters and meets the Accountant, for whom this description is offered: "I shook hands with this miracle...J I respected his collars, his large wrists, his brushed hair... In the great demoralization of the country, he preserved his appearance. This description certainly seems to be that of a beacon of light in a sea of ​​darkness. The status of Europe continues to be constructed up to the reader. Furthermore, in reference to Kurtz, Marlow notes: "All Europe contributed to the creation of Kurtz." This statement, which appears to continue to argue for the "light" of Europe despite Kurtz's wrongdoing, intentionally leads the reader to believe that Kurtz's actions are validated and even admired. From this arises the opinion that "Heart of Darkness" has racist aspects. However, it goes much deeper than that. Europe's status as a beacon of light is also not what it seems; ultimately it just adds to the subtle irony of the overall theme of "darkness". As has been established, in a superficial reading of "Heart of Darkness", Africa and its inhabitants appear to be darkness while Europe and its inhabitants appear to be darkness. to be the antipodal light; However, a thorough analysis of many elements of the story will reveal the exact opposite. Europe is the.