Heart of Darkness
Themes
Themes
are overarching ideas and beliefs that the writers express in their texts
including poetry, fiction, and plays. Heart of Darkness has various themes which run
parallel to one another. Joseph Conrad has used prominent recurring ideas
wrapped in ambiguous language. Some of the major themes in Heart of Darkness
have been discussed below.
Themes in Heart of Darkness
Imperialism
One
of the major themes of Heart of Darkness is imperialism. Imperialism is
actually European colonization of countries from Asian and African continents
for resources. However, it was hidden in the slogan of spreading civilization.
Marlow accepts taking African’s land from the people is not right. Kurtz is in
Congo pretending to civilize the people and was engaged in the ivory trade and
involved in horrific ancient rituals of sacrificing humans to appease the
native Africans. Marlow describes the ravages of imperialism during his journey
to the heart of Africa.
White Man’s Burden
Another
prominent theme of the novel is irony of Marlow’s voyage
and the purpose. He journeys toward Congo to meet popular station manager,
Kurtz. Though Kipling’s words “white man’s burden” wring in his ears, he sees
the opposite. The white man, including Mr. Kurtz, has been engaged in killing
the natives to plunder the resources. There are heads erected on the poles
around the station where Mr. Kurtz is staying. Marlow believes that his voyage
is “heavenly mission” of a white man to spread the enlightenment of
Christianity in the darkness.
Lack of Truth
The
superficial themes of the novel are imperialism and cruelty of the European
powers. However, the theme of the lack of truth lies at the heart of the text.
All the European powers engaged in Africa are occupying their land and
plundering resources while propagating it as a civilizing mission. Marlow says
that several things are left out and, in his words, “away from the truth of
things.” The ironic language used from the very start occasionally shows that
Marlow cannot speak the truth. He finally tells another lie to avoid
disappointing Kurtz’s Intended that Kurtz had said her name before dying.
Colonization
Colonization
means establishing control over the indigenous people of a country or a place.
This theme also runs parallel to diverse other themes in Heart of Darkness. In
one of the situations, Marlow, the spokesman of Conrad, clearly states that
conquest of the earth means “taking it away from those who have a different
complexion.” In other words, he is indicating that the Europeans think they are
of a higher race. They destroy their land by the colonization and eventually
steal Africa’s resources.
Exploitation
The
ivory trade is the main trade throughout the Congo River. However, Marlow does
not clarify or accept the amount of brutal exploitation that happened in the
name of trade. It is only mentioned in oblique words such as “the horror” and
the postscript of Kurtz “Exterminate all brutes,” which points out the truth
about the trade and the people involved. In fact, Marlow is also the part of
this exploitation where locals are misled and mesmerized by Kurtz. They are
also enticed to attack the people not standing in line with the main agent,
Kurtz, including the attack on the steamer carrying Marlow. These attacks also
cause death to locals more than the targets. The exploitation continued even
after Kurtz’ death.
Racial Discrimination
The
novel Heart of Darkness shows that racial discrimination is dominating in
Africa and other parts of the world. Marlow also understands that “different
complexions and flattened nose” means, Europeans were permitted to take the
possession of the land from that race. Marlow too called the locals savages
including the Intended of Kurtz. She tells him how racial discrimination has
led to the white men’s action of making ideas of civilizing those savages. The
words of Kipling that it is “white man’s burden” echoes in the end when Kurtz
dies, speaking of the horror that he committed against the African people.
Alienation and Isolation
Although
alienation and isolation are often understood as a psychological issue of an
individual, the novel Heart of Darkness has presented alienation and isolation
of both; psychological as well as social. Marlow’s departure hints to social
alienation and isolation which tries to rob him of his humanity. Kurtz is the
prime example of this alienation in that he mixes up with the locals and tries
to become one of them. His alienation completes with his final outburst of
“horrors” when he comes to know the results of his actions. Marlow’s initial
Buddha-like posture, too, confirms this alienation and isolation.
Moral
corruption is another underlying theme of the novel, Heart of Darkness. Kurtz
goes to Congo to civilize the locals. However, he becomes a top agent of the
company in robbing the locals of their treasure and exporting ivory. He is
engaged in corrupt practices of punishing those who oppose him and becoming
their demigod. The same goes on at the other stations where Marlow sees many
small agents engaged in the same practices.
Violence
There
are two types of violence; the first one is provoked cruelty. For instance,
Kurtz incites the natives to attack the steam carrying Marlow. The second one
is the violence among the natives and the heads on the sticks around Kurtz
house. Here Kurtz who claims to change the savages has become a savage. He uses
violence to dominate the natives to rob and punish them if they interfere in
white men’s business.
Human Greed and Deception
Marlow
says that he has seen “the devil of greed, and the devil of hot desire” which
refers to the ivory trade at the expense of the native Africans’ freedom and
life. The European companies have been competing against each other to extract
treasures as soon as possible. Using violence, they go on killing spree and
massacring the innocents. The pieces of evidence of this human
greed and deception can be seen clearly when Kurtz displays heads on the poles
around his station.
Compiled
By
Prof.
Mukhtar Naeem Ghumman
The
Muslim Scholars Academy Sialkot
00923348332522
Comments
Post a Comment