Heart of Darkness

The Heart of Darkness by Joseph Conrad is about a riverboat captain named Charlie Marlow who sails through the Congo in Africa. Along his journey, he witness brutal acts to the people of Congo, such as genocide, cannibalism, and brutality from the white men. The people he encounters keep referring to an Englishman named Mr. Kurtz, who Marlow is supposed to go meet. Marlow is intrigued about this man, because of the wonderful things he has heard, and wonders if he is an idealistic man like him. There’s mystery when he overhears people secretly talking badly about stuff and mention Mr. Kurtz’s name.

When Marlow and his boat arrive, there’s been a massacre at the camp and Kurtz is dying. While Kurtz is on his death bed, Marlow realizes through talking to him, that Kurtz has gone crazy due to his environment and surroundings. Marlow also realizes that Kurtz has been romantically involved with one of the African women. Marlow is in the mess hall, when he hears news of Kurtz’s death. After Kurtz dies, Marlow receives Kurtz letters, in which one mentions Marlow’s forthcoming arrival. Marlow finds Kurtz’s fiancé back home, and tells her Kurtz’s last word was him saying her name, when really it was, “the horror, the horror.” He doesn’t want to tell her the truth, and add more pain to the grief she is feeling. The heart of darkness means to me, that good people have a gray area, if they are around bad surroundings. The theme of this story is ignorance is bliss.