Joseph Conrad set his tenebrous Heart of Darkness in the depths of the Belgian Congo at the turn of the twentieth century, a time when European powers dominated the world, and subjugated much of it in ruthless systems of resource theft on a grand scale....
Heart of Darkness (1899), written by Joseph Conrad, follows the journey of Charles Marlow upstream the Congo River, which at first starts off as an adventure but soon becomes one man’s exploration of the damaging effects of imperialism and colonization. Marlow will throughout his travel,...
Joseph Conrad’s writing has captivated millions with its vast voyages with places far away, sojourners in distant lands, and an omnipotent force of nature disrupting everything. The concept of writing about seafaring comes directly from Conrad’s own adventures, as he went on many voyages throughout...
Many individuals say that the metal of a man is found in his capacity to keep his goals regardless of anything that life can toss at you. In the event that a man is found to have done these things he can be known as...
They say that those who live by the gun usually are destined to die by the same implement. However, it has never been said that those who live by the book die by the book. It is almost an accepted fact that books are always...
In his lecture regarding Joseph Conrad’s Novella ‘Heart of Darkness’ in 1975, Nigerian novelist Chinua Achebe states that whilst the novel has been discussed in great lengths over the years, that its ‘obvious racism has not, and that it is high time that it was’....
Throughout Joseph Conrad’s 1926 novel Heart of Darkness and Francis Ford Coppola’s 1979 film adaptation Apocalypse Now, the authors delve into the psychological depths of man’s capacity for inhumanity. Conrad’s protagonist Charles Marlow navigates the Congo River to Africa in pursuit of an infamous ivory...
Introduction In Heart of Darkness by Joseph Conrad, the main character, Marlow, ponders the question of what makes people good or evil. Is it their experiences that shape them, or do their genes determine it? This complex interplay between environment and inherent nature forms the...
Joseph Conrad’s work is an apparent staple of the 20th century British canon. Few literature students manage to weave their way toward a degree without being exposed to his iconic novella Heart of Darkness. While it is undeniably a powerful piece of writing, the analysis...
Despite the popular conception that Joseph Conrad’s novel, Lord Jim, is merely a fanciful tale about sea-faring adventurers, this carefully crafted novel reaches far beyond its oceanic setting. Conrad’s tale is a bittersweet portrayal of the romantic idealist, which dives into the complex and oftentimes...
The potential for self-discovery, complemented by the capacity for transformation, lies latent within each man. When circumstances instigate a strong stimulus for change, man finds a way to actuate his innate potential. In Joseph Conrad’s The Secret Sharer, the overly rational captain finds himself lacking...
Born in 19th century Poland, Joseph Conrad experienced a life out of the ordinary as a world traveller. Attracted by reading, maps and the dream of becoming a sailor, Conrad led a multi-skilled life, travelled the world and wrote masterpieces that only a man with...
Symbols are used to represent an idea by suggesting what that idea could mean instead of giving a direct interpretation. It makes the reader question what the true purpose of the symbol is and leads to many analyses. By analyzing symbolism in Heart of Darkness,...
The Secret Agent, written by Joseph Conrad, was a very intriguing book that led on a journey to life in London of 1886. The book tells about the story of Adolf Verloc, a businessman, as well as a secret agent. Mr. Verloc is part of...
Introduction The Heart of Darkness was written in the peak of European dominance over countries seen as lesser, by Joseph Conrad and is often seen as a novel that supports a discriminative view on race and gender. The story follows Charles Marlow, an english seaman,...
Introduction Heart of Darkness, written by Polish-British author Joseph Conrad was published in Blackwood’s magazine in three parts and was released in February, March, and April of 1899. The novel follows Marlow a sailor, who embarks on a journey up the Congo River to see...
The following essay is my reflection on the “Heart of Darkness”, a novel by Joseph Conrad. I found this book really entertaining because the author introduces numerous themes such as the mystery of new territory, (the eastern world) and the emotion of an adventurous journey....
Joseph Conrad, original name Józef Teodor Konrad Korzeniowski, was an English novelist and short-story writer of Polish descent. Regarded as one of the best novelists, Joseph Conrad wrote short stories and novels like Lord Jim, Heart of Darkness and The Secret Agent, which combined his experiences in remote places with an interest in moral conflict and the dark side of human nature.
Early Life
Conrad was born on 3 December 1857 in Berdychiv (Polish: Berdyczów), Ukraine. His father was a Polish patriot who was exiled to northern Russia, and Conrad was an orphan by age 12. He managed to join the French merchant marine and in 1878 the British merchant navy, where he pursued a career for most of the next 15 years; his naval experiences would provide the material for most of his novels. Though he knew little English before he was 20, he became one of the master English stylists.
Works
Almayer's Folly (1895), The Nigger of the 'Narcissus' (1897), Heart of Darkness (1899), Lord Jim (1900), Typhoon (1902), Nostromo (1904), The Secret Agent (1907), Under Western Eyes (1911)
Heart of Darkness
“Heart of Darkness” is Conrad's most famous, finest, and most enigmatic story, the title of which signifies not only the heart of Africa, the dark continent, but also the heart of evil — everything that is corrupt, nihilistic, malign — and perhaps the heart of man. The story is central to Conrad’s work and vision, and it is difficult not to think of his Congo experiences as traumatic.
Style and Themes
Conrad is considered a literary impressionist by some and an early modernist by others. Conrad’s view of life is indeed deeply pessimistic. In every idealism are the seeds of corruption, and the most honourable men find their unquestioned standards totally inadequate to defend themselves against the assaults of evil. It is significant that Conrad repeats again and again situations in which such men are obliged to admit emotional kinship with those whom they have expected only to despise.
Death and Legacy
Conrad died of a heart attack on August 3, 1924, at his home in Canterbury, England. Conrad's work influenced numerous later 20th century writers, from T.S. Eliot and Graham Greene to Virginia Woolf and William Faulkner. His books have been translated into dozens of languages and are still taught in schools and universities.
Quotes
“Being a woman is a terribly difficult trade since it consists principally of dealings with men.”
“It's only those who do nothing that make no mistakes, I suppose.”
“Facing it, always facing it, that’s the way to get through. Face it.”
