Symbolism In Heart Of Darkness Essay -- essays research papers

Submitting to SymbolismEvery great author posses the ability to create a fabrication deeply woven in symbolism and subliminal messages. Underneath the literal journey encountered in Joseph Conrads center of Darkness lies a tale stark(a) with subtle, yet, significant imagery that brings forth the true meaning of the novella. Throughout Heart of Darkness Conrad uses a plethora of simple colors, objects, and places to convey multifaceted images and ideas. His fine doing of the tools of the English language allows him to quickly lure the reader aboard the Nellie and not release him until the horror is over. Although the interpretation of symbols in the Heart of Darkness is elaborate, due to their informality they are often overlooked. An overriding series of symbols in Heart of Darkness is the ongoing contrast of white and black, dark and light, and respectively holding representations of good and evil. Amongst near literature white/light relates to a civilized community and black /dark denotes savagery. However, Conrad often depicts soldieryy things usually associated with light to be dark in coincidence with the glittering light shed on dark images. Conrad illustrates the wrath of Europe, And this also has been one of the darkest places of the earth. (Conrad 18) Furthermore, Conrads frequent symbolic combination of life and death is a parallel to light and dark, echoing the fact that the two must exist simultaneously - there cannot be without the other.Blatant, but often passed over is the symbolism of the compute three in Heart of Darkness. First, notice that the book is divided into three chapters. From there Conrad only lets Marlow break from the story three times to let the anonymous narrator speak. As the journey through the Congo progresses it halts its journey at three stations-Outer, Central, and Inner. The triads do not end here, but persist through the characters in the novella. Though they play an integral role in Heart of Darkness only three women are mentioned principally-the intended, Marlows Aunt, and Kurtzs mistress. Contrasting the women is the trio of Kurtz, Marlow, and the narrator. The triplet that binds the book is the various views of Africa from the adventure, economic, and religious standpoints.The start of the book is ... ...oy him. Towards the close of Heart of Darkness he finds himself amidst a swarm of small flies. The diminishing size of the insects is a representation of the growth in Marlows character as his journey progresses. Symbolism as such is one of the great examples of Conrads intelligenceHeart of Darkness overflows with symbolism and is by far one of the greatest novels of the twenty century. Conrad employs the literary tricks as he unwraps more than just the quest of a man and his trip through the Congo. Looking between the lines helps convey the true meaning in Heart of Darkness and enhance the readers enjoyment of the novel. non to forget that Conrad closes the book with classic symboli sm of Marlow in the lotus position closing his spiritual journey.Marlow ceased, and sat apart, indistinct and silent, in the pose of a meditating Buddha. zippo moved fro a time. We have lost the first of the ebb, said the director suddenly. I raised my head. The offing was barred by a black verify of clouds, and the tranquil leading to the uttermost ends of the earth flowed somber under overcast sky-seemed to lead into the heart of an immense darkness. (Conrad 125)