Heart Of Darkness American Imperialism

In the novella, The Heart of Darkness, by Joseph Conrad, Marlow recounts his tale of his adventures into the deepest part of the African continent. As a citizen of London, Marlow views Africa as a dark place as it differs from Europe physically and socially. Throughout Marlow’s tale in search of Mr. Kurtz, the author exemplifies the differences between a civilized society that is Europe and the savagery in the deepest parts of Africa. The continents of Europe and Africa are complete opposites. In the late 19th century, Europe was far ahead in physical advancements. Marlow’s hometown of London was a cosmopolitan city. It attracted visitors and merchants from across the continent. In the novella, we read that London has large buildings and many roads, as the city has existed for hundreds of years. In such advanced society we can assume that there were rules in place to keep social order among citizens. These rules force citizens to be …show more content…
Africa is characterized by darkness as seen through the lack of light in the jungle and the constant fog that sits on the Congo River. There is no moral compass to guide individuals on how to act of think. The absence of government has caused a power vacuum to exist. Social Darwinism has taken over the content as people must exert force to survive. This is exemplified by Kurt’s rise as a dominate figure. His success in obtaining ivory has gained him a loyal band of natives who obey his every command. Through the differences in social structures, the author illustrates the importance of a source of guidance to achieve a functional society. London and Africa differ greatly in every aspect, especially physically and socially. In Joseph Conrad’s novel, Heart of Darkness, we see the differences between the two settings. Through Marlow’s’ story in search for Mr. Kurtz, the author highlights the differences between an advanced society and a society with no form of