The Heart of Darkness by Joseph Conrad explores many tricky topics, but the most prominent is the evil that consumes humanity. This is well elaborated upon throughout the novel and especially shown in Mr. Kurtz. In The Heart of Darkness, Joseph Conrad uses imagery and symbolism to explain to the reader that the true evil of humanity is greed.
Joseph Conrad uses symbolism to elaborate on the true evil of humanity: greed. The symbolism of the river shows this prominently as Mr. Kurtz, a very greedy individual, dies while floating down the river, his life ebbing away. The river is also a symbol of being out of control because the currents will take you places whether you want it to or not. Mr. Kurtz was completely out of control in his greed as well and was henceforth an empty shell of a person because of it. The greed had completely consumed him – had given him a heart of darkness. …show more content…
A particular line uses imagery to show Kurtz’s true evil self, “The wilderness has patted him on the head, and, behold, it was like a ball - an ivory ball; it had caressed him, and - lo! - he had withered; it had taken him, loved him, embraced him, got into his veins, consumed his flesh, and sealed his soul to its own by the inconceivable ceremonies of some devilish initiation” (86). Greed has completely ruined Kurtz which just affirms more the fact that greed is the true evil of humanity.
The Heart of Darkness is a fantastic exploration of humanity, whether savage or civilized. Joseph Conrad employs many literary devices to explain fully the effects of greed on humans, especially through Mr. Kurtz. Imagery and symbolism are the most prominent devices that Conrad uses to show the reader how a heart can be consumed by greed. That’s what the title of the book is referring to: Kurtz’s dark heart, devoured by
Joseph Conrad uses symbolism to elaborate on the true evil of humanity: greed. The symbolism of the river shows this prominently as Mr. Kurtz, a very greedy individual, dies while floating down the river, his life ebbing away. The river is also a symbol of being out of control because the currents will take you places whether you want it to or not. Mr. Kurtz was completely out of control in his greed as well and was henceforth an empty shell of a person because of it. The greed had completely consumed him – had given him a heart of darkness. …show more content…
A particular line uses imagery to show Kurtz’s true evil self, “The wilderness has patted him on the head, and, behold, it was like a ball - an ivory ball; it had caressed him, and - lo! - he had withered; it had taken him, loved him, embraced him, got into his veins, consumed his flesh, and sealed his soul to its own by the inconceivable ceremonies of some devilish initiation” (86). Greed has completely ruined Kurtz which just affirms more the fact that greed is the true evil of humanity.
The Heart of Darkness is a fantastic exploration of humanity, whether savage or civilized. Joseph Conrad employs many literary devices to explain fully the effects of greed on humans, especially through Mr. Kurtz. Imagery and symbolism are the most prominent devices that Conrad uses to show the reader how a heart can be consumed by greed. That’s what the title of the book is referring to: Kurtz’s dark heart, devoured by