Sanity And Insanity In Joseph Conrad's Heart Of Darkness

Throughout human history, the line between sanity and insanity has always been defined by the morals set by society. By claiming that one side is insane and tainted with madness, the opposing side can be seen as sane and even righteous. The definition of insanity becomes unclear as people with power bend its definition. In Joseph Conrad’s Heart of Darkness, a sailor named Marlow is sent deep into the Congo by an ivory trading company to find their most profitable agent, Kurtz. Throughout his journey up the Congo, Marlow is torn by the conditions created by the company and begins to wonder if the natives are the true savages. Marlow continues to hear the great things about Kurtz, but also evidence begins to convince Marlow that Kurtz isn’t as …show more content…
Marlow, though sure that Kurtz is mad, realizes that Kurtz 's slaughter is very similar to the deeds of the company which he witnessed through his journey. As Kurtz kills and takes as he pleases, the trading company has also enslaved and killed people to achieve its goals. This makes the definition of madness clouded in Marlow mind. If the people that called Kurt’s methods “unsound” are performing the same if not worst deeds, than who is actually engulfed in madness? Marlow begins to realize that away from civilization, people will do as they please knowing the consequences are minimized. When the comparison between Kurtz and the company are made, this juxtaposition asks the question, who really decides when a person reaches madness? While Kurtz pillages the Congo, the company enslaves it, but only Kurtz is deemed insane. This leaves the definition of madness and insanity clouded to the reader. Who is mad and who is sane? This ironic juxtaposition shows that the people who control others and hold power decide who crosses the borders of insanity. The theme of the story is further expressed by this event in the story, because it brings to question who decides who is insane and who is