"Heart of Darkness"

Paper Summary:

The paper explains that Kurtz is the mystery that lies at the heart of the novel and he is the key to the meaning of the book. The paper discusses how he is seen as a strange but remarkable man who had all the potential to become one of the leading lights in Africa's colonization but somehow "went wrong" or "turned savage". To portray the character, the paper discusses the themes and background of early colonialism and the exploitation of Africa. The paper concludes that Kurtz sees the horror of human darkness and this horror is in fact a universal revelation about the nature of civilization and the evil that has been committed by men throughout history.

From the Paper:

"Some critics view Kurtz as the central character of the book as the plot and the meaning revolve around him. One could say that that the entire novel is about the search for Kurtz and the fascination as to what Kurtz is or has become as a person. Through the view of Marlow we encounter Kurtz as the rebel and the one who has transgressed the boundaries of the convention of the ordinary "civilized" world. He has gone against the rules and commands of his colonial masters in Africa. At the same time he is held in awe and esteem by those who speak about him. In this sense he is a rebel but his rebellion is complicated by ambiguity and contradiction. In the first instance he is a colonialist himself and of the most renowned in his fields of expertise."

Sample of Sources Used:

• Bloom, Harold, ed. Joseph Conrad''s Heart of Darkness. New York: Chelsea House, 1987.
• Conrad, Joseph. Youth: Heart of Darkness, the End of the Tether; Three Stories. London: J. M. Dent and Sons Ltd, 1946.
• Fiedler, Leslie A. "Mythicizing the Unspeakable." Journal of American Folklore 103.410 (1990): 390-399. Questia. 4 Dec. 2005
• Heart of Darkness and Apocalypse Now. Cyberessays. December 4, 2005. <http://www.cyberessays.com/Arts/22.htm>
• Mitchell, Angus. "New Light on the 'Heart of Darkness'." History Today Dec. 1999: 20. Questia. 26 July 2004 <http://www.questia.com/>.

More papers on "Heart of Darkness":

• Analytical Essay # 141464 : "Human Nature in "Heart of Darkness"
• Analytical Essay # 149305 : "Marlow in Heart of Darkness: A Colonial Co-conspirator or A Subversive Sympathizer?"
• Analytical Essay # 141458 : "Human Nature in Conrad's "Heart of Darkness"
• Analytical Essay # 46854 : "Heart of Darkness": Kurtz and Marlow Compared"

APA Citation:

MLA Citation: