What does Heart of Darkness say about Africa?

Throughout Heart of Darkness Conrad uses images of darkness to represent Africa. Darkness is everything that is unknown, primitive, evil, and impenetrable. This portrayal of Africa as both a romantic frontier and a foreboding wilderness continues to dominate in the minds of Westerners even today.

What did Conrad say about Africa?

Conrad, he says, portrays Africa as “‘the other world’, the antithesis of Europe and therefore of civilization”, which Achebe attributes to Conrad’s “residue of antipathy to black people”.

What does the African woman represent in Heart of Darkness?

Despite these striking differences, the African mistress and the Intended share a prominent function in the novel. Both exist primarily to symbolize Kurtz’s status and wealth. The mistress’s regal posture, beauty, and excessive jewelry declare to all her countrymen the fact of Kurtz’s brilliance and power.

Why is Africa called The Heart of Darkness?

The phrase ‘Heart of Darkness’ refers to the inmost region of Africa (which was in those times still in the process of being explored) and the black people who still led primitive lives. The title is appropriate for the novel because Marlow has described his experiences of the Congo and people of Congo.

Do the natives speak in Heart of Darkness?

They speak intelligibly only twice. One of the instances is when Marlow approaches Kurtz’s inner station. As the natives from the shore attack the ship, Marlow initiates a conversation with the black headman of his crew.

Why is Kurtz Native?

In Heart of Darkness, the natives adore Kurtz and worship him as a demigod partly because of his personal charisma, but also because he has superior European technology which they have never seen before.

What are the main themes in Heart of Darkness?

The main themes of Heart of Darkness include darkness, alienation and loneliness, and chaos and order. Darkness: Marlow sees “darkness” in the practices of imperialism, though the book maintains the racist implication that it is the uncivilized land and people that led to Europeans’ corruption.

What was the quote in the heart of Darkness?

And outside, the silent wilderness surrounding this cleared speck on the earth struck me as something great and invincible, like evil or truth, waiting patiently for the passing away of this fantastic invasion.” This quote, from the fourth section of Part 1, offers Marlow’s initial impression of the Central Station.

What’s the meaning of Kurtz in heart of Darkness?

For Marlow, Kurtz is a MacGuffin, which is an object of desire that will fulfill his mission. Marlow’s journey to understanding who and what Kurtz is starts with that sense of mystery. We can see that through a few of his quotes:

What did Conrad say about savages in heart of Darkness?

“When one has got to make correct entries, one comes to hate those savages—hate them to the death.” But Marlow and, by derivation, Conrad, could see what their fear of the “savages” said about themselves:

What does the river mean in heart of Darkness?

The river is also a metaphor for Marlow’s internal, emotional journey to find the elusive Kurtz. Conrad wrote of the river itself: