The Metaphors of Conrads Heart of Darkness Essays -- Heart Darkness e

The Metaphors of Heart of Darkness Within the text of Heart of Darkness, the referee is presented with many metaphors. Those that recur, and are most arresting and notable, are light and dark, character and Kurtz and Marlow. The repeated use of light and dark imagery represents civilization and primitiveness, and of soma the eternal meaning of good and evil. However, the more in depth the lecturer goes the more complex it becomes. Complex also are the meanings behind the metaphors of spirit included within the text. It represents a challenge for the colonists, often also signifying dilapidate and degeneration. Finally Kurtz and Marlow represent imperialism and the colonists. All these metaphors come together and contribute not only to the effect for the reader, but also to the overall meaning. From the very issue Marlow speaks the reader is presented with light and dark imagery. It should be noted, however, that phantasma seems to dominate. The light and dark, world binary oppositions, come to represent other binary oppositions, such as civilized and uncivilized, and of course good and evil. The primitive savages are described as dark, two literally in regards to skin tone, but also in attitude and inwardly. Marlow calls the natives at the first station black shadows of disease and starving (Conrad 20). A little further into the text, Marlow is horrified by what he is seeing, by the darkness he and the reader are being presented with. These are both excellent examples of the negativity towards the natives throughout the book. So, the darkness of the natives is a metaphor for their alleged(a) incivility, evilness and primitiveness. However, if the reader looks a little deeper, they can see that this darkness also ... ...ss Search for the Unconscious. Boston Twayne Publishers, 1987. Conrad, Joseph Heart of Darkness. 3rd ed. New York Norton, 1997 Csicseri, Coreen. Themes and organise of Heart of Darkness. Heart of Darkness by Joseph Conrad 6 Decemb er 1998. unattached <http//www.acsu.buffalo.edu/csicseri/themes.htm> (2 May 2001). Dunson, David. The symbol of the Wilderness in Heart of Darkness. 3 November 1999. accessible <http//www.rsl.ukans.edu/dunson/hod.html> (2 may 2001). Harkness, Bruce. Conrads Heart of Darkness and the Critics. Belmont, Cal. Wadsworth, 1965. Joseph Conrad Heart of Darkness, A Case break down in Contemporary objurgation , ed. Ross C. Murfin. New York St. Martins Press, 1989. Rosmarin, Adena. Darkening the Reader Criticism and Heart of Darkness. ed. Ross C. Murfin. New York St. Martins Press, 1989.