Heart of Darkness review:5 stars (Exploration literally and metaphorically) - Conrad was prolific and at moments as cryptic as Henry James, indeed, the two influenced one another.

Perhaps, his enigmatic style is why his writings appeal to so many. We are forced to take part in his stories, filling in details from our own experiences, making the story unique from each individual's perspective.

The heart of darkness is a comment on the darkness of man's soul symbolized by the descent into a foreboding thick jungle.

The story is rich with alternating sequences of light/ dark and clarity/ambiguity creating a mood of mystery and uncertainty which never leaves you.

The story has several narrators creating a bewildering effect perhaps to symbolize our own inner struggle with existence and it's meaning.

We are introduced to Marlowe, one of the narrators, and indirectly told about Kurtz, a legendary ivory trader.

As Marlowe enters the depths of the jungle in hopes of meeting Kurtz, Marlowe undergoes a psychological transformation as civilization is stripped around him. We see how man reverts to his true inner state when material possessions, titles and other superficialities are removed. This is highlighted when we finally meet Kurtz who turns out to be a hollow sickly figure physically and morally despite his accolades. This is contrasted with Marlowe, who possess some depth of character, and survives the ordeal albeit a changed man.

Succinctly, the story presages a modern tenet of psychology which states that relocating physically does little to improve your mental state since the latter is taken with you. In fact, it may exacerbate the situation when all social norms are discarded unbridling your deepest darkest desires.

Conrad also uses the story to comment on materialism and it's corrupting influence on one's soul replacing character development with material acquisition. This is symbolized by describing London as the land of the living dead.

A fantastic compact psychological thriller we all can relate to.5 stars (so much power is such a small book) -
I must admit its a re-read for me that never gets old.

there are so many classic things about the book to list2 stars ("The horror. The horror") - Joseph Conrad has written a classic novella which delves into the depths of a mind filled with darkness. The story opens with Captain Marlow sitting aboard a boat on the Thames River. As day turns to night, he proceeds to tell the tale of his journey up the African Congo River to three of his companions, who don't really seem all that interested. His journey is in search of the enigmatic Kurtz who is reputed to have set himself up as a God-like figure among the natives. Marlow's journey is one of self discovery, but also discovery of the darkness embedded into the human heart.

Conrad used decidedly descriptive language in Heart of Darkeness. Though this is usualy a quality that adds to a novel, for the average reader, Conrad's language can heighten their confusion a draw away from the plot. Unless the reader has a infinitely sophisticated vocabulary and extensive knowledge of the english languag, it is virtually impossible to have an exact grasp on the whole plot at all times.

Another criticism i have of Heart of Darkness is the storyline. Conrad appears to have left it untill the last 15 pages of his novella to introduce any action. For the good majority of the story, Marlow is either at one of the company's various stations or on his steamboat, the whole time musing about the mysterious Mr Kurtz. The reader begins to wonder whether they are actually going to meet Kurtz before they go insane from the novella's lack of progression.

In conclusion, though i am able to appreciate that Heart of Darkness has its merits, it is hard to recognise these merits when just understanding the plot is a challenge.
Heart of Darkness Features:
Author: Joseph Conrad
Classics
Fiction
Literature - Classics / Criticism

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