Heart of Darkness Group

Question:

dancingurl216
dancingurl216
Student
High School - 12th Grade

What is the meaning of the title of "Heart of Darkness"?

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Posted by dancingurl216 on Monday October 29, 2007 at 7:31 PM and tagged with heart of darkness, title.

Answers:


  1. jamie-wheeler Teacher
    College - Sophomore

    eNotes Editor

    The title can be understood both literally and symbolically.  Literally, the continent is dark and forboding, with an unexplored heart  (the Congo) in its depths.  Symbolically, the "heart of darkness," is the journey of Marlow and his companions.  Their travels  can be understood as a journey into the exploration of the darkness of the men's souls (sin) , reflected back to them by the "dark continent" which they explore. Their journey out of the Congo can be interpreted as a parallel to man's redemption from sin.   

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    Posted by jamie-wheeler on Monday October 29, 2007 at 7:42 PM


  2. erin-milburn Teacher
    High School - 12th Grade

    eNotes Editor

    Another interpetation of the title can refer to the character of Kurtz and his hunger for power which leads to his ultimate descent into madness. This concept can be related to the adage that "power corrupts and absolute power corrupts absolutely." Kurtz was made into a god by the natives but his imperfect humanity was unable to support the weight of that obligation. Conrad makes the obvious point here about potential consequences of the imperialist mandate, but he also is speaking to the deeper notion of man's fundamental drive to be god of his own world and the danger inherent in that quest.

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    Posted by erin-milburn on Tuesday October 30, 2007 at 8:25 AM