Prompt 18

Before a reader begins delving into Joseph Conrad’s world with Marlow, Mr. Kurtz, and the rest of the novella’s characters, the first prominent feature of Heart of Darkness lies in its title.  This label encompasses the very theme upon which Conrad’s story is constructed, ultimately defining the keystone idea expressed throughout the text.  As a title, Heart of Darkness operates twofold, which contributes to a greater understanding of the story as a whole.

The first of these can be found in the novella’s geographical setting, which occurs in the deep core of Africa, an area which was often referred to as “the dark continent” during the 19th century.  The continent was shrouded in mystery at the time when this name was commonly used; the Western culture knew little about the area at the time due to lack of mapping and exploration by Europeans.  Heart of Darkness, published in 1899, was written at the turn of the 20th century when most of Africa’s land remained uncharted and generally unknown to the general European public.  Thus, Heart of Darkness could likely refer to the the story’s location: the center of an unexplored, unfamiliar land.

However, Conrad’s title could also refer to a perspective of humanity which is just that: the dark, primitive, and relentless side which carries the weight of, according to Conrad’s views within the story, the African people and any other human who is unlike that of those living in the Western culture.  Those who become separated from Europe and find themselves surrounded by the shadows of the African forests are, in turn, robbed of their humanity, as their hearts are likewise transformed into darkness.