Character Analysis Of Conrad's Heart Of Darkness

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Character Analysis of Heart of Darkness
Heart of Darkness by Joseph Conrad is a very complex story about several journeys. Marlow, the narrator, tells of his physical journey into the Congo; but he also makes his own mental journey into the darkness within himself. This story is also about the struggle between white and black, which represents the struggle between good and evil. Towards the end of the story, the reader learns that white does not necessarily represent all good things, and black does not necessarily represent all evil things.
In many ways, Marlow represents a traditional hero. He is honest, tough, a capable man, and an independent thinker. Yet there is also something inside of him that is not so heroic. The world has overpowered him in some way, and he is cynical, skeptical, and weary. Even as his journey into the Congo begins, he is searching for the true meaning of life and trying to figure out his place in the world. This conflict between his courageous side and his vulnerable side makes him a great mediator for this story. He has a way of identifying with all the people in the story in some way. He is an intellectual, yet he is also a working man. He is very eloquent and philosophical, yet he also has the skills to easily repair and pilot his boat. At times, work seems to be merely a concrete alternative to the pretentiousness and excuse making of those around him. He is also a balance between the figures of Kurtz and the manager. He is reasonable enough to let the reader identify with him, yet he is open minded enough to identify with both Kurtz and the manager in some way.
When Marlow arrived at the Inner Station, he was shocked and disgusted by the sight of wasted human life and ruined supplies. The manager’s senseless cruelty and foolishness overwhelmed him with anger and disgust. He was anxious to see Kurtz, who was a fabulously successful ivory agent that was hated by the company manager....