The Dark Side of Colonialism: "Heart of Darkness"

Joseph Conrad is considered one of the most important writers in modern English literature. Although he wrote in English, his native language was Polish, as he was born in Poland. The extensive experiences he gained from his maritime career often influenced his works, which frequently explore marine themes and convey an anti-colonial perspective stance. Moreover, he was a writer who used literature as a guide to understanding the complexity of the individual and the injustices of the world. That is why his literary legacy still exerts great influence.

Joseph Conrad's Heart of Darkness is a significant and controversial work of modern literature. This short novel, published in 1899, deals with themes such as colonialism, the dark side of human nature, and the collapse of civilization. Therefore, it is still considered an essential text in discussions of racism and imperialism today.

The novel deals with the primitive instincts and moral collapse of man behind the mask of civilization. The main character Charles Marlow's journey, as much as it is a physical adventure, also portrays the individual's confrontation with the "darkness" within himself. That is to say, this journey along the Congo River is not just a geographical discovery, but also a voyage into the depths of the human soul. "Darkness" symbolizes both the physically unexplored regions of Africa and the elementary impulses within people.

The story progresses through Charles Marlow's memories that he told to other sailors while traveling on a ship. Marlow gets a job in a trading company in Europe and takes on a mission in Africa. His mission is to travel along the Congo River to find and bring back Kurtz, a successful but mysterious employee of the company. While Europe's "civilization" mission is explained at the beginning of the journey, the brutality behind this mission is revealed over time.

As Marlow travels along the river, he sees the horrors of colonialism and the cruelty inflicted on the natives by Europeans. The journey turns into an adventure where the mask of civilization is revealed, both physically and symbolically.

“The conquest of the earth, which mostly means the taking it away from those who have a different complexion or slightly flatter noses than ourselves, is not a pretty thing when you look into it too much.”

When Marlow eventually reaches Kurtz, he sees that he is in physical and mental collapse. Kurtz established a god-like authority over the natives, but with this power, he experienced moral decay. Kurtz's last words show that he is experiencing a spiritual reckoning:

“The horror! The horror!”

These words express both the inhumane circumstances created by colonialism and the human being's confrontation with the darkness within himself.

After Kurtz's death, Marlow returns to Europe. However, this journey deeply shakes his opinion of the world and civilization. He acknowledges that Europe's claim to moral superiority is a complete illusion. It shows how thin the boundaries between civilization and barbarism are, depending on context and cases.

Heart of Darkness is not only a critique of colonialism but also a psychological and philosophical questioning of humanity's potential for both sublimity and corruption. Conrad's subtle narrative has made the novel one of the cornerstones of modern literature and encouraged readers to question not only social systems but also their inner darkness.

Source:

Conrad, Joseph. Heart of Darkness. Penguin Classics, 1995