Justin Enriquez

Brit. Lit./Comp.

Blog on “Using a theme discussed about the story (darkness, truth,

Colonialism, racism) explain what Conrad is implying about the human condition.”

26 November 2013

The Human Condition

In Conrad's, Heart of Darkness, the utilization of themes is prevalent in various areas to which the readers can relate them to. In this case the theme of truth or therefore lack of will be utilized in order to explain how truth is utilized by Conrad in which he implies traits that lie in the human condition.

Heart of Darkness is a story that involves a journey. In this journey, Conrad utilizes Marlow in order to fulfill the journey in which the ultimate goal seems to be a lifelong one, discovering Kurtz. In this journey, Marlow also passes through a series of difficult tests to find an object or person of importance and in the process comes to a realization about the true nature of the world and human soul. Marlow seems to be on an ordinary journey in which he will reach his destination eventually, making his way past absurd and horrendous "stations" on his way up the Congo to find Kurtz, the chief of the inner station.

However, Marlow's journey soon becomes a failure: Kurtz turns out to be the biggest monster of all. However, with that failure Marlow learns that at the heart of everything there lies only darkness. In other words, you can't know other people, and you can't even truly know yourself. Therefore, proving there is no fundamental truth one can find in another but rather a cultivated artificial truth that one is expected to believe. In addition, this proves that Conrad is implying that in each person there is a heart of darkness present in some way, shape, or form. As seen in HOD, Marlow ultimately laerns the hard way, having to endure a challenging journey to find his idol, Kurtz, and then experiencing first hand the heart of darkness present in mankind.