A seminal work of modernist literature, Heart of Darkness confronts the moral and existential dilemmas of imperialism and human corruption. The novella follows Charles Marlow, an experienced seaman, as he journeys into the depths of the Congo River in search of the enigmatic ivory trader, Kurtz. What begins as a voyage into the African wilderness becomes an unsettling confrontation with the darkest recesses of human nature.
Conrad’s narrative explores the brutal realities of European colonialism, exposing the violence and exploitation concealed beneath the rhetoric of civilization. As Marlow ventures deeper into the interior, he encounters not only the physical challenges of the landscape but also the moral disintegration and madness that accompany unchecked power.
Heart of Darkness is a profound meditation on the fragility of morality and the abyss that lies beneath the veneer of order and progress. With its layered narrative structure and stark, evocative prose, the novella endures as a critical examination of imperialism, identity, and the complexities of human conscience.