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Psychoanalytical: aims at uncaring the working of the human mind especially

the expression of the unconscious.


- Psychological analysis of a character
- Looking for symbolism and repressed meaning
Mythological criticism: the 3 women that knit, dictate peoples lives
Conrads intention for the novel was focused on imperialism and colonialism and
racism (racist language, nigger
-

Marlow is Buddha (Conrad is fond of, supports)


Kurtz is God or Satan (Conrad has been misled by, deceived)

Psychoanalytical reading reveals it may be a reflection of his religious


views
o Archetypal criticism of characters
o Symbolic river, journey, worship, disappointment
Kurtz is a valued god-like figure
- Worshipped by all
- Not what he is really like
- Still worshipped after his death
- He is lied about, false image
- People like to enjoy the memory of him, although not many have
experienced his reality
The greatest men can give into bad things as well? Have weaknesses?
Joseph Conrad (author):
Was in the Navy
o Would look into horizon and just see darkness
o Feel small in a huge universe
His other books also show theme of ocean
o A power4ful symbol of the unknown, freedom and terror
o Both loved and hated
o Respected, revered and then feared
o The ocean was very big, represented grandeur
Suffered from some major bouts of depression
Pessimistic
Heart of Darkness = work of triumph or tragedy?

Pivotal scene is Kurtz death


o the horror! The horror! (he has found

Context:

During Victorian era


o European colonialism, imperialism
Africa known as the Dark Continent
o What Europeans knew as the heart of darkness on earth
Europeans bringing the light into the darkness of Africa

Themes:

Light vs Dark imagery (very little grey imagery)


o Complete polarisations and opposites
o Black and white
o Very little physical objects of grey colour
o Black skin natives, white skin Europeans (nothing in between)
The Heart of Darkness
o Darkness has a real heart
Physically journeying into the heart of darkness
o Conrad intended (A) Heart (of) Darkness
To look for evil, all you need to do is look within yourself

Marlow:

Reader surrogate
o Reader identifies with, sees the world through his eyes
Protagonist turned anti-hero
Keeps hearing from people about Kurtz
o Like he is more than human, the perfect European colonial man
o Bringing light of morality into uncivilised dark

Kurtz:

Mysterious guy
Meeting Kurtz is the climax of the book

Narrator (Unnamed):

Also mysterious
Do not know a lot about him
Speculated to be Conrad injecting himself into the plot

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