In Conrad's Heart of Darkness: Symbolism of Gloom
In Conrad's Heart of gloom, the symbolism of gloom is crucial. For instance, Marlow describes a scene of two women knitting black wool as he recounts his experiences working as an agent for "the company," a Belgian ivory trading business, in the Congo, Africa. In this instance, the black wool stands in for the idea of gloom. According to Conrad (1.24), the older lady has a "uncanny and fateful" appearance. Marlow also conveys the idea that the two ladies were "guarding the door of Darkness" in the book. (Conrad 1.24). These two women are not just some harmless old grandmothers knitting baby blankets. These women seem to represent two of the three Greek personifications of fate.
The Greek Personification of Fate and Death
The Greeks believed that the three fates are young, middle-aged, and old. The young one represented birth, the middle one life, and the old one symbolized death. There is also a Latin quotation, “Morituri te salutant” (Conrad 1.24). This quote means “They who are about to die salute you.” Conrad’s use of this quotation highlights the theme of darkness, which is represented by death in this case. Additionally, the older woman is used to symbolize the third fate of Greek personification, which is death. Death is known to be a symbol of darkness.
The Symbolism of Fog and Obscured Vision
In the novel, Marlow’s steamboat gets stuck in the fog. The fog is said to be so thick that Marlow could hardly see where he was headed. Fog is seen as some corollary to darkness. It not only obscures one’s vision but also distorts it. In a symbolic sense, fog gives just a hint of what lies ahead. Obscured vision often results in fear of the unknown, and fear is often portrayed as a dark state of mind. The fact that Marlow’s boat is caught in the fog implies that he has no idea what impending dangers the water ahead may present.
The Whited Sepulcher: Symbol of Darkness
The “whited sepulcher” (1.21) in Conrad’s novel represents Brussels where “the company’s” headquarters were located. However, according to the biblical book of Matthew, the whited sepulcher is described as something beautiful on the outside but evil on the inside. Brussels, which in this case represents the whited sepulcher, implies confinement and death. Belgium’s initial intention was to spread civilization among the Congolese, but they ended up enslaving the Africans. The sepulcher represents cruelty and the dehumanization the Africans suffered at the hands of the colonialists. Therefore, the whited sepulcher in the novel is used to symbolize the darkness associated with the heinous acts the Belgians imposed upon the Congo natives.
The Setting of the Sun and the Darkness of the Town
In David Conrad’s Heart of Darkness, before Marlow begins to speak, the sun is about to set, and a “haze rested on the low shores that ran out to sea in vanishing flatness. The air was dark above Gravesend, and farther back still seemed condensed into a mournful gloom, brooding motionless over the biggest, and the greatest, a town on earth” (Conrad 1.2). First of all, the setting of the sun paves the way for the night. The night is characterized by darkness, which on its own, frightens some people. Additionally, the phrases “dark air,” “Gravesend,” and “mournful gloom” are mostly associated with death and the somber mood it commands. Therefore, the phrases above represent the darkness that is engulfing the said town.
The Darkness of European Imperialism and Colonialism
The novel has many instances where darkness imagery is used. According to Kurtz and Marlow, the African people were drowning in the darkness of “savagery, cannibalism, and human sacrifice” (Conrad 87). The two also claimed that Africans were inhuman and ignorant. Ironically, when they are in Congo, they subject the locals to slavery. They also interfere with the Africans' culture, their solitariness, the political power, the social status, and their way of life. Many Africans died from the horrendous living conditions imposed by the white imperialists. The White man’s brutality, greed, and hunger for power portray human deceptiveness, which is the primary source of darkness in Africa. The darkness in the Heart of Darkness, therefore, represents the wickedness associated with European imperialism and colonialism in Africa during the twentieth century.
Works Cited
Conrad, Joseph. "Heart of darkness." Heart of darkness. Palgrave Macmillan US, 1996. 17-95.
