Heart of Darkness: Reflection Essay
Although it evidently refers to the classic literature, Joseph Conrad’s novella Heart of Darkness cannot be merely reviewed in terms of the canon. In fact, the author manages to challenge the idea of the traditional literary work in many ways. Specifically, he applies to the framework of the journey but represents a completely new vision of this storyline. Also, Conrad reinforces the complication of novella’s ending, therefore making readers autonomous in their own considerations. Finally, the author also succeeds in avoiding the historic context of his time to influence his work.
As it becomes apparent from the start, Conrad does not introduce a typical hero of a typical journey. Apart from making Marlow a narrator of the novella, Conrad incorporates the storyline of the successful ivory trader Kurtz to disperse the whole perspective. As a result, an intricate pluralism is reached that previous literary works about journeys lacked. At the same time, the author challenges the purpose of literature. For instance, Marlow highlights the impossibility to reveal the whole story completely. He compares the events that happen to his as a dream, and telling one’s dream for him means “making a vain attempt, because no relation of a dream can convey the dream-sensation, that commingling of absurdity, surprise, and bewilderment in a tremor of struggling revolt” (Conrad). At last, Conrad manages to avoid being biased in his representation of the colonial rule for he does not criticize the particular aspect depicted but rather explores the darkness of the human soul that is always there regardless a state or ethnicity.
All things considered, the novella Heart of Darkness by Joseph Conrad presents a profound attempt to reconsider both the literature tools and plots, as well as the predispositions of injustice that expectedly occurs not only in Africa but all over the world. For Conrad also avoids delivering his point of view, the novella becomes a thoughtful piece to read.
Work Cited
Conrad, Joseph. Heart Of Darkness. The Project Gutenberg Ebook, 2009, …