Heart of Darkness by Joseph Conrad Literary Terms

Heart of Darkness by Joseph Conrad w Social Darwinism: an extension of Darwinism to social phenomena; specifically: a theory in sociology: sociocultural advance is the product of intergroup conflict and competition and the socially elite classes (as those possessing wealth and power) possess biological superiority in the struggle for existence.

Heart of Darkness w Foil character: a minor character whose situation or actions parallel those of a major character, and thus by contrast sets off or illuminates the major character; most often the contrast is complimentary to the major character.

Heart of Darkness w The Absurd: the state or condition in which man exists in an irrational and meaningless universe and in which man’s life has no meaning outside his own existence.

Heart of Darkness w Absurdism: a philosophy based on the belief that man exists in an irrational and meaningless universe and that his search for order brings him into conflict with his universe.

Introduction to Jung Adapted from: Burke, Colleen. “Joseph Conrad’s Heart of Darkness: A Metaphor of Jungian Psychology. Retrieved 18 February 2010.

Carl G. Jung w founder of analytical psychology w religious expression arises from the psyche’s inner drive toward a healthy balance of individual consciousness and the collective unconscious. w collective unconscious, or objective psyche, is shared by all humankind. Includes archetypes, which govern the way symbols and psychic images are processed

Carl G. Jung w recognizing archetypal patterns is key to understanding dreams and the process of individuation w individuation is the striving toward a personal unity of consciousness and unconsciousness, and of the person with the Whole. Can be called the Journey to Wholeness.

Jung’s Model of the Psyche w ego – the part of myself that I’m conscious of w persona – hides my ego from the outer world

Jung’s Model of the Psyche w personal unconscious – contains forgotten or never-conscious experiences of various kinds w collective unconscious – connects me with the whole human experience

Jung’s Model of the Psyche w anima – feminine center of a man w animus – masculine center of a woman

Jung’s Model of the Psyche w Self – whole person, conscious and unconscious; acts as center, seeking to organize the whole

Jung’s Model of the Psyche w Shadow – all that is unconscious, but can be energized by repressed feelings, anger, old hurts, etc. If not recognized or made conscious, its energy can be projected onto others and the faults I see in others are really my own