By Joseph Conrad

STRUCTURE OF NOVEL Novella written as a frame story Told mostly from Charlie Marlow’s view. At one point, Marlow’s POV is “framed” by an unnamed narrator giving the description of Marlow telling his story Even a 3 rd POV can be seen as a 3 rd “consciousness” – Conrad himself

STRUCTURE (CONT.) Cyclical (both geographical and chronological) Begins in 1890’s – ventures to the past – then back again. Originates in Europe, travels to the heart of the Congo, coming out, then back to the same starting point

JOURNEY INTO THE CONGO… Literally, a journey for Marlow into the Belgian Congo of Africa Symbolically, a journey into the blackness of the soul of man

BELGIAN CONGO OF AFRICA

CONGO RIVER

The Congo River – “Zaire River” -- is Africa's most powerful river second most voluminous river in the world ; fifth longest river in the world Called “the heart of darkness” by Conrad, the river and rainforest have long been known as the mysterious land of pygmies, mythical beasts, dreadful plagues, and CANNIBALS

Known as a place of brutality and violence for its past: the days of the Arab slave and ivory trade, its long history of tribal warfare; and its present: the ethnic violence and massacres of today.

it begins peacefully in the savannas the river widens and picks up speed until it enters the "Gates of Hell," a 75-mile long canyon of impassable rapids. The river emerges again, surrounded by lush tropical rainforest as the Upper Congo.

During the course through the rainforest, the river crosses the equator twice. Because the watershed of the Congo drains from both the Northern and Southern Hemisphere it does not have great seasonal fluctuations in water level as other great rivers. Its flow is relatively stable; part of its watershed is always in the zone of rain.

The Upper Congo abruptly ends with Stanley Falls, a 60 mile stretch of rapids.

THeMES ALIENATION AND LONELINESS DECEPTION ORDER AND DISORDER SANITY AND INSANITY DUTY AND RESPONSIBILITY DOUBT AND AMBIGUITY RACE/RACISM VIOLENCE AND CRUELTY MORAL CORRUPTION

REFLECTION QUESTIONS Are we born evil or do we become evil? What is at the “heart” of man’s darkness or evil? What makes a person hate or mistreat another human? How can evil be stopped?