Essay Intro

The unconscious desires of human beings that are within our "Id" are powerful motivators that drive our behavior. Critic Murfin points out that no one, no even the author of a literary work is immune from his or her own sub-conscious desires. As Ross Murfin suggest, an author may write in order to "gratify secretly some forbidden wish" (118). This unconscious wish makes its way into the text by the process of displacement. In the "Heart of Darkness", Joseph Conrad explores a dark world of colonial Africa, and in doing so, plays out his own desire to be free of moral responsiblity like his strange, crazy character Kurtz. Conrad is trying to satisfy his own dream for unbridled power and Godlike status. The heart of Darkness is really in some ways a journey to Conrad's own Dark Heart at the center of his heart and soul.

Essay ideas

1. Heart of darkness is a really an expression of Conrad's own desire to be a ruler.

2. Heart of Darkness can be seen has representing the Freudian structure of the subconscious with different levels of the human mind represented by the journey of the heart of Darkness.

3. The heart of Darkness represents Conrad's unconscious fears about the world. He shows Africa to be the Dark and scary place and a place that is barely understood by him. In the book he barely mentions any African peoples name and does not give them any dignity or identity.

#6

The painting of a women holding a torch blind folded symbolized Justice. Kurtz idea of the painting is that Africa is similar to the Blind folded women in the sense that it has no direction making it difficult for Africa to prosper. In addition the painting can represent Marlow's journey to Africa with only his torch a light going exploring a world that is struggling and has no direction.

Heart of darkness question two

Marlowe believes what was done with the Roman Empire can be done with Africa. Marlowe uses great imagery in describing London through its hard times and how it soon revolutionized after colinization. After colonization London became a very rich and powerful city. Marlowe sees that Africa has enormous potential to be as successful as London during its colonization.