Heart of Darkness is a study of human psyche

Joseph Conrad’s Heart of Darkness has been lauded as a literary classic for more than a century now, but it is perhaps the only work of the author’s to receive such indelible fame. The magnum opus is too short to be published in book form alone, so it is often coupled with some of Conrad’s other stories, such as The Secret Sharer, or The Shadow Line. But, overall, Heart of Darkness seems to be the only work worth noting.

So, setting out on reading the short novel, my main question was why this was. My copy of HOD was packaged along with The Secret Sharer, which I read as well. Carrying the book around with me while reading it, I also discovered another trend: even lovers of English were not taken by it, English teachers noted that it is hard for them to teach.

Thus, I had in my hands a short novel by an author whose 25 other works go virtually unrecognized, and who’s only noted work is labeled quickly as “dense” and “lifeless.”

Through reading, I found that perhaps the two elements are connected. That is, HOD is noted for being a masterpiece, but that it harbors similar qualities to Conrad’s other writings that make it less than preferable to fast-paced readers. Conrad’s other works must not have a powerful message, such as that of HOD, that make them memorable, and thus are thrown into the recycle bin.

Here is the fair warning: despite Conrad’s intriguing title and adventurous cover art, very little at all happens in HOD. Rather, Marlow, who is telling the story of his travels into the Congo (within the larger story of the novel), describes reaching multiple African camps without any apparent motive or reason, until he eventually reaches the dwelling of Mr. Kurtz where he confronts the fabled man for equally unmotivated and unreasoned aims.

In fact, Marlow’s only reason for visiting Mr. Kurtz (which he sets as his aim within the first 40 of 130 pages) is his mention of the “darkness,” the “heart of darkness,” which has a magnetic pull likened to the essence of man’s instincts that, Conrad postulates, we cannot deny.

Thus, Marlow’s journey ceases to be of any real value, and transforms into a metaphysical expedition aimed at discovering the meaning of being a human, a meaning that can only be found by confronting our inner beasts. Again, it seems poetic, beautiful, and ready for devouring, but is presented in a thick and at times impenetrable fashion.

That being said, HOD is powerful enough to merit it a place in the lineage of great English language masterworks, and it is clear the short novel rose to prominence not due only to political fame. (HOD has been seen as not only a great literary work, but one of political importance, as Conrad describes many circumstances in which African “pilgrims” are starving, suffering, and dying under the oppression of Belgian colonialists).

Though it reads much like a philosophical treatise, the points it does make are investigative of human nature and required reading for those interested in the development of Western thought. Conrad describes the amorphous “darkness” as if it were the ultimate challenge for humans, to shed our civilization and come to grips with the origins of our ferocious natures.

HOD should be read as psychological and philosophical inquiry, rather than powerful story-telling, fit for college freshmen with eager minds over lackadaisical high school seniors.