What is the main message of Heart of Darkness?

The main message of Heart of Darkness is a journey into the darkness of human nature.

How long does it take to read Heart of Darkness?

The estimated reading time for Heart of Darkness is several hours. The Blinkist summary can be read in just 15 minutes.

Who is the author of Heart of Darkness?

The author of Heart of Darkness is Joseph Conrad.

Society & Culture

Heart of Darkness Book Summary - Heart of Darkness Book explained in key points

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Heart of Darkness summary

Name: Heart of Darkness
Rating: 4.2 (56 reviews)
Author: Joseph Conrad

Joseph Conrad

The Horrors of Western Colonialism Told Through the Ivory Trade

4.2 (56 ratings)

16 mins

Brief summary

Heart of Darkness by Joseph Conrad is a classic novella that explores the dark side of imperialism. It follows the journey of Marlow, a steamboat captain in search of a mysterious ivory trader named Kurtz, and the horrors he encounters along the way.

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Race Literature Colonialism & Imperialism Ethics & Morality Adventure

Table of Contents

Heart of Darkness
Summary of 5 key ideas

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Key idea 1 of 5

What’s in it for me? Discover a classic literary critique of colonialism.

Heart of Darkness (1899) is an absolute classic of English literature. It tells the story of sailor Charles Marlow, who becomes a steamship captain for an ivory trading company in the Congo.

The book depicts the very real horrors of European colonialism. But did you know that it’s based on the author’s own experience? Eight years before he started writing the novella, Joseph Conrad actually held a similar job with a Belgian trading company. He sailed up the Congo River on a steamboat, and even briefly held command of the ship. A large part of Heart of Darkness is inspired by his travel journals from that time.

Conrad got to witness the greed and cruelty of his fellow Europeans up close. Perhaps that’s what makes Heart of Darkness such a powerful critique of colonialism. In this Blink, we’ll explore the themes of imperialism, power dynamics, and morality present in the book – and examine why it’s such an important piece of literature.

Chapter 1: Marlow’s Sailor’s Yarn

Heart of Darkness begins on the River Thames near London. The British steam ship Nellie is anchored there, with its five passengers waiting to embark on a journey to Africa.

The passengers include the captain of the ship, referred to as the “Director of Companies,” a lawyer, an accountant, our unnamed narrator, and sailor Charles Marlow – the protagonist of the story.

The mood on board is somber. Everyone seems lost in their own thoughts. As the sun sets, Marlow begins to spin a sailor’s yarn for the others: the story of how he became captain of a river steamboat in Africa.

Marlow explains that his fascination with the unknown began from an early age. As a child, he loved looking at maps – especially at the uncharted territories of Africa. He became particularly fascinated with the Congo River, which looked like a winding snake to him.

As a young adult, Marlow seeks to quench his hunger for exploration by applying for a job with “the Company” – a Belgian ivory trade firm. He gets in with the help of his aunt’s influence. One of the Company’s captains is killed by an African in a petty dispute, and Marlow is the only one willing to replace him.

Marlow is excited to finally see more of the world, but he feels apprehensive about the details of his new job. When he signs his contract in the Brussel offices, he’s beset by the ominous feeling that he’s made a mistake.

But he boards the ship to Africa regardless. After thirty days, the ship finally reaches a Company station on the outer coast of Africa. Here, Marlow is supposed to get acquainted with the job before taking command of his own ship. Instead, he gets his first glimpse of the horrors of colonialism.

ANALYSIS

The first chapter of Heart of Darkness sets the stage for the story to come. It introduces us to our protagonist Charles Marlow, a travel-hungry sailor who takes a job with a Belgian ivory trading company. Marlow is depicted as introspective and philosophical, with a deep desire to explore the unknown. As becomes clear throughout the book, he’s actually somewhat obsessed with exploring the “darkness” at the heart of humanity.

Marlow recounts the story of what happened to him to other passengers on a ship. This gives him the power of hindsight – and allows him to interrupt the story with retrospective musings. For example, he ponders how many atrocities that have been committed in the name of progress actually just served the pursuit of profit.

Chapter 1 [cont.]: Company Men

When the ship reaches the Company station on the outer coast, Marlow gets his first impressions of colonial horrors. He sees African slaves chained together by the neck, and stumbles upon a group of sick, starving men who’ve hidden in the bushes. He tries to share some food with one destitute young man, but he dies right in front of him.

In stark contrast, the Company accountant Marlow meets soon after is dressed in a fine English suit. He tells Marlow about a mysterious Company agent called Mr. Kurtz, who mans an outpost deep in the jungle. Kurtz is a revered figure within the Company because he harvests more ivory than anyone else.

Chapter 2: The Mysterious Mr. Kurtz

Marlow becomes more and more obsessed with the enigmatic ivory trader Kurtz. One day, he eavesdrops on the Manager and his uncle talking about Kurtz. They refer to rumors about his “strange behavior,” talk about his influence in the Company, and wish him ill. But this only makes Marlow more fascinated.

The Manager’s uncle and his Eldorado Exploring Expedition soon venture back into the jungle. A little later, Marlow receives news that their donkeys have been killed – implying that the men have died, too.

Chapter 3: The Horror! The Horror!

After two months of travel, Marlow and his crew finally reach Kurtz's Inner Station. They’re greeted by a young Russian sailor, dressed in a strange harlequin costume. The sailor turns out to be Kurtz's disciple. He proudly tells Marlow about the incredible influence Kurtz holds over the local tribes – and the atrocities he’s committed to cement his power.

The Russian explains that the natives attacked Marlow’s steamship with arrows because they didn’t want Kurtz to leave. Kurtz has succeeded in making the natives revere him like a God. He even takes them on ivory raids to other local villages.

Final Summary

The novella by Polish-English novelist Joseph Conrad centers around a sailor named Marlow, who becomes captain of an ivory trading steam ship in colonized Africa. Marlow tells a group of travelers about his journey up the Congo River. Along the way, Marlow witnesses the brutality of European colonialism.

He becomes obsessed with a man named Kurtz, a company agent who has gone rogue and is rumored to have become a tyrant over the local tribes. When he finally reaches Kurtz's station deep in the jungle, he finds a man who has descended into madness over his hunger for power.

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What is Heart of Darkness about?

Heart of Darkness (1899) is a classic novella that explores themes of imperialism, power dynamics, and morality. It tells the story of sailor Charles Marlow, who becomes captain of a river steamboat for a Belgian ivory trade company Africa and witnesses the brutal reality of European colonialism. Marlow becomes fascinated with the mysterious ivory trader Kurtz – a mad genius who commands a trading post deep in the jungle.

Heart of Darkness Review

Heart of Darkness (1899) by Joseph Conrad is a riveting exploration of the human psyche amidst the backdrop of colonialism in Africa. Here's why this book is a must-read:

With its deep examination of the darkness that lies within humanity's heart, it challenges readers to contemplate the nature of good and evil.
The book's powerful symbolism and vivid descriptions transport readers to a time and place characterized by the struggle between civilization and savagery.
Through its thought-provoking narrative, Heart of Darkness sheds light on the corrupting effects of power and the moral dilemmas faced by individuals in oppressive systems.

Who should read Heart of Darkness?

Fans of classic literature
Those interested in critical perspectives on imperialism and colonialism
Anyone who loves a good sailor’s yarn

About the Author

Joseph Conrad (1857 - 1924) was a Polish-British writer who’s best known for his critically acclaimed novella Heart of Darkness (1899). Despite only learning the language in his twenties, he’s widely regarded as one of the most important English-speaking writers to date. His other books include Lord Jim (1900) and Nostromo (1904).

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