Heart of [the symbolism] Darkness

In literature authors may use a particular symbol to extenuate their meaning in writing a novel. Select a novel or play of literary merit in which a single object, person, or place symbolizes a greater meaning. Then write a well-organized essay in which you describe the symbol and explain its relevance to the work as a whole.

Joeseph Conrad's Heart of Darkness utilizes darkness as a symbol countless times, including as its title. Each mention of darness, it yields a different although no less important meanings, and come together to create one cental message important to the novel as a whole. This novel informs its readers of the horrors of European colonialism in Congo years ago, and symbolism immensely helps in doing so.

In his novel, Conrad uses the symbol of darkness to exemplify his attitude toward both Europeans and Europe as a whole. Conrad refers to as a dark place. He uses the symbol darkness as a device to explain how polluted, immoral, and evil place Europe has become. The symbolism helps express the narrator’s despise for Europeans and with this the author’s own hatred as well. By using symbolism, Europe develops a highly negative connotation that remains active in the reader’s mind throughout the novel. The reader cannot help but feel as the author does. By making Europe dark it suggests that it is tainted by all things impure, particularly colonialism. Already the reader despises colonialism as much as the author does, and the book has yet to begin; thus making Conrad’s persuasion easy to press upon his readers.

Darkness is also used in explaining the Congo after Europeans’ occupation of it. In describing the Congo, Conrad allows the darkness to represent colonialism ruining the nation as it illustrates the European’s contamination and dirtying of a once pure nation. This symbol is very often made, obvious from its title. Once the Europeans colonized the Congo they made this once pure country as dark as their own homeland, staining it with their hatred, greed, and inhumanity. The people of the Congo became dark themselves all due to the Europeans. Conrad uses darkness as a way to allow his readers to be aware of how tainted Congo has become allowed the Congo to become, further strengthening the readers’ dislike for Europeans and their brutal foreign tactics.

Most importantly, in this novel darkness is used to contrast another symbol: light. Conrad uses light when describing the Congo absent of European influences, emphasizing its purity. This symbolism of light allows for the change the Congo undergoes following the Europeans’ arrival, making it more distinguishable and impossible to miss. The contrast the symbolism both light and dark creates forces the readers to clearly see the difference between the Europeans and Congo’s people. Conrad utilizes the idea that when two dissimilar objects are compared the differing characteristics become more apparent and strike its reader with more of a perspective impact.

Through this novel Conrad has forced people to listen to his message that colonialism is wrong as it destroys whole countries. He forcibly informs his readers of the truth, eliminating any possible excuse of ignorance so many humans use today. Through the use of symbolism of darkness the readers are able to fully extract this negative attitude as if the author was arguing it to him/her personally and not through his novel’s pages. He then demands change as he his heeds warning to the world, thus fulfilling his entire purpose for writing the novel.


This essay appears to deserve more of a five.

Their Eyes Were Watching God

Love is an element that constantly arises in pieces of literature. It often represents more than the deep affections of a two people, but a greater theme in life. Select a novel or play of literary merit in which the author uses love to describe a greater meaning. Then write a well-organized essay in which you describe the symbol and explain its relevance to the work as a whole.


Hurston’s novel Their Eyes Were Watching God reveals the racism held in the Deep South. The novel utilizes a black woman’s voyage through life and love to illustrate the blacks’ drive to be independent of white society and racism despite their suppression.

Janie’s character represents the general evolution of black sentiments for their independence. Her journey through love mirrors her race’s journey toward its own independence respectability. Janie begins the novel marrying a man not for love but instead to appease her grandmother. Her character is naïve of any desire for independence, and thus is very obedient despite the contradiction to her own feelings. This adherence to other’s demands is entirely what characterized the black race during slavery and even the times following the abolition of slavery. All were obedient by nature because they were taught to be nothing less than obedient. All were chained by duty and tradition, just as Janie was chained by her obligation to a loveless arranged marriage.

After some time, Janie’s character takes a first step toward independence. She goes on to stray away from strict obedience by running off with Joe Starks, a man she thought she loved. This restlessness is similar both in nature and duration to the restlessness blacks slowly began to feel about their own suppression in society. However, this love Janie feels does not last too long when she finds Joe Starks will not allow her to be anyone other than a mayor’s wife. Thus, as she once again plays the obedient wife her individuality is locked away inside her. She remains a slave to her husband’s oppression despite her awareness that she wants change. There are brief moments when Janie breaks free from her obedience, illustrating her growing awareness of the void of personal freedom and individuality. Yet, she is quickly reprimanded, set in her place, and things remain the as they were before. Like Janie, blacks began to be aware of their pitiful situation yet they too remained suppressed. They put off their yearns for freedom and allowed their practical slavery to continue.

It is not until later that they completely realize entire independence, just as it takes twenty years for Janie to finally discover and embrace her own independence. Following her second husband’s death Janie finally becomes free from all obligation and duty, and she revels in her victory, defeating all of her previous oppressions. It is then that she finds true love and happiness with Tea Cake and lives for nothing but that love that she is finally free. Blacks waited just as long to discover their true worth as they overcame oppressions set in front of them through racism, prejudices, and economic oppression. However, they have found it and revel in their victory as well, progressing faster than ever to become equals in an unequal nation.

The novel Their Eyes were Watching God Is more than the recounting of a black woman’s life long hardships and trials through love. It also tells the journey of a young girl’s independence and in turn, the journey and progression of African America independence and individuality in an oppressive world.


I will be liberal enough with my scoring to give myself a six on this essay.