Question #1: Interpret one symbol first at the surface, literal level and then as if it were a symbol in a dream vocabulary with a deeper, secondary meaning

In Joseph Conrad's novel, Heart of Darkness, Conrad uses a vast amount of images to symbolize the complex nature of Africa and its people. As colonists pour in from different European countries to the continent of Africa, there is visual proof that Africa and Africans reject European thought and technology. A prime example of that is a railway truck Marlow finds up on a hill: "The thing looked as dead as the carcass of some animal. I came upon more pieces of decaying machinery, a stack of rusty rails." (379). The truck is compared to a dying animal to demonstrate Marlow's sympathy towards what the Europeans are doing in Africa. The reader can easily identify where his loyalty lies. Symbolically, the railway truck is more than a "dead animal" but a sign that Africa is not like Europe and therefore should be left alone. Technology being turned over is only a warning sign; the colonists should heed these warnings because they could easily be turned over too. The fact that the truck is on top of a hill means that the wreckage is closer to heaven and can be interpreted as God himself playing an intricate role in shunning unwanted colonists and ideas out of Africa.

Essay Ideas on Heart of Darkness

My (scattered) thoughts and ideas on the topic of symbolism and how psychoanalysis helps us make sense of these symbols:
In the Joseph Conrad's story, The Heart of Darkness, Conrad uses many symbols to portray his character.
Kurtz, for example, is a brilliant man whose only downfall is that he lacks restraint against temptation. Once he's away from England, Kurtz disregards British rule and does whatever he wants, including the mistreatment of the natives in order to obtain more ivory. He is an ironic character because a man of such intelligence and high stature is ignorant enough to fall victim to his desires.
Marlow's journey down the Congo maybe foreshadows a path leading him and Kurtz to disaster. The dark imagery connotes a sinister life or maybe even death. The withering of the water represents the decay of society and their own lives.

psychological significance of journey

In Joseph Conrad's story, Heart of Darkness, the main character Marlow not only goes through a journey physically but mentally. His prejudices about Africans are prevalent in the things he says; however, Marlow demonstrates the ability to change through his recognition of right from wrong. Towards the beginning of the story he refers to the continent of Africa as a “God-forsaken wilderness.” Even though he voices his racist or ignorant opinion often, Marlow appears to be more ethical than his peers. For example, he shows sympathy towards the natives being mistreated by the settlers which means he has a strong moral code. Since Marlow is still battling his early prejudices against his morals, he still has a long journey to go before he can become enlightened.

Question #6 p. 430

The painting of "a woman, draped and blindfolded, carrying a lighted torch" symbolizes how imperialism supposedly helps the natives by guiding them to civilization and truth (which is symbolized as a lighted torch). A woman being blindfolded usually represents justice being blind to all prejudices; however, the idea of a superior country conquering others because they are "primitive" is anything but justice. Instead, the blindfolded woman could represent the blind leading the blind because the imperialist nations are just as or even more ignorant and blind to the truth than the natives they want to "save."

Marlow would agree somewhat with this message because he is very critical towards imperialism. In his mind, he views that the natives and even the continent of Africa reject European "improvement"; therefore, they should leave the people to continue being savage and misguided. After witnessing a fight between the natives and the imperialists, Marlow realizes how cruel mankind can be towards one another.

Heart of Darkness Question Number 2

Marlow begins his tale of a journey to the heart of darkness with an account of London to demonstrate his feelings of uneasiness and uncertainty by comparing his voyage to the Romans traveling to a gloomy and mysterious place like London. The English traveling to Africa had no idea what to expect; to them, Africa is a wild and dangerous place. The repetition of dark words such as "brooding gloom" paints an ominous picture in the reader's mind. Similarly, the Romans felt that London was also a primitive place which was why they used London as a place of exile.