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.
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