Globalization Blog Post

Joseph Conrad’s Heart of Darkness is beautifully and eloquently written, and touches upon the classic themes of light and dark, good and evil, and the difference between inner nature and surface reality. Heart of Darkness also offers a critique and look at European colonialism. Symbolically stunning, many of the ideas and motifs of HofD take on different meanings depending on the context and circumstances they are in and the interpretation of the reader. In this way, Conrad represents the dualistic, or often even multifaceted nature of reality and the futility of looking at the world through a single lens.

I've decided to explain Heart of Darkness and the connection it holds to globalization in the same way that Conrad lets the readers interpret the story of Marlow. The meaning of Heart of Darkness is open to the reader's interpretation, and since you may possibly not have read the entirety of Marlow's account,   I’m just going to ask questions that relate to the book. Some of these may be interesting to think about, but all, I hope will lead to greater insight and clarity for you in everyday life. What is the nature of the world? Is brutality ever justified? Is who you are ever definite, or does how you see the world and what you think and represent fundamentally as a person change depending on the circumstances that you are in? Is it possible to stay sane in madness? What is most important? Are people more likely to act from self-gain or from love? Can darkness and light ever be fully defined? Is it possible for light and dark to exist independently or are they connected? Is Marlow racist? Is colonialism ever justified? What is the inner nature of people? What role does nature play on everyday life? Is how we see the world ever finite? And finally, What is the meaning of Heart of Darkness?