Keyword Guide · book-summary
This Heart of Darkness summary gives a clear overview of the plot, themes, and characters. It’s designed for quick review before class, quizzes, or essay planning.
The novel follows Charles Marlow, a sailor who travels up the Congo River to work for a European trading company. His journey becomes increasingly dangerous and unsettling as he moves deeper inland. Marlow’s main goal is to meet Kurtz, a company agent whose reputation is legendary but mysterious. By the end, Marlow confronts the moral and psychological consequences of imperial ambition.
Marlow is the reflective narrator who questions what he sees rather than accepting it. Kurtz represents unchecked power and obsession, admired from afar but deeply troubled in reality. Minor characters, such as company officials and crew members, highlight the indifference and hypocrisy of the colonial system.
A central theme is the contrast between civilization and savagery, showing how thin the line can be. The novel also explores imperialism, exposing its moral emptiness and harm. Another key idea is the darkness within the human mind, revealed when social rules disappear.
Focus on how the river journey mirrors Marlow’s inner journey. Track symbols like darkness, light, and silence, and connect them to the themes. For essays, use specific moments in the plot to support claims rather than broad summaries.
It examines imperialism and human nature through a journey into the Congo, showing how power and isolation affect morality.
Kurtz represents what can happen when authority goes unchecked, making him central to the novel’s message.
The language can be challenging, but focusing on the main journey, themes, and symbols helps make it manageable.
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