Introductory Paragraph

Conrad's Heart of Darkness proves how societal standards and norms shelter the ones who live in it. From Marlow's journey to meet and save the idealized Kurtz to his slow transformation to using his subconscious both reveal the effects that the untamed Congo has on him. Conrad utilizes symbols such as the river to represent Marlow's upward struggle to reach Kurtz and to inevitably find his own personal heart of darkness. The significance of Marlow's intense curiosity towards the Congo, and further Kurtz, is that he deeply desires the darkness since he does not ever experience that side of life in his uptight society in Brussles, Belgium; thus critics such as Frederick Karl aid in uncovering Marlow's twisted and disconnected journey towards his true heart of darkness.