A review by elerireads
Heart of Darkness by Joseph Conrad

2.0

Didn't really know what to make of this. It's quite short and it feels like not much actually happens - it's all about the metaphors and deeper meanings etc. The problem is I didn't understand what the deeper meaning was supposed to be...? Yes there was some definite anti-colonialist messaging in there, and the ladies knitting black wool at the beginning had to be some kind of reference to the Fates, right? But the central idea of the 'heart of darkness' seemed both overdone and unclear at the same time (impressive, huh?). The place itself is the heart of darkness, Kurtz's heart has darkened, then they talk about the darkness being in London too... but what IS it??? Kurtz's madness was obviously very important but we're never properly told what had lead to it, which I guess is the point. The Russian almost seemed madder to me, and must have been in love with Kurtz for his character to make any sense at all. A lot of the narrative seemed pretty racist, but it is told from Marlow's perspective so probably does actually make sense, uncomfortable as it is to read.