Heart of Darkness

Genre: Novel/novella

Narrative: frame within the frame

Author: Joseph Conrad

Date of publication: 1899

Time: when imperialism was at its height in Africa

Place: dark African region, Congo.

Plot: Marlow is on a voyage to Thebes river. He narrates the story that once he visited Congo region. It is colonized by the imperialists. He describes the terrible things which he have seen there.

Characters: Marlow (narrator),

Mr. Kurtz (Imperialist),

Native Africans (generally slaves)

Theme: Ivory as symbol of freedom, imperialism, racism, deaths

Major conflict: though Mr. Kurtz was fully dominated person, though he was praised like god in the dark region. So it leads us to think that whether people always needs a master or not. Is there anything like education through which we can save them or not.

Rising action: When Marlow arrives there in Congo region, through sailing by Congo River, he finds that everyone is talking about the great person Mr. Kurtz. He was eager to see Mr. Kurtz and so does readers.

Falling action:

1)  When we see the anger and anguish of black Africans. They were cutting the stones without any reason. It says that how frustrated they are.

2)                When we are shown the skulls of native people. It is punishment of their smaller mistakes which are not even considerable.

3)               While Mr. Kurtz dies, he utters words like

Horror.