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The Heart of Darkness by Joseph Conrad centers on Marlow, a sailor who voyages up the Congo to meet Mr. Kurtz. As he travels to Africa (from England) and up the Congo, Marlow describes the brutality of the Company’s stationmen towards the natives living there and the inefficiency of their work. All the while, a motif begins to emerge which relates exactly to the title of this piece. From the beginning of the story, Conrad creates an absurd number of references towards darkness, more specifically “black”, and as readers their sheer number makes it hard to overlook. Black and darkness are painted as motifs throughout part 1 of the story. The “black wool” (45), “guarding the door of darkness” (46), the “black shadows of disease and starvation” (53), the “black bones” (53) etc. you get the point; the prominence of this reoccurring image cannot be overlooked. Yet, what is its importance to the story? Why does Conrad choose to title his book “The Heart of Darkness” and create this extremely vivid motif surrounding the same imagery? My first thoughts were that it might be in reference to Africa and the Congo, specifically. However rereading the beginning of the story, we see the same types of imagery pop up in England as well, for “it was difficult for him [Marlow] to realize his work was not out there in the luminous estuary [sea] but behind him in the brooding gloom [England]” (37). Conrad also referenced Africa and the Congo in a similar fashion, saying it was “The edge of a colossal forest, so dark-green as to be almost black” (48). From these descriptions we see that Conrad was not trying to hint at the darkness of a particular people or area. But rather, he chose it to describe the entirety of Marlow’s existence within the story. In real life, darkness refers to the inability to see. We see that Conrad's darkness envelops Marlow’s existence throughout the story. Could it be Marlow is blind or lacking sight? Could it be that Conrad’s references to darkness are looking at the human condition and lack of compassion towards other human beings? Even within part 1 we see the horrible mistreatment of native Africans by the Company; as Marlow describes it, “I could see every rib, the joints of their limbs were like knots in a rope; each had an iron collar on his neck, and all were connected together with a chain whose bights [loops] swung between them” (51). Hmm… As a description of the human condition, Conrad’s darkness has profound implications; we see that his implementation of the word “nigger” (56) and the cruelty of the white men around him suggests a hatred and resentment towards these “slaves” and “savages” (51) that characterizes the native Africans as less than human. Conrad’s motif of darkness intensifies this 17^th century relationship and its emphasis within the story demonstrates a failure to connect with other human beings during this time. The darkness that clouds their vision, throughout the story, limits them from coming to terms with what is right before their eyes; they cannot see the truth.