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Unit 31: Joseph Conrad — Heart of Darkness

there was a moment when he could not tell the difference between a drum beat and his own Notes
heartbeat. He appears to have escaped in time.
Marlow’s lie at the end of the story is both cruel and compassionate. While the woman is
comforted, she will have to continue believing in an illusion. She will never know what Kurtz
became. Marlow states that the truth is “too dark” to tell. But truly, his terrible decline is in
vain if no one learns of it. And is the woman so weak that she cannot really hear the truth?
Telling Kurtz’s tale is the point of Marlow’s telling his story aboard the Thames ship. A river
can lead to civilization—but it also leads to darkness.

Self Assessment

Multiple Choice Questions:
7. Which of the following is not something that Marlow gives to the Russian trader?
(a) Food (b) Gun cartridges
(c) Tobacco (d) Shoes
8. What do the men at the Central Station hear about the fate of the Eldorado Exploring
Expedition?
(a) That they have been successful and are returning with lots of ivory
(b) That the expedition’s pack animals are dead

(c) That the men have been ambushed and killed by natives
(d) That the expedition has found Kurtz
9. At the end of his “Report” on the natives, Kurtz writes :
(a) “Exterminate all the brutes!” (b) “God help us!”
(c) “No more death!” (d) “God save the King!”

10. What one thing does Marlow need to repair his wrecked steamer?
(a) Steel plates (b) A new boiler
(c) Tools (d) Rivets
11. Which of the following does not accompany Marlow on his journey up the river from
the Central Station?
(a) The chief accountant (b) The general manager
(c) The cannibals (d) The pilgrims
12. The Company is

(a) English (b) French
(c) Dutch (d) Belgian

31.3 Joseph Conrad—Heart of Darkness: Themes

Groupthink and Stock Characters

This novella is unusual in that the author does not name most of the characters in his book,
other than assigning them titles that describe their larger organizational goals. It is not quite
an allegory, while he does allow them some individual characteristics of speech and dress, but
they are for the most part stand-ins for larger groups. The obvious exception is Marlow, and

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