Joseph Conrad's Heart of Darkness Term Paper

Total Length: 391 words ( 1 double-spaced pages)

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Heart of Darkness

Betrayal is an important theme in Joseph Conrad's the Heart of Darkness, and it is one of the most important themes in the book. Both Marlow and Kurtz betray each other, and show the consequences of betrayal on each other.

Betrayal is a regular theme in Conrad's writing, as this critic says: "Conrad's thematics of coercion, isolation, and betrayal; the complicated relations among author, narrator, and character" (Wollaeger xiv). Betrayal causes anger, disappointment, and misunderstanding, and Kurtz' betrayal of himself, and the natives create all of these things.

Kurtz betrayed the other white men in the Congo when he disappeared and lived with the natives.

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He betrayed Marlow when he was not the man Marlow thought he was, and Marlow betrayed him when he realized that to take Kurtz' side, or the side of the manager against Kurtz, was really to betray his own dreams and illusions. Marlow says in the book: "But then, you see, I can't choose. He won't be forgotten. Whatever he was, he was not common" (Conrad 46). Marlow cannot choose between right and wrong, and this is because Kurtz is powerful and charming, even as he betrays….....

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"Joseph Conrad's Heart Of Darkness", 05 November 2004, Accessed.21 May. 2025,
https://www.aceyourpaper.com/essays/joseph-conrad-heart-darkness-57336