Heart of Darkness by Joseph Conrad is to a large extent, centered on the idea

of moral complexities. Conrad exemplifies the characters of his text by their

actions and the way in which they make decisions in certain circumstances.
Thus, the composer isnt just writing for the entertainment of the readers, he
is writing to target the issues of life; the moral struggle. Through the
characters of Kurtz, Marlow and the women within the text, Conrad
effectively demonstrates his text as being based upon ethical difficulties with
the support of various language features.

Kurtz is a powerful, influential and unusual figure within the text Heart of
Darkness. Conrad uses Kurtz as a means of conveying the notion of moral
complexities. That is, Conrad uses Kurtzs actions and decisions to outline
how his text is about the difficulty of making ethical or moral choices by the
constant use of an interior/exterior motif. For instance, Kurtzs decision to
abandon society and its civilization lead to his demise and degradation as a
character since he forces natives into admiring him as supernatural being, a
God. Furthermore, Kurtz begins partaking in the rituals and practices of the
Congolese people as he drives himself into a state of mental downfall and
instability. Moreover, Kurtzs unusual decision of abandoning civilization for
the natives of Africa is opposed by his Russian assistant who seems to be
disappointed with the state of Kurtz as he has driven himself mad through his
association with such a peoples. Conrad expresses this through the quote: I
begged him to try and leavehe would forget himself amongst these people
forget himselfyou know. Here, Conrad utilises a metaphor to reinforce
the Russians idea of how Kurtz loses all sense of identity as he socializes
with the Congolese natives. That is, Conrad describes Kurtz as literally
forgetting himself amongst the natives to reinforce the notion of how Kurtz
leaves his identity and distinctiveness behind for less civilized means of
living characterised by unrepairable madness. Moreover, it is the opposition
of decisions and perceptions between Kurtz and his Russian assistant which
adds to the moral complexities or ethical dilemmas of this text. Additionally,
Kurtz is involved in another instance where an ethical dilemma arises
between himself and the Manager of the Company. "At this moment I heard
Kurtz's deep voice behind the curtain: 'Save me!save the ivory, you mean.
Don't tell me. Save me! is the phrase Marlow overhears Kurtz declaring.
Evidently, Kurtz is so avaricious that he assumes everyone feels the same
way. That is, he believes that the manager does not wish for his survival, but
to save the ivory in order to uphold his position within the Company. Indeed,
Kurtzs idea is accurate as responders later see the Manager conversing with
Marlow where at one point he states: I dont deny there is a remarkable
quantity of ivoryWe must save it. Here, Conrad utilises the high modality

verb of must to outline differences in priorities and perceptions between

the Manager and Kurtz. Furthermore, this arises the idea of moral
complexities whereby the Manager disregards Kurtzs health and cares more
for the fortune of ivory. In response to this, Kurtz demands for himself to be
saved as his days are numbered. Thus, the moral dilemmas of such a
situation bring ethics of the two individuals into question. Henceforth, Conrad
successfully sustains a text which gives rise to the idea of how ethical
dilemmas are a result of a difference in perception or decisions of individuals.
Conrad does this through the use of the influential yet mentally unstable
figure known as Kurtz.
Marlow himself is a morally complex character who alters his perception and
decisions within the text known as The Heart of Darkness. Therefore, Conrad
makes use of Marlows changing attitudes and perceptions as a means
through which he conveys the moral complexity involved not only in the text,
but in life and reality itself. For instance, Marlow views the Congolese natives
as humane and equals with the Europeans. In contrast, the Belgians and
other whites perceive the natives as slaves and an uncivilized peoples. We
are accustomed to look upon the shackled form of a conquered monsterNo,
they were not inhuman is what Marlow states after viewing the Congolese
slaves at work under the compulsion of the Europeans. Here, Conrad utilises
the visual imagery of the chained, African slaves to allow the responder to
empathize with such a peoples by contrasting it to Marlows statement of
them being human. As a result, responders begin to notice the ethical
dilemmas in which Marlow and the Europeans are involved in as a result of a
difference in perception and judgment. That is, moral complexities arise as a
result of a difference in decision-making or perception as evident in the
classification of the Congolese people by contrasting judgments made by the
Europeans and Marlow. In addition, Marlow appears to view colonialism
inversely to how the Europeans perceive it. That is, he opposes the idea that
colonialism is for the better of the Congolese people who need civilizing,
according to the European colonists. The conquest of the earth, which
mostly means the taking it away from those who have a different complexion
or slightly flatter noses than ourselves, is not a pretty thing when you look
into it too much is the comment Marlow makes on colonialism. Here, Conrad
utilises visual imagery to symbolize the Congolese people who suffered from
colonialism and imperialism by the hands of the Europeans. Contrastingly,
the Europeans believed that the Congolese people were uncivilized and
inhuman. Thus, Conrad establishes a difference between the perceptions and
judgments of Marlow and the colonizers as he effectively outlines his text as
one in which encompasses the vast theme of moral complexities.
Conclusively, responders are constantly exposed to conflicting decions and
perceptions within Heart of Darkness as characters experience ethical

dilemmas throughout their lives, similar to how modern society is constantly

tested with moral struggles.

The women within the text known as The Heart of Darkness act as a means
through which Conrad explores his novella as being heavily reliant on the
concept of ethical complexities. That is, Conrad uses different roles taken up
by various women within the text to allow responders to make a final
judgment on them. For instance, the Companys accountant expresses his
view of women as he belittles and condescends them by forcing one of the
natives to clean his clothing. I could not help asking him how he managed
to sport such linen. He had just the faintest blush, and said modestly, Ive
been teaching one of the native women about the station. It was difficult.
She had a distaste for the work. Here, Conrad utilises the visual imagery of
the accountant blushing and modestly expressing his condescending view
of women to reinforce the notion of how women are demeaned and lowered
in standard by certain characters within the novella. In contrast, Conrad also
exemplifies women as being important figures within functioning societies as
evident through the section in which Marlow meets the observant
secretaries. In the outer room the two women knitted black wool feverishly.
People were arriving, and the younger one was walking back and forth
introducing them is how Marlow describes the secretaries at work within the
company. Here, Conrad uses visual imagery assigned to the working
secretary in order to assist responders in establishing the notion that certain
women operated and worked within the Company. Furthermore, this opposes
the perspective Conrad provides readers with throughout the novella. That is,
Conrad builds the image that women are inferior and below-standard within
society as evident through the way Marlow describes his aunt: Its queer
how out of touch with truth women are. They live in a world of their own and
the accountants comment on how he considers women only suitable for
tasks such as cleaning clothing. Thus, Conrad leaves the verdict with
responders as to how women should be perceived within his novella since he
provides conflicting and opposing perspectives of women; one minute they
are condescended and demeaned into doing laundry and the next they are
part of the Company, working as secretaries. Therefore, it can be stated that
Conrads text is centered upon moral difficulties since the responders are
expected to come to a verdict as to how to perceive women; which of course
gives rise to various perceptions and views, thus the complexity. Joseph
Conrads text, Heart of Darkness, is all about moral complexities;
differentiating what is ethical and what is immoral which causes adversaries
in perception and decisions within the novella, evident through the way he
forces responders to come to a judgment on how to perceive women.

In conclusion, Conrads text is to a large extent, about moral complexities.

Within his novella and through various language forms, he gives rise to
numerous conflicting views and opinions of characters which establishes a
sense of ethical dilemma. That is, he uses characters who are morally
complex themselves such as Kurtz and Marlow. Moreover, he then forces
responders to evaluate their perception of women in his text since he
provides ambiguity and contrasting perceptions of them. Conclusively,
Conrad conveys his text as being focused on moral complications since
characters and responders themselves are forced into forming varied
judgments, which gives rise to ethical issues; hence the moral complexity of
the novella.