It also tells us at the beginning at the story Marlow is still alive and didn't die whenever he experienced his adventure in africa.

Yes Zach I think his curiosity gave me a heart of darkness. I mean he went there soully on curiosity.

Why did Marlow think this was going to be a vacation?

Do you believe that Marlow's curiousity destroyed his sanity? Do you think that gave him a "heart of darkness?"

I would say the fog doesn't have to represent anything. The fog more or less just creates mystery and sets the scene for the battle.

rather then through a objective series of physical events. Regardless of why, it has a great effect.

be more subjective if it is a reflection of events rather then the actual action, Marlow can tell it how he remembers it and tell the story through his 'lens'

audience for Marlow, the listeners fall asleep and don't care, representing the mindset of the typical Englishman at this time. It also allows for the story to

was a real person of just a representation of the madness one becomes in that envirornment. he also, by telling it through Marlow has the ability to have an

I think it is possible that the reason he chose to do this instead of write an autobiography was to be able to create his own charaters, i don't know if Kurtz

It seems as if Marlow uses color a lot throughout the novel to describe things to the reader. Is there some sort of symbolism behind their presence?

Why does Marlow insist that women live in this fantasy world and not reality? And does Marlow believe their bonds with others to be merely superficial?

What is the significance of the women knitting with black cloth? Marlow mentions it several times. What does the knitting represent? And why only black cloth?

The story was told by Marlow first-hand. Why do you think Conrad chose to do this?

Besides adding drama and suspense to the story, what is the purpose of the Russian? Why would he want to help others before he helped himself?

It allows for the reader to learn information that Marlow did not know prior. ie how Marlow got the job

I would have to agree with Jenna that it is his patience and determination. I would also say that he is very sensible .

Why does the Author tell Marlows experience as a story within a story, rather than telling the experience in real time?

Marlow had to be incredibly independent and self reliant. He had many tough obstacles to face along his journey. He had to have pure drive to survive.

Why is the narrator never actually mentioned as a person with a name? Does this symbolize a greater being or something? Or is it just a break in the text?

The Congo River Trailer at Congo-river.com

Click here for a set of photos of the Congo River as it is today, stills from a documentary. You can see it is still a beast & trees on its banks and harvested.

Marlow's open-mindedness helped him to survive. Since, he had no prior discriminations, he hadn't established a "correct way" to act in certain situations.

When Marlow talks of the helmsman being eaten by fishes, he might refer to the Congo Tiger Fish. (National Geographic) Yikes!

Hippos in the Congo.

Why does the novel have two competing heroes? Should one be focused on more than the other, or should they be viewed in tandum, as they play off of each other?

Wood engraving by the English artist J. Buckland Wright.

What does it represent that is in the novel? What does it represent that is not in the novel?

"Approach cautiously."

Here's a picture of the Congo, still fairly wide but you can see the shallow shoals under the water where it turns.

Is the fog just a detail or does it symbolize something such as a feeling or thought?

I think Marlow displayed tolerance, patience, and determination. He never lost sight of who he was or what he was trying to achieve.

What is so dark?

How many "Hearts of Darkness" are there in this novel?

What qualities does Marlow have that lets him survive the Congo to tell his tale?

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