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Not What You Meant?  There are 7 definitions for Heart of Darkness.  Also try: Marlow or Hod.

Heart of Darkness Study Guide

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by Joseph Conrad
About 62 pages (18,703 words)
Heart of Darkness Summary

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Themes

Alienation and Loneliness

Throughout Heart of Darkness, which tells of a Journey into the heart of the Belgian Congo and out again, the themes of alienation, loneliness, silence and solitude predominate. The book begins and ends in silence, with men first waiting for a tale to begin and then left to their own thoughts after it has concluded. The question of what the alienation and loneliness of extended periods of time in a remote and hostile environment can do to men's minds is a central theme of the book. The doctor who measures Marlow's head prior to his departure for Africa warns him of changes to his personality that may be produced by a long stay in country. Prolonged silence and solitude are seen to have damaging effects on many characters in the book......

This is a free excerpt of 135 words. This section contains 2,343 words. This study guide contains 18,703 words (approx. 62 pages at 300 words per page).

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Heart of Darkness from BookRags and Gale's For Students Series. ©2005-2006 Thomson Gale, a part of the Thomson Corporation. All rights reserved.



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