Figurative Language In Joseph Conrad's Heart Of Darkness

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German philosopher Frederich Nietzsche said, "Whoever fights monsters should see to it that in the process he does not become a monster. And if you gaze long enough into an abyss, he abyss will gaze back into you." This quote means that if someone is not careful, they can become the very thing they are fighting against. In Joseph Conrad's book, Heart of Darkness, the truth of this claim can be seen several times. Several times, characters or groups become the exact thing they were fighting against. In Heart of Darkness, the author uses the literary elements of character development, setting, and figurative language to show the theme that if individuals are not careful, they can become the very thing they are fighting against. Likely the most obvious literary element Conrad uses to show this theme is character development. Marlow, the main character and narrator, undergoes major psychological changes over the course of the story. When he first arrived in the Congo, he was a man with a strong moral compass. He was appalled at the way the natives were being treated and exploited for labor by the Europeans. However, while he stayed in the Congo, he underwent a somewhat drastic transformation. First, he begins compromising his …show more content…
Conrad personifies the jungle and says that "it whispered" to Kurtz. This shows that the jungle had become a part of who Kurtz was. It became a part of his being and influenced his actions. During his time under the influence of the jungle, Kurtz became someone entirely different than he was when he had arrived. Conrad shows there is a similar change when Kurtz is removed from the jungle. The author says that as they float down the river out of the heart of darkness, Kurtz loses his will to live. Surrounded by Marlow and the crew, he begins to regain his humanity and is distraught. He wants to be back in the jungle but when he realizes he can't be, he loses his will to
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