Symbol/Motif Heart of Darkness by Joseph Conrad

Symbol/Motif  Symbol- An object, picture, written word or sound that represents something else.  Motif- An image, spoken or written word, sound, act or other visual structure or device that represents a symbolic recurring theme.

Psychoanalytical Lens Kurtz is a symbol.  Represents dark side of man kind How does this apply to psychoanalytical lens?  Operations of repression  “’The Horror! the horror!’” (Conrad 124). ASK YOURSELVES…What sends Kurtz over the edge?

Psychoanalytical Lens  The “Journey” is a motif The three stations represent the Ego, Superego, and Id Outer Station  accountant—Ego—man’s exterior self Central Station  Super Ego keeps Id under control. Though the people in the Central Station are dangerously close to the wilderness, they have not completely given in to it. Inner Station  The Id- man’s irrational and chaotic unconsciousness  No superego at the Inner Station to keep Kurtz from “forgetting himself”

Feminist Lens The two women knitting are a symbol.  Foreshadows the less than optimistic journey Marlow is about to embark. How does this apply to feminism?  These two women are a metaphorical and physical embodiment of the Moirae (The Three Fate of the underworld), who weave and measure the thread of life. Women are guarding the doors of darkness  “…immense double doors standing ponderously ajar…” (Conrad 45).

Marxist Lens Accountant is a symbol  The image the company wishes to protect How does this apply to Marxist Lens?  Sophisticated man regardless of the fact he is surrounded by darkness  Class structure/relationships  “I met a white man, in such an unexpected elegance of get-up that in the first moment I took him for a sort of vision” (Conrad).

Marxist Lens  “Savages” are a symbol. How does this apply to the Marxist Lens?  A human wasteland. The group of dying native laborers are the indigenous people.  People who are marginalize/alienated.  They have not adjusted to the change and are simply left to die. Example from the text: Marlow comes to a group of trees when he disembarks the Company’s station. He finds a group of dying native laborers (Conrad).

Formalist Lens Fog is a motif.  Fog is physically and literally white and helps to develop uncertainty How does this apply to formalism?  Develops blurriness/ compares to Monet’s blurry images  Leaves audience with impression of a scene  “When the sun rose there was a white fog, very warm and clammy, and more blinding than the night” (Conrad 80).

Post Colonial Lens Ivory is a motif.  Accentuates greed and destruction and those who pursue it become corrupt How does this apply to Post-colonial lens? What is this saying about imperialism? The more ivory one possess (Kurtz) the more brutal one becomes. human suffering produced/promoted by colonialism