Symbolism & Imagery In Heart Of Darkness

SYMBOLS AND IMAGERY
Many symbols and imagery appear in the novel. Dark and threating imagery with omen character that announce bad things.
The duality of black and white representing goodness andbadness but not necessary in this order. The women who knit black wool (The Fates), discuss for black chicken what makes that Marlow’s predecessor dies, black heads that decorate the outside of Kurtz’shouse, the picture that Kurtz painted with black background or the black man with a white string.
Contrast between the accountant’s physical appearance and his character.
The Light: There is a partof Kurtz’s picture where there is an important light intensity, the expression “fierce light” that appears very often in the novel like “blinding sunshine” that can be compared with darkness becausein both cases we seem blind.
Yellow: In the map it is Congo. Ivory is a symbol of corruption and deceit. The pale appears many times and it’s related with death. In contrast, the Russian characterappears with his coloured dress that indicates a change of his humour state.
The Jungle: Symbol of truth and reality. We can also observe references to the grass. When apparently useful tools appearlike hidden by the grass as if nature would hide something that must not be there. Marlow’s predecessor dies by an arrow and through his skeleton, between his ribs, the grass appears again.
The Snake.It is the form of the river. It’s like a premonition or an advert of the danger that awaits Marlow.
Flies: At start were the symbol of unease that Marlow’s problems produce him al his arrival. Alongthe novel we see that the flies reduce in size indicating that Marlow has grown up as a human while his problems fall.
The River: It represents the way to the treasure and afterwards the flight ofthe danger. The river seems to have the power to expel the European, due to the difficulties to rise for it. However, the river gives a fast way out of the continent. The formalist’s explain the rise...