Heart of Darkness

Throughout Heart of Darkness, colors describe people and objects. The colors further describe symbols to help the audience understand importance. Of course, white and black are featured predominately throughout the work. It can be assumed these represent good and evil, respectively. Yet, Conrad doesn’t always use white as a color of good and innocence. White men are not very well respected. At times clothing is white, without blemish—these characters were not necessarily innocent, just oblivious to the horrors which surround them. The white fog conceals the dangers of an ambush. Black could represent the “shadows of disease and starvation” or the trustworthy first-mate Marlow protects from the cannibals. Color is not absolute. The color of a person’s soul is often contrasted to the color of their skin. Red, according to Marlow, indicates “some real work is done,” so red might be a color with positive connotations. Later, red-eyed devils drive men to violence, greed, and hot desire. Red also describes the pool of blood under the wheel. On two separate occasions, the landscape appears silver, perhaps representing some hidden treasures that could never be discovered. When yellow is used, it seems cowardly and sickly. Kurtz’ complexion before he dies is ivory; the same color as the riches he sought in Africa and that stole his humanity. I don’t quite understand the pink pyjamas: maybe the little fat man is effeminate in some way, or exaggerates the lack of culture or society which women sometimes bring into western cultures. Overall, these mixed messages about colors indicate the world is not full of absolutes, but only shades of gray.