Themes

The Hypocrisy of Imperialism: Imperialism is all about colonization, about civilization. Yet in this novel there is very little civilized taking place. Marlow repeatedly encounters scenes of torture, cruelty, and slavery. Kurtz openly rules by force. Imperialism is not so much about colonizing as it is about conquering. There is no ‘trade’ as it is called but rather Kurtz’s “suppression” and “exploitation”.

Insanity: Insanity is relative. Kurtz is insane, or so we are told, but so is the Company that tells us this. Isolation is what causes madness. What happens when you are removed from society? What happens when you are given free will? What happens when you are given absolute power? Man is not perfect. We are fundamentally flawed, and when placed in this kind of situation, you degrade mentally and physically. This proves that while society and social functions are fabricated and faulty, they are necessary for survival.