Historical, Sociological, and Philosophical Elements of Heart of Darkne

diachronic, Sociological, and Philosophical Elements of tit of Darkness An awareness of the historical, sociological, and philosophical climate rife during the time in which Heart of Darkness was written plays a key role in understanding the significance of Conrads complex work. Joseph Conrad began work on Heart of Darkness in 1898 and completed it the following year in 1899. During this time the impressionist movement was in full swing, European colonization was at its peak, racial tensions were rapidly increasing, and man was confronted with the fall of the traditional view that held man as the eminent ruler the world. Each of these issues significantly influenced Joseph Conrads writing of the novel as easily as its collective meaning for all mankind. A look at Conrads writing style will allow us to infer his possible smell upon writing Heart of Darkness and therefore how the reader should approach it. Conrads writing style is centered upon the literary sense of impression ism. Literary impressionism is characterized by the use of enlarge and mental associations to evoke subjective and sensory impressions rather than the re-creation of objective reality (impressionism). Conrad is trying to communicate to the readers in a way that transcends the written word. The feeling here is not to abstract orderly ideas about experience, rather they try to re-create and communicate the rich complexities of experience itself, with all its darkness, messiness, and ambiguity intact (Dintenfass). nigh tyros have argued that Conrad presents so much detail and chaos in his works that it becomes too much for him to analyze. Conrad responded to this attack in a letter directed toward critic Richard Curle ... ...enfass, Mark. Heart of Darkness A Lawrence University Freshman Studies Lecture. 14 Mar. 1996. *http//www.acsu.buffalo.edu/csicseri/dintenfass.htm* (2 Feb. 2000). Guerard, Albert J. Conrad the Novelist. Cambridge, MA. Harvard U. Press, 1958. Hayes, Dorsha. H eart of Darkness An Aspect of the Shadow, Spring (1956) 43-47.. Hillman, James. Notes on White Supremacy Essaying an Archetypal Account of Historical Events, Spring (1986) 29-57. Jean-Aubry, George. Joseph Conrad Life and Letters. Vol. 1. New York Page, 1966. McLynn, Frank. Hearts of Darkness The European Exploration of Africa. New York Carol & Gey, 1992. Mellard, James. Myth and Archetype in Heart of Darkness, Tennessee Studies in lit 13 (1968) 1-15. Yatzeck Marlows Lie - http//cwis.lawrence.edu/www 4. french in Africa - www.sas.upenn edu/ AF._Studies