Heart of Darkness: The soul of darkness "Heart of Darkness" The name itself implies a feeling of unknown evil and evokes thoughts of secrecy and mystery. Written by Joseph Conrad in 1902, "Heart of Darkness" recounts a physical journey through the Congo during the era of imperialism, but also a mental sojourn into the heart of madness. It also depicts the paradoxes of seemingly clear concepts and states, such as the mental state of the central character Kurtz, an enigmatic ivory merchant in the heart of the "dark continent." Two of the characters provide insight into Kurtz's moral paradox. Destiny considers Kurtz an emissary of light while Marlow considers Kurtz a god of darkness. Marlow, although he only knew Kurtz for a short time, sees how far he had fallen into darkness. He was the madness of unbridled desire personified. A critic once explained: “Kurtz imitates the British 'idea' of the native; it “goes native” in the darkness projected by the psyche itself” (McClure, 2). It is a mental process observed by many psychologists and often compared to the Freudian concept of the id, ego and superego. Expert John A. McClure explained: “How the Subject perceives and projects onto an Other will provide a clue regarding the Subject's relationship with his or her unconscious wishes and desires...[and that is the place]. .. where the subject does not recognize himself" (Meltzter, 158). McClure affirmed this by further stating: "Kurtz psychologically identifies with the Other, the line between the Subject and the Object/Other s 'thin, finally dissolves and he becomes mad' (McClure, 2). As the "subject" psychologically projects the personality he wishes to be, he becomes less and less what he is, a... ... middle of paper ...... by all the characters in Joseph Conrad's Heart of Darkness, he is described vehemently as good in his intentions, and just as forcefully as evil by his comrade Kurtz's Intended. turns out to be his true soul mate, as she is as crazy and lost in the light as he is. The dark irony of the situation is explained no better than by Kurtz himself, who "during this supreme moment of complete knowledge. .. exclaimed... 'The horror! The horror!'" (Conrad, 118). Joseph. Heart of Darkness and The Secret Sharer. 2nd ed. New York, New York: 1981McClure, John A. "Marlow and Mrs. Moore." www.cyberpat.com/shirlsite /essays/ideol.html. Friday, May 24, 2002Yatzeck, Richard. "Marlow's Lie (a freshman studies lecture at Lawrence University)". YATZECK_HEART.HTML Friday May. 24, 2002.