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Abigail Connor
Mr. Rutigliano
AP English Literature
8 January 2016
Cruelty of Man
In Joseph Conrads novella Heart of Darkness, psychological aspects appear. The main
character, Charlie Marlow, goes on a devastating journey which causes him to become
traumatized. Marlow is affected by the journey because he is not able to fathom what has taken
effect in the Congo. He shows his incomprehension by breaking the framed narrative and trying
to grasp what has happened. The context words before he breaks the framed narrative show that
Marlow is affected by the brutality that was forced upon the natives in the Congo. Marlows
hesitation in continuing his story proves that he regrets the actions of the Company. He is fearful
to become monstrous, like the men of the Company. Overall, Marlows distress proves that
seeing ones capacity of cruelty can cause trauma.
Marlow is traumatized because he has seen his potential savagery. Marlow sees the
natives in the Congo being mistreated, so he has to tell his story in order to attempt to process
everything that has happened. Since Marlows story begins within a framed narrative, Marlow
breaks his story when he is overwhelmed by the events that have occurred. For instance, Marlow
says, An idea at the back of it; not a sentimental pretense but an idea; and an unselfish belief in
the idea something you can set up, bow down before, and offer a sacrifice to. (Conrad 50).
Marlow breaks his story after saying this line which demonstrates that he cant process what has
happened. Before the break in the narrative, Marlow states that the Companys actions could

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have been justified if only they had a plan to begin with. In addition, he has seen the workers of
the Company, for instance, Kurtz, abuse the natives just to show power. Even though, Marlow
once felt that he could connect with the workers. Marlow saw himself as an equal, especially to
Kurtz. But, since he later sees the workers in the Company for what they truly are, Marlow starts
to question if he will become apathetic and wicked as well. Marlows fear proves that revealing
ones capable cruelty can cause suffering.
When Marlow goes back home to his peaceful city, everything has changed. He views his
life in a different way than how he did before his journey to the Congo. Before his journey, he
viewed life as an adventure. Conrad writes how Marlow describes himself as a boy, Now when
I was a little chap I had a passion for maps. I would look for hours at South America, or Africa,
or Australia, and lose myself in all the glories of exploration (47). Conrad uses words like
would and when to prove how Marlow isnt like that anymore. Seeing what others can be like
causes Marlow to realize that he can just as easily transform into a monster also. Now, going
back to a bounded world causes him to see it as minimalistic and nave. Because of Marlows
journey, he has been changed and his innocence has become spoiled. Marlow holds the fear of
altering into sadistic horror; this proves that recognizing the evilness inside oneself causes agony.
Overall, Marlows expedition causes him to realize that he can become barbarous, thus
proving that recognizing cruelty of oneself causes psychological damage. This is shown through
the framed narrative and how Marlow acts after the journey. The framed narrative shows that
Marlow fails at comprehending the events that materialized in the Congo. Whereas Marlows
perception after the journey shows how he was affected by the actions committed on his quest.
Marlows reactions prove that anyone can become heartless and realizing that can be life
changing and terrifying.

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Work Cited
Conrad, Joseph. Heart of Darkness. Heart of Darkness and Selected Short Fiction. By A.
Michael. Matin. New York: Barnes & Noble Classics, 2003. 43-157. Print.