Themes in Heart of Darkness

Views of the Wilderness

There are three basic views of the African wilderness in Heart of Darkness:

1. Some, like Marlow’s Aunt, see Africa as full of savages that need to be saved. This view is demonstrated in the famous poem White Man’s Burden.
2. To others, like the Belgians in the Outer Station, Africa represents economic prospects such as free slave labor and ivory. This is the underlying reasoning of colonialism.
3. To those such as Marlow, Africa represents a chance for adventure and self exploration.