Heart of Darkness

Plot
Joseph Conrad's Heart of Darkness is a novella about a voyage up the Congo River into the Congo Free State in the heart of Africa. The narrator, Marlow, tells his story to his friends at a later date while their boat is stuck waiting on the River Thames, London. The basic themes of Conrad's story is around the idea that there is little difference between so-called civilized people and those described as savages. During the travels along the river Marlow's steamboat breaks down and Marlow and the other crewmen are stuck in a tribal area where the so called savages allow the 'normal' people to stay until repairs could be made on the ship. The crewmen kill a woman who is suspected of burning down one of their huts. A bricklayer named Kurtz agreed with it but later when the ship is repaired and sent down the river they are attacked in retaliation by the savages. It is later discovered that Kurtz had dressed it up so that the savages looked more savage while it was him who was doing everything because the natives saw him as a god and their ruler. During the travels up and down the river the natives attack the crewmen because Kurtz, who has taken ill, is brought upon the steamboat to be taken back home. In the end Kurtz dies and Marlow escapes, returning to London. Upon meeting with Kurtz' fiancé who was still grieving the disappearance then discovery of her love only to discover that he had died Marlow lies about Kurtz' last words. His words were "The horror, the horror" instead Marlow tells the woman that his last word was her name.

Effects
Devolves reader to a Neanderthal.