Heart of Darkness and the fear of going native

Authors

  • Anna Reid Universidad Autónoma del Estado de Morelos

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.5007/2175-8026.2012n62p55

Abstract

 

 

This article studies Joseph Conrad’s novel Heart of Darkness (1899-1902) within the context of Imperial Gothic. It examines the darkness behind Empire and will highlight late-Victorian fears concerning Otherness and degeneration. It addresses the silence both within the narrative and within the Imperial mission. There is no dialogue, just Marlow’s monologue. Marlow voyages up the river Congo, to a prehistoric time populated by primitive people; nevertheless he also voyages into the heart of the European man and his fear of turning ‘savage’.

Author Biography

Anna Reid, Universidad Autónoma del Estado de Morelos

Anna Reid has been a full-time Profesora-Investigadora at theFacultad de Humanidades, Universidad Autónoma del Estadode Morelos, Mexico. Her research focuses on contemporary LatinAmerican narrative, in particular the re-writing of History, and onthe Gothic in English and Spanish literatures.

Published

2012-11-06

Issue

Section

The Gothic in Europe