Discuss the Symbolic Significance of the Setting in Heart of Darkness

Symbolic Significance of the Setting in Heart of Darkness

Africa itself with its forests its heat and its mysteries is only a symbol of the larger darkness which exists in the heart of man. It is true that Heart of Darkness leads us to the dark region of the heart of man who has surrendered himself to the weaker passions of life such as greed and lust for wealth. The dark forests of central Africa also symbolize primitive savagery lust and greed the darkness of ancient savagery and barbarism. The degeneration of the white men

under the corroding influence of these tropical regions is symbolic of the degeneration and decay corruption and loss of values of contemporary civilization. This decay and disorder is also symbolized by the rusting boilers upturned engines and railway lines decaying machinery etc. which Marlow comes across at the first company’s station. The inner station of the company where Kurtz stays symbolizes the subconscious and the fog which envelops the ship symbolizes the difficult process through which alone one can reach the subconscious. 

You Can also Read:

• Significance of the Last Words of Kurtz: The Horror! In Heart of Darkness

• Character and Role of Marlow in Heart of Darkness

• What Does “Ivory” Symbolize in Heart of Darkness

• Setting of the Novel, Heart of Darkness

What Use does Sons and Lovers Make of the Oedipus Complex

Things Uses that Sons and Lovers Make of the Oedipus Complex

 It was Freud the modern psychologist who built up the theory of ‘Oedipus complex’ on the basis of the ancient myth of Oedipus Rex of Thebes. To explain his theory he says that a mother’s love for her son and a son’s love for his mother are fundamentally based upon the attraction between apposite sexes. Lawrence was quite well aware of Freud’s theory about Oedipus complex at the time he wrote sons and lovers. Mrs Morel as we have seen at the time of reading the novel seems to have a kind of Jocasta complex towards her two favorite sons William and Paul. Being disappointed in her marriage to Walter morel she deliberately directs all her passions towards her sons urging them on to success in life. Her passionate

intense attachment for them however arouses in life. Her passionate intense attachment for them however arouses a reciprocal and unhealthy dependence in her sons. This furious love first destroys William then threatens to destroy Paul for it keeps the boys from being able to form wholesome and natural relationships with other women. They are not only Gertrude morel’s son’s but also her lovers in the true Freudian sense. Thus the novel is actually an extended study of the Oedipus complex and its operations an examination of the morel boys neurotic behavior as Sons and lovers.

 

You Can also Read:

• Oedipus Complex as Reflected in Sons and Lovers

• Why does Paul fail to Achieve Meaningful Relationship with Either Miriam or Clara in Sons and Lovers

 

Why does Hippolytus give up an easy life in preference to a rustic life in the lap of Nature?

Reason that Hippolytus give up an easy life in preference to a rustic life in the lap of Nature

Hippolytus was prince by birth. It is quite reasonable that he would prefer a court life. Despite all its splendor, pomp and pleasure, the court life of Athens was not without its vices. Over and above the presence of smart, beautiful woman made it susceptible to depravity and moral turpitude. Hippolytus, averse to worldly life, had no such ambition as to rule the state after his father. He preferred a life far from the madding crowd’s ignoble strife. As such he was irresistibly drawn to the rustic life, unspoiled by modernity.