It was the year 1868.  A young boy of about nine years of age stood looking at a map of Africa.  The boy raised up his hand and stuck his finger directly into the middle of the “dark continent.” 

Maybe if Conrad would have come forth with the absolute truth about the brutal regime of King Leopold II in the Congo through his character Marlow, he might have been less believable

Conrad was not financially secure until 1913 with the publication of Change

Heart of Darkness is, among other things, a commentary touching upon the harsh reality of imperialist control. Throughout the novel, Conrad records his experiences by using characters like Kurtz and Marlow to paint a clear picture for the reader what life was really like for inhabitants under the cruel regime of King Leopold II of Belgium.

Joseph Conrad’s visit to the Belgian Congo from 1890-1894 had both positive and negative effects on his life. The positive aspect of the voyage was the fact that he was able to write a famous novel filled with chilling commentary about his daily experiences among the natives of the Congo.

Consequently, I can begin to see that although Conrad’s early years were difficult, he still managed to get introduced to a rich literary atmosphere.

Audacious neighbourhood, the wisest heart         400 Of Solomon he led by fraud to build