Heart Of Darkness : Narrative Techniques

Many consider Conrads Heart of Darkness to be a precursor to the modernist tradition in literature. Although not exclusively modernist in its approach, the text introduces certain new aspects in reply to the realist tradition. The Novella uses the adventure story narrative, impressionism, linguistic ambiguity, delayed decoding, imperialistic discourse etc. in its narrative. Conrads use of the effect narrative provides multiple perspectives to the text. An adventure story at the looking level, the text delves into the consciousness of the traveler and raises very important questions regarding association of the self and the other.
The interior depths of a persons read/write head seem to of more interest to the writer. The nautical action in the text seems to be secondary to the psychological turmoil in Marlows mind. The narrative unfolds through bits and pieces of Marlows psyche. There is a non-linear progression as the narrative skips back and forth repeatedly.
Conrad uses impressionism in his portrayal of the scenes in the text. He uses light and darkness in order to accentuate the effect of the scenes.



As Marlow says, But at that place was the fact facing me--the fact dazzling, to be seen, like the foam on the depths of the sea, like a ripple on an unbounded enigma, a mystery greater--when I thought of it-- than the curious, inexplicable broadside of desperate grief in this savage clamour that had sweep by us on the river-bank, behind the blind ingenuousness of the fog. The fog distorts the setting, hence making observation difficult. altogether the observations made are deep rooted in interpretation.
unrivaled of the major techniques that Conrad employs is the use of a frame narrative. The nameless teller introduces Marlow, and the other people on the ship. Marlow then narrates the story of his shipment to the Congo basin. The narrative is layered with different voices. There is a use of multiple narratives which forms the antithesis of the Victorian novel.
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