The Uncanny In Conrad’s Heart Of Darkness

Heart of Darkness is an important novel by Joseph Conrad,one of his most representative stories.The novel contains many characteristics of the uncanny,which deepen its meaning and theme.Based on the Uncanny Theory,this thesis illustrates the phenomenon of the uncanny in the novel.Here,the uncanny is shown in three aspects,each presented as a chapter of the thesis: first,the symbolic meaning of the main symbols of white and black;second,the framed narrative;and third,the character relationship between Marlow and Kurtz.Chapter One discusses the blurring of the boundary between the symbolic meaning of white and black.In the novel,the symbolic meanings of white and black are vague and ambiguous.The original symbolic meaning of black as evil merges with the symbolic meaning of white,while some black appearances symbolize good qualities.The clear boundary between the symbolic meanings of white and black is blurred,a characteristic of the uncanny.In Chapter Two,the framed narrative structure of the novel is discussed.Although Heart of Darkness is a framed narrative,a tale within a tale,its framed narrative is a special case.That special quality exists because the outside frame cannot contain the inside narrative,which creates the effect of “the unhomeliness of home” in the framed narrative.This is another aspect of the uncanny in the novel.Chapter Three mainly focuses on the relationship of the “double” between the two characters Marlow and Kurtz.It can be said that Kurtz invades Marlow’s mind as a haunting voice,like a ghost,swaying Marlow’s emotions,tempting Marlow to chase after it.Later in the novel,to Marlow,Kurtz becomes a harbinger of death with the mysterious power of threatening Marlow’s life.The mysterious relationship between Kurtz and Marlow is that of a “double”,a key term in the theory of the uncanny.The relationship of the double between Marlow and Kurtz manifests the characteristic of the uncanny in the novel.The conclusion of the thesis is that the uncanny in the three aspects of the use of symbolism,the character relationship,and the framed narrative help the reader understand more deeply the theme of the novel and appreciate more clearly Conrad’s attitude to colonialism.