| Heart of Darkness - Joseph Conrad The final vision of Heart of Darkness is one of intoxicating, perhaps inevitable, destruction. Destruction that comes from too much truth. As Marlow returns to "civilization", he finds it shallow, fake, all its goodness based on a lie. Yet the truth is deadly-- the lie is necessary to survive-- and so the choice is difficult. Live the shallow lie and be happy, or face the intoxicating truth and risk destruction? This is the way I felt as I read this book. It is dark and intoxicating -- certainly not happy or "fun" to read. The narrative sweeps you along toward the Heart of Darkness as steadily, quietly, and unswervingly and the river carries Marlow there. You wonder if you should get out. You wonder if you even can. You are half-afraid about where it is taking you, but fascination far outweighs the fear. And when it's over, you're simply glad you've survived... and certain, completely certain, that it's changed you somehow, even if you don't exactly know how... Read it. It's an amazing book. You may not like it, but you won't regret it. |