SampleIntroductionsfrompastHODessays
(thesisstatementsinbold)
From“It’saJungleOutThere”(mergessymbolandsetting)
A hurricane, merciless and violent, spares no bridge, no building in its tumultuous
rage; blind and ravenous, it consumes without restraint. Despite being profoundly
destructive, hurricanes have an oddly dependable quality: they know how to leave a
monstrous mess. The sky, however, has a short memory. Right on schedule, she sheds her
ashen skin in favor of rich golds, and, without batting an eye at the turmoil below,
patiently waits to melt into a delicate sunset. Catastrophic, yet extraordinarily exquisite –
the inherently enigmatic makeup of the natural world. Joseph Conrad, in his antiimperialist novel, HeartofDarkness,explores these paradoxical qualities the earth
possesses and uses them symbolically as a mirror and a menace to expose the
corruption of mankind. Nature transcends all notions of setting as Conrad architects the
landscape of the Congo into a dark, all-mighty character, perfect for bold juxtaposition
against the pilgrims in order to further convey Conrad's theory regarding the true brand of
darkness to be feared most: humanity's capacity for evil.
From“DoublinginHeartofDarkness”(doubling,characterdepiction)
In Joseph Conrad’s HeartofDarkness, the Harlequin acts as a double for
Marlow, personifying the part of Marlow that is enamored with Kurtz. Marlow’s
disdain for the Harlequin reveals Marlow’s guilt about his own infatuation with Kurtz. As
Kurtz represents Marlow’s subconscious and savage nature, it can be seen that Marlow is
apprehensive to fully embrace the savage shadows in his heart. Furthermore, Conrad
deploys this inner battle to portray man’s constant battle between the heart’s
darkness and society’s moral standards.
From “The Company Office in Heart of Darkness” (depiction of setting)
On a “narrow and deserted street in deep shadow” (Conrad 54) exists the Company
office, a place shrouded in mystery. Preceding his journey into the depths of the African
wilderness, Marlow must first visit the Company office, which directs all European
activity in the Congo region of Africa. Utilizing a sinister tone, Joseph Conrad paints a
scene that underscores the menacing appearance of the building. The description and
mood that Conrad develops through this scene accent one of the most significant themes
throughout the novella. A symbol of the immense power and influence of European
imperialism, the Company office serves as a reflection of these imperialistic
tendencies in humans in a more universal sense. The ominous atmosphere that Conrad
creates and the people that Marlow interact with while in the offices underscore the
ambiguity of power and the negative impact of imperialism on humankind.