Psychoanalytic and philosophical exploration of Heart of Darkness by Joseph Conrad

Through a comprehensive analysis informed by psychoanalytic biography, Machiavellianism and Schopenhauerism, this thesis aims to provide new insights into Heart of Darkness by Joseph Conrad, contributing to a deeper understanding of its timeless themes in this inner journey. Analyzing the novella from a psychoanalytic perspective provides valuable insights into the themes and characters in Heart of Darkness, which have been influenced by Conrad's own experiences and psychological struggles. In addition, the atrocity and Machiavellian traces in Heart of Darkness show the improbability of wholly satisfaction for the endless will and how these transform Kurtz into a cruel man when external restraints are absent in the dark Congo River. Lastly, the study highlights that Heart of Darkness presents its readers a dark sorrowful gloomy atmosphere in the most parts. The theme of pessimism in HOD has its reflection from Conrad's own pessimistic view which is the reflection of his concurrence with Schopenhauerian philosophy. Pessimism and darkness felt throughout the novella is only a small side of the Schopenhauerian view. It might be declared that Heart of Darkness is a mannish novella where women are nameless, inferior, insignificant, and deathly silent most of the time except for occasional cries. This thesis explores how Conrad's psychoanalytic biography hints at biographical signs in Heart of Darkness. Furthermore, it also studies Machiavellian view to search for the evil in this inner journey, and highlights Schopenhauerian influence in the sense of pessimist, gloomy, sorrowful atmosphere which is nourished with an inferior view of women.