The Destruction of Culture as it Relates to the Heart of Darkness In wartime, a nation destroys itself if not for any other reason that if they did not, guilt would set in and atrocities could be recognized. The destruction of culture is necessary for eventual rebirth after a conflict. With the destruction and reconstruction of these cultures, however, come different sides of every story. Everyone who is engaged in a war believes themselves to be the victim, because otherwise, the conflict cannot be justified. This is another "conscience" related issue warring states have to reconcile themselves with. In the end, the only real issue anyone has to deal with when considering conflict, resolution, and the culture affected by these is the truth. This, however, can be muddled by anything at all. In Marlow’s case, in the Heart of Darkness, the truth is muddled by the mysterious jungle and the even more mysterious Kurtz. Enlightenment is blockaded by the darkness surrounding the entire expedition, which is of course also shrouded by continuous conflict. This, like any other conflict, requires the destruction of culture and personality, which I suppose helps to explain the disintegration of the personalities of any and all persons entering the jungle. The elusiveness of truth is a theme both in Conrad’s novel and in the real history of conflict and resolution in the world.
One can easily relate wars of the world to the Heart of Darkness. Both are obvious conflicts. However, while a war is a conflict out in the open, the Heart of Darkness is a much more secretive and downright secluded one. It is quite easy to tell who is involved in a war between nations while the partakers in the conflicts surrounding the Heart of Darkness can really be anyone. With these differences in mind, there are still distinct connections between the two. In both, there are often different beliefs regarding who is the victim and who is the offender. Both conflicts involve the destruction of the culture and personalities of the involved parties. Also in both cases there is an obvious shroud surrounding the most important factor of all: truth. In the Heart of Darkness, the explorers are hounded repeatedly by what they consider to be “savages.” These natives, however, are simply fighting to preserve their way of life. They have no interest in the explorers save the fear they feel regarding the possible departure of Kurtz whom they have come to love. The explorers, of course, know none of this, and would most likely not even care. They have a mind for one thing, and that is profit. In their minds, they are victims of misguided and savage attacks, when really they are considered the attackers. This difference in perspective can be found whenever a world conflict arises, as well. Anyone entering the jungle, entering the Heart of Darkness, needs to be numb. One cannot enter while still possessing human feelings and virtues, because if they did, madness would ensue as it often does. Instead, you have to enter as a blank slate, completely devoid of emotion or of any expectation of decency. Marlow does this. He goes in as a different man than he has been his entire life. Perhaps this is why he avoids the fate that most find in the jungle. Similarly, anyone entering war has to enter it in the same way, or risk guilt and remorse following the inevitable atrocities. In the Heart of Darkness, Marlow is desperate for enlightenment, he is desperate for truth, but this above all is out of his reach. It is clouded by his companions and by Kurtz, by the jungle and the fog. The truth is what Marlow is searching for, but what he finds is indeed the opposite. Marlow steps into the jungle and finds, like all those before him, darkness and confusion. This is also the fate for those who search for the truth regarding the causes, effects, and facts of war. Everyone will tell a different story, and everyone will have a different opinion that will help to cloud the truth. The Heart of Darkness is a novel dealing with the dangers of stepping into confusion, and it can be related to any war. Both are full of different beliefs and perspectives, both require the destruction of one’s personality, and both involve a complete lack of concrete truth. Though one is fiction and the other history, both Conrad’s novel and real wars are laden with similar themes, principle among these being truth, or rather the absence thereof.