The book I am currently reading, Heart of Darkness by Joseph Conrad, needs no introduction. The seminal tale of Western colonialism in the Congo, based on Conrad’s own experience, albeit slightly sensationalized. It is a story of brutal disregard for human life and greed.
“We live as we dream–alone….”
This quote, despite being very short, perfectly portrays the atmosphere of this book. Despite there being many characters, the travel into the dark, the unknown, creates a feeling of solitude. This is also created by the more metaphorical interpretation of the story, which is the journey into the depths of the human psyche, which, of course, is filled with solitude. Despite this, the story is interspersed with many masterfully written character interactions, full of darkness and foreshadowing.