Symbols and Symbolism Essay: Color as a Tool in Heart of Darkness :: Heart Darkness essays

Color as a Tool of Symbolism in Heart of Darkness Color is utilise very effectively as a tool of symbolism in Heart of Darkness. Colors, especi wholey subdued and white, are used to symbolize evil (black) and trusty (white). Other colors are also used, although less a great deal than black and white. Throughout the story, people are thought to have white souls or black souls depending on their innate goodness or badness or the role they are fulfilling at the time. The color of a souls soul is often contrasted to the color of their skin. A black- souled, white-skinned person is thought to be evil and dishonest. I met a white man in such an unexpected elegance of trailer truck (Conrad p.21). This demonstrates how a white man was not expected to be a good person. Elegance of dress was unexpected because the man was white. In comparison, a white-souled, black-skinned person is thought to be truthful and full of integrity. An athletic black belonging to some coast tribe and educate d by my poor predecessor.thought all the world of himself. (Conrad p.45). People are described as black with hatred regardless of skin color. This is further evidence of black being used synonymously with evil. Black isnt just used to describe evil people. Often far away, I thought of these two, guarding the door of Darkness, knitting black wool as for a warm pall (Conrad p. 14.) The symbolism of black wool at the door of Darkness is clearly pointing to evil, and further supports black as evil. Heath 2 Colors other than black and white are used to describe moods and attitudes past the basic good and evil. Red signifies industry. There was a vast make sense of red - good to see at any time because one knows that some real work is done in there. (Conrad p.13). Yellow is seen as a cowardly color. I was going into the yellow. Dead in the center. (Conrad p.13). Pale denotes Death. It is also used this way in the Bible, the Pale horse and his rider Death, Revelations 68. She came forward , all in black, with a pale head, floating towards me in the dusk. She was in mourning. It was more than a year since his death (Conrad p. 72-73). The use of color is effective in the story for a variety of reasons. First, it is easy to understand.