Heart of Darkness by Joseph Conrad, published in 1899, is a novella that explores the darkness of human nature and the brutal realities of colonialism. Set in the Congo Free State during the late 19th century, it follows Charles Marlow, a sailor who narrates his journey up the Congo River to find Kurtz, a mysterious ivory trader. Through Marlow’s eyes, Conrad critiques the greed, exploitation, and moral decay of European imperialism, portraying the African wilderness as both a physical and psych