Essay Idea

Joseph Conrad’s novel, Heart of Darkness, presents the idea that one’s subconscious mind heavily influences one’s decisions and actions under circumstances where “external checks” are absent. As Marlow, the protagonist, navigates his way through the Congo in search of the infamous Kurts, his upright morals and believe system begin to slip. In many instances, Marlow demonstrates irrational thinking that may lead the reader to believe that the environment in which he resides has poisoned his mind. While it may seem that the environment has caused Marlow’s moral decay, the truth is that Marlow’s subconscious becomes increasingly active. The idea that Marlow’s subconscious has taken control can be explained by Freudian psychology, which concludes that external checks prevent indecent behavior from influencing the conscious mind. In a society with external checks, an individual conceals their natural iniquity with subconscious thought, most commonly expressed in dreams. When external checks are removed, one’s subconscious or id presents itself in the conscious mind of the individual. This condition in which the subconscious ideas infiltrate one’s conscience can be described as a liminal state between dream and reality.