Psychological Journey

Marlow's journey into the heart of darkness can be viewed as a journey into his own subconscious. While Marlow appears physically and consciously unaffected by his journey, the reader is presented with a different view. This alternative view demonstrates how Marlow is affect by his "id" or subconscious. As Marlow becomes increasingly uneasy with the environment of the Congo his "id" becomes more active. For example, Marlow's ironic joking about the cannibals that he has hired to work on his boat present a state of danger. Apart from Marlow's inability to recognize danger, he reveals that his ability to make decisions has been impaired when he frantically tosses his shoes overboard after becoming stained with blood. This unusual behavior that Marlow takes part in can be explained by Freudian psychology. In England, external checks such as laws keep Marlow and his subconscious mind in check causing him to restrain the temptations of his subconscious mind. However, when unrestrained, Marlow's "id" becomes active and causes him to behave uncharacteristically. As Marlow travels deeper into the heart of darkness his psychological state deteriorates.