The “Dark” Human Side in the Heart of Darkness The notion of what it means to be human has been explored through various literatures and interpreted in many different ways. Through a complex series of events and circumstances as well as the perception of man's superiority, Joseph Conrad's novel Heart of Darkness reveals the difficult problems of imperialism and colonialism and their devastating effects on society. As the title of the novel suggests, the “darkness” depicted is the negative human side of brutality and discrimination. The deeper meaning and implications of being "human" depend on many factors, including the individual's environment which affects their behavior and decision-making, as well as the individual's arrogance and sense of superiority. man when he takes ethical actions. As expressed in the novel Heart of Darkness, humanity's environment constantly dictates everyone's behavior, both physically and emotionally, depicting humanity's overall weakness. For example, when living in a crime-ridden area or in a quiet, peaceful neighborhood, a man's actions become the result of what he perceives to be completely normal and rational. Knowing nothing different, humans are constantly adapting to their environment as they focus on what they see and experience each day. In Heart of Darkness, the power of the dark jungle and Congo forest becomes abundantly clear with the actions of Marlow and Kurtz, as both resort to savage means to survive. While his environment allows him to control the native population, the African jungle also becomes an apparent influence on him, as he is seen "crawling on all fours" (80). As Kurtz had completely surrounded himself with natives, his actions unintentionally happen middle of paper... The last sentence of the novel illustrates this: "[t]he road was blocked by a bank of black clouds, and the quiet waterway leading to The ends of the earth flowed dark under an overcast sky --- seemed to lead into the heart of immense darkness” (216). This powerful quote describes how the “dark” side of human action can be potentially negative and brutal. Kurtz being the symbol of European imperialism and others contributing to the great thought, Kurtz being the symbol of European imperialism and others adding to this negative practice reminds us that it is essential for humans to be human and think about them. thoughts and actions. Although individuals have a potentially "dark" side, they have the power not to succumb to it through "dark" actions, including inhumanity and brutality, as shown throughout the novel..