
Marlow explains that the Romans brought light to England in the form of civilization.

Throughout the excerpt, Conrad uses various references to light to emphasize that civilization is the symbol of good in this excerpt.

It is through this that the reader can understand that this excerpt from Conrad’s Heart of Darkness undermines the very emphasis he is placing on the dichotomy between light and darkness. Joseph Conrad, the author of the aforementioned novella, utilizes light and darkness to symbolize the difference between the “civilized” Europeans and the “savage” Africans.

He helps the reader, and his audience in the excerpt, understand that, before civilization, England was as dark and savage as the Congo was during his journey. In this excerpt from Heart of Darkness, Marlow begins to explain how before the Romans arrived in England, it was considered to be part of the darkness.
