Kurtz is also crucial. He is a symbol of the corrupted by power and the allure of the primitive. He has descended into madness and amorality in the heart of the jungle, representing the extreme of what can happen to a man in such an environment.
One of the main themes is the darkness within human nature. The story shows how people can be corrupted by power, greed, and the unknown. Another theme is imperialism. It depicts the negative impacts of European colonialism in Africa, such as exploitation and the destruction of native cultures.
The themes include the loss of innocence. Marlow, the protagonist, witnesses the horrors in the Congo and loses his initial naivete. Morality is also a big theme. Kurtz's descent into immoral behavior makes us question the limits of human morality in extreme situations. And there is the theme of alienation. Marlow is alienated from the society he comes from as he experiences the truth about the Congo and the actions of the imperialists there.
Marlow is the central figure in Heart of Darkness. He's a seaman who is sent to the Congo to retrieve Kurtz. Kurtz, on the other hand, is this mysterious and somewhat infamous figure. He has created his own little 'empire' in the jungle and has lost his moral compass. There are also some other minor characters like the Manager, who is in charge of the trading post in the Congo, and the natives, who are often the victims of the colonizers' actions.
Marlow is a very important character. He is the narrator of the story and through his eyes, we experience the journey into the heart of darkness. He is an inquisitive and somewhat disillusioned man. Kurtz is also crucial. He is a symbol of the corrupted European in the African wilderness. His actions and his final words are very significant in understanding the themes of the story.
One of the main themes is the darkness within human nature. The story shows how people can be corrupted by power and greed. Another theme is the idea of imperialism. It reveals the brutal and immoral aspects of colonial rule. Also, the concept of self - discovery is there. Marlow's journey into the heart of Africa is also a journey into his own soul.
Yes, Heart of Darkness can be considered a frame story. The narrator's account of his journey up the Congo River serves as the framework within which Marlow's story is told.