Beyond the shield of civilization and in the depths of a primitive and wild frontier lies the true face of the human soul. It is in the midst of this fierce and relentless danger that humanity confronts the brooding nature of its inner self. Joseph Conrad's novel, Heart of Darkness, is the story of a man's insight into life as he embarks on a journey to the ends of the world. Here he encounters the bitter yet enlightening forces that ultimately shape his outlook on life and his individuality. Conrad's depiction of characters, setting, and symbols allows the reader to reflect on the true nature of man. The two main characters of Heart of Darkness, Marlow and Kurtz, are used to show the true nature of man, that is, the capacity for good and evil in humanity. The central character is a thirty-two-year-old sailor, Charlie Marlow. Marlow is the main narrator of the novel, so his thoughts, opinions, experiences, and revelations shape the entire novel's themes and proposed value system. Marlow illustrates how the forces of light and darkness serve to weave the human soul together; so essentially how good and bad are reflected in an individual. This is especially important in regards to the construction of Marlow, who is essentially a partial narrator and a product of his European upbringing. One example is his failure to deal with dying natives in the “grove of death,” offering a native a cookie as an apparent kind gesture. Yet this is only because he hasn't been confronted with situations like this before where his values ​​and the whole premise behind colonialism and exploitation are revealed. The patriarchal views of women it shows also outlines Marlow's background and the... middle of paper... a man can live on the island without becoming a brutal savage. At its heart lies the raw evil of a savage lifestyle" (Heart of Darkness: A Systematic Assessment). Works Cited"The Congo" Created December 7, 1995. Web. February 23, 2007. Conrad, Joseph. Heart of Darkness . New York: Penguin, 1999. Print."The Fear" Created December 7, 1995. Web. February 9, 2007. "Heart of Darkness: A Systematic Assessment of the Darkness Inherent in Men's Souls" "The Perfect Native" Created on December 7, 1995. Web February 12, 2007. “The Setting” Created December 7, 1995. Web. February 12, 2007. Works consulted, DCRA “Heart of Darkness: Overview from Gale, 1994. Web. Thomas. "Heart of Darkness: Overview." Literary Resources from Gale, 1991. Web 2007.