During the time that Joseph Conrad's novel Heart of Darkness was written, a common theme in literature was the testing of the moral life through actual experience. An ethical principle could not be realized without it being justified by the outcome of some practical conflict. This idea of ​​testing morality through experience is exactly what is presented in Conrad's novel as Marlow's journey results in a test that not only defines his beliefs but allows him to draw a rather pessimistic conclusion about the morality of humanity. This realization occurs through the author's dual presentation of imperialism, in which it is both glorified and criticized. Marlow begins his narrative with a vague position on the issue that seems to find justification for both sides. As the story progresses and Marlow begins to play a more active role in his situation, the two sides of anti-imperialism and colonization fade away. Slowly the two opposing beliefs come together until the climax of the novel during Marlow's exchange with the dying Kurtz. At this point, Marlow comes to the conclusion that for him the differences between the two sides of the issue no longer exist, and although he is not willing to continue the moral process himself, he judges the sad outcome through Kurtz's experiences. In the first half of the novel, Marlow attempts to remain an observer of the events around him and thus is able to offer his contradictory perceptions on the issue of imperialism. Because he takes very few deliberate actions, he can make his own judgment about what he sees without actually having to take a moral stand one way or another. Indeed, the journey itself, in the beginning, began as nothing... half the paper... literally means." (p.51) Marlow never takes the final step, he remains an observer, and therefore his conclusion can never really be justified. Works Cited Conrad, Joseph Heart of Darkness: Backgrounds and Criticisms, New Jersey: Prentice-Hall, 1960. Meyers, Jeffrey New York: Charles Scribner's Sons, 1991. Joseph Heart of Darkness 3rd ed Kimbrough New York: Norton Critical, 1988.Williams, George Washington [A Report on the Congo - State and Country to the President of the Republic of the United States of America.] Heart of Darkness. By Joseph Conrad 3rd ed. Robert Kimbrough New York: Norton Critical 1988. 87.Tripp, Rhoda Thomas of New York Quotations: Thomas Y. Crowell, 1970.Achebe, Chinua Africa: Racism in Conrad's Heart of Darkness.]