What does the whited Sepulchre symbolize in Heart of Darkness?

The “Whited Sepulchre” A sepulchre implies death and confinement, and indeed Europe is the origin of the colonial enterprises that bring death to white men and to their colonial subjects; it is also governed by a set of reified social principles that both enable cruelty, dehumanization, and evil and prohibit change.

Where does the term Whited Sepulchre come from in Heart of Darkness?

When Marlow visits Brussels to get his appointment, he describes the city as a “whited sepulcher” — a Biblical phrase referring to a hypocrite or person who employs a façade of goodness to mask his or her true malignancy.

What does Marlow aunt represent in Heart of Darkness?

Marlow’s Aunt is a loving person who secures for him a good position in the Company. She believes in the benevolence of the European civilization and its advancement of civilization in African. She is influenced by the Company officer’s wife.

What is a symbol in Heart of Darkness?

The literal meaning of the phrase “heart of darkness” is the inmost region of the dry country known as Congo; but symbolically it means the inmost region of a man’s mind or soul. So the incursion into the heart of darkness also means a descent by Marlow into the depths of his own soul.

What does the Thames River symbolize in Heart of Darkness?

Remember that Marlow is telling us this story on a different river, the English Thames. That makes the Thames into a parallel for the Congo. So, if the Thames is like the Congo, then England is like Africa, which means that … white men are like black men, with a key difference: white men used to be like black men.

Why does Kurtz say the horror?

What do Kurtz’s last words mean? Kurtz’s last words—“The horror! More likely, these words reflect Kurtz’s failure to achieve his many lofty goals and fulfill his destiny, and he cannot help but utter in despair as the emptiness of his own life envelopes him.

What is Kurtz a symbol of?

Kurtz, one of the leading characters, the other being Marlow, the narrator of the soty, represents many symbols in the novel. Firstly, he symbolizes the greed and the commercial mentality of the white people of the western countries. Secondly, he symbolizes the white man’s love of power.

What is the main idea of Heart of Darkness?

The superficial themes of the novel are imperialism and cruelty of the European powers. However, the theme of the lack of truth lies at the heart of the text. All the European powers engaged in Africa are occupying their land and plundering resources while propagating it as a civilizing mission.

What is the Thames in Heart of Darkness?

At the start of Heart of Darkness, five men are on a boat on the River Thames. The men are: The Director of Companies, The Accountant, The Lawyer, Marlow, and the Narrator. Marlow tells the story of his journey to the Congo. The River Thames is a 346 km long river running through London and southern England.

What is a Whited Sepulcher in heart of Darkness?

One example of this in Heart of Darkness is when Marlow gets to France. He refers to the city as a ”whited sepulcher.” A sepulcher is a type of tomb or relic holder, which is decorated on the outside and hollow in the center.

Where does the phrase Whited Sepulcher come from?

Biblical Allusion. One example of this in Heart of Darkness is when Marlow gets to France. He refers to the city as a ‘whited sepulcher.’ A sepulcher is a type of tomb or relic holder, which is decorated on the outside and hollow in the center. The phrase ‘whited sepulcher’ is actually an allusion to Matthew 23:27-28,…

Are there any biblical allusions in heart of Darkness?

Biblical Allusion. One of the most common types of allusion is biblical allusion, where the reference calls to mind some part of the Bible. One example of this in Heart of Darkness is when Marlow gets to France.

What makes Marlow think of the White sepulchers?

From the moment that Marlow enters Belgium, he draws the connection between white colonists and white sepulchers: “In a very few hours I arrived in a city that always makes me think of a whited sepulcher” (Conrad 24). At first, this signals to us that there is a dirty truth behind the Congo operation.