Joseph Conrad's books, The Secret Sharer and Heart of Darkness, both deal with
each of our 'dark selves'. These books also have similarities which are overwhelming.
In describing the true inner self of humans, Conrad used many symbols which have
become apparent in many of his novels. Conrad uses the same or very similar objects in
many of his works.
Joseph Conrad wrote Heart of Darkness in 1899 to recount his voyages in the
Congo. Conrad hid most of his meaning in his words using a form of writing known as
'stream of consciousness'. This made it difficult for people to find the true meaning of
his work. After about ten years, Conrad realized that he would have to get his point
across in an easier to understand book. This book was The Secret Sharer.
Both of these books include the hero wanting to meet or developing a fascination
for a truly evil character.
Captain Lorenz Peters addressing his officers on b...
Captain Lorenz Peters with officers and crew of MA...
Captain P C Adelus of the Marine Nationale disemba...In Heart of Darkness, Marlow is very eager to meet Kurtz.
Marlow is so eager, in fact, that he eventually starts to panic when he thinks he will never
meet him. Marlow realizes that Kurtz is a very evil person, but this does not stop him
from wanting to meet this incredibly remarkable person. In The Secret Sharer the
Captain saves a murderer from almost certain death without knowing what the man has
done. Later, The Captain has a discussion with the man and finds out his name is
Leggatt. Leggatt tells his story and the Captain becomes more enthralled with Leggatt
ever so more. When Leggatt tells the Captain he has committed a murder, the Captain
does not throw him overboard. Instead, the Captain harbors this criminal because he
feels a connection with Leggatt that he has never felt before. In both stories the hero...