| The time in which Joseph Conrad lived saw the great changes of the society and appearance of various thoughts and ideas. Being a writer of fine sensitivity, Conrad was keenly aware of them and caught the impressions and meditated them in his works. Heart of Darkness is one of such works. It was first published in 1899. Since its appearance, it has invited many critical reviews. Critics of different critical approaches analyze it, critique it and all find it interesting and profound. Why could such a short novel attract attention of so many critics in different periods? In the opinion of the author of this theses it is because the novel directly reveals human conditions in the way modern existentialists explore the world.This essay mainly centers on these points: limited man and indifferent universe; alienation; absurdity; Marlow's self-acknowledgement and Kurtz's self-discovery; freedom and responsibility. The analysis shows the problems Conrad investigates in his work are just the major concern of existentialists, that is, man's existence in the universe.The thesis is composed of seven parts.Introduction points out the thesis of the essay and demonstrates that the essay will explore the theme in the light of existentialism. That is in Heart of Darkness Conrad depicts an indifferent universe, exposes man's alienation and absurdity in such a contingency, and discovers nothingness in man's struggle with his freedom againstalienation and absurdity to achieve his authentic existence in the same way as the modern existentialists do.Chapter One centers on the relationship between man and the universe. In other words, Conrad presents man as a being-in-the-world, existing in unavoidable contingency with all that surrounds him. He depicts a cold and indifferent world as is in existentialists' theories: man is thrown into this godless world and always tries to battle the indifferent obstacles that stalk his pursuit of a fuller time and induce in him an alienating state of anxiety amid tragic awareness of his own limitations.Chapter Two concentrates on man's alienation caused by the indifference of the universe. It begins with the definition of alienation. The social background of Conrad's time and his personal life experience enable him to perceive alienation earlier than his contemporaries and dramatize this problem in Heart of Darkness as existentialists do in their works. Then the chapter shifts its focus and concentrates its analysis on Heart of Darkness. The analyses reveals that the whites - the pilgrims, the women, the Russian, Kurtz, and Marlow who regards himself as a man of moral and ideal are all alienated in such an isolated, indifferent and godless dark world. While the native blacks are alienated and dehumanized by European advanced technology and especially by the progress of civilization. The analysis of alienation points to the truth that the individual cannot escape the gigantic alienating forces combined of nature and society. Thus the revelation of Heart of Darkness echoes existentialists' assertion: man lives in an unavoidable contingency with all that surrounds him. Man cannot escape from the environment in which he lives so he cannot get away with alienation - a theme often presented and investigated by existentialists too.Chapter Three presents man's absurd experience in this chaotic world. First, it introduces modern existentialists' theories about absurdity. Second, it presents that Heart of Darkness depicts this absurdity both on the environments and on man. Life is absurd and man as well. Maybe, death can destroy absurdity, but it just destroys all plans and reduces man to nothingness. Thus it draws a conclusion that both Conrad and existentialists treat the absurdity of the society and individual which have grown out of the negative experience of a chaotic and indifferent world. For Conrad, man is an absurd one in an inherent tragic world of crushing external constraints; and many existentialists also observe this phenomenon.Chapter Four reveals the nothingness in m...
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