Comparing Conrads The Secret Sharer and Heart of Darkness :: Comparison Compare Contrast Essays

Similarities in Conrad's The Secret Sharer and Heart of Darkness 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. 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 identifies with his evil counterpart to the point that they actually become one in their own minds. Conrad wanted to show the evil that exists within all of us. The bulk of Conrad's stories deal with sea voyages because of his extensive sailing as a young man. The ship in his writing can be thought of as symbolizing the journey through life, a vessel of sorts.