130 Heart of Darkness Essay Topic Ideas & Examples

If you are studying Joseph Conrad's classic novella "Heart of Darkness," chances are you will be tasked with writing an essay on the text at some point. To help you get started, we have compiled a list of 130 essay topic ideas and examples that you can use as inspiration for your own writing.

1. Compare and contrast the characters of Marlow and Kurtz in "Heart of Darkness."
2. Analyze the theme of imperialism in the novella.
3. Discuss the role of women in "Heart of Darkness."
4. Explore the concept of darkness in the novella.
5. Examine the symbolism of the Congo River in the text.
6. Discuss the theme of colonialism in "Heart of Darkness."
7. Analyze the portrayal of race and racism in the novella.
8. Discuss the theme of madness in the text.
9. Explore the idea of civilization versus savagery in "Heart of Darkness."
10. Discuss the significance of the title "Heart of Darkness."
11. Analyze the role of the narrator in the novella.
12. Discuss the theme of isolation in the text.
13. Explore the symbolism of the ivory trade in "Heart of Darkness."
14. Discuss the theme of moral ambiguity in the novella.
15. Analyze the character of the Russian trader in the text.
16. Discuss the theme of power in "Heart of Darkness."
17. Explore the motif of light and darkness in the novella.
18. Analyze the portrayal of the native Africans in the text.
19. Discuss the theme of redemption in "Heart of Darkness."
20. Explore the idea of Kurtz as a tragic hero in the novella.
21. Analyze the character of the Intended in the text.
22. Discuss the theme of truth and lies in "Heart of Darkness."
23. Explore the motif of fog in the novella.
24. Analyze the symbolism of the heads on sticks in the text.
25. Discuss the theme of corruption in "Heart of Darkness."
26. Explore the idea of the white man's burden in the novella.
27. Analyze the character of the manager in the text.
28. Discuss the theme of betrayal in "Heart of Darkness."
29. Explore the motif of darkness as a psychological state in the novella.
30. Analyze the symbolism of the jungle in the text.
31. Discuss the theme of Kurtz's descent into madness in "Heart of Darkness."
32. Explore the idea of imperialism as a destructive force in the novella.
33. Analyze the character of the brickmaker in the text.
34. Discuss the theme of the unknown in "Heart of Darkness."
35. Explore the motif of silence in the novella.
36. Analyze the symbolism of the painting in the text.
37. Discuss the theme of the supernatural in "Heart of Darkness."
38. Explore the idea of the Congo as a metaphor for hell in the novella.
39. Analyze the character of the harlequin in the text.
40. Discuss the theme of the search for meaning in "Heart of Darkness."
41. Explore the motif of darkness as ignorance in the novella.
42. Analyze the symbolism of the steamboat in the text.
43. Discuss the theme of the journey in "Heart of Darkness."
44. Explore the idea of Kurtz as a symbol of European colonialism in the novella.
45. Analyze the character of the helmsman in the text.
46. Discuss the theme of the loss of innocence in "Heart of Darkness."
47. Explore the motif of cannibalism in the novella.
48. Analyze the symbolism of the rivets in the text.
49. Discuss the theme of the failure of language in "Heart of Darkness."
50. Explore the idea of the narrator as an unreliable narrator in the novella.
51. Analyze the character of the accountant in the text.
52. Discuss the theme of the futility of human endeavor in "Heart of Darkness."
53. Explore the motif of darkness as ignorance in the novella.
54. Analyze the symbolism of the sepulchral city in the text.
55. Discuss the theme of the horror of imperialism in "Heart of Darkness."
56. Explore the idea of Kurtz as a symbol of European colonialism in the novella.
57. Analyze the character of the helmsman in the text.
58. Discuss the theme of the loss of innocence in "Heart of Darkness."
59. Explore the motif of cannibalism in the novella.
60. Analyze the symbolism of the rivets in the text.
61. Discuss the theme of the failure of language in "Heart of Darkness."
62. Explore the idea of the narrator as an unreliable narrator in the novella.
63. Analyze the character of the accountant in the text.
64. Discuss the theme of the futility of human endeavor