Context The novel begins in London on board the British ship 'Nellie' which is anchored in the River Thames. An anonymous narrator listens to Marlow's tale of his journey up the Congo River together with the Director of Companies, the Accountant, and the Lawyer. What we read is the narrator's recollections of Marlow's tale. From a very young age Marlow was always fascinated with maps and in particular Africa with its large areas of unexplored …showed first 75 words of 9227 total…

…showed last 75 words of 9227 total…is no rule of law as was the case in Africa at the turn of the century, it is easier for man to let evil corrupt and take over his life. The location of the novel in Africa is not accidental, as it was known at that time as the Dark Continent full of mystery and primeval forces. It was the duty of colonizing nations to bring about enlightenment to this dark, non-Christian land.