The Dual Meanings of 'Darkness' in "Heart of Darkness"

         "The brown current ran swiftly out of the heart of darkness bearing us down towards the sea with twice the speed of our upward progress..." (Conrad, 84).  This reoccurring mention of darkness carries two meanings.  One simply being the obvious literal darkness experienced as Marlow and his crew delve deeper into the jungle with less light penetrating through the thick canopy.  Secondly, this darkness serves as a metaphor to represent the difference in culture between Marlow's European upbringing and the increasingly alien and uncivilized life of those who live deep in the heart of Africa's Congo.  In darkness, man can not see as well as they do in the light.  Darkness in this case represents Marlow's being unable to see, as in understand and connect, with the tribal people he encounters as he delves deeper into the Congo.  The 'heart of darkness' described in the quote represents the darkest point, the most uncivilized area, in which Marlow encounters during his journey to rescue and recover Kurtz.  Leaving this 'heart of darkness' represents a return to the civilized world, and to a European dominated world.  While 'darkness' in this novel does mean exactly what it sounds like, it also carries a much heavier meaning, as well.