Fyodor Dostoevsky, alongside Tolstoy, was considered to be one of the
greatest novelist in world literature. In 1846, Dostoevsky joined a group of
socialists going against the ideals of the Tsar. Therefore, he was arrested in 1849 and
sentenced to prison in Siberia. He wrote two works based on his time in Siberia. The
House of the Dead, (1860), which was a fictional account of prison life and The
Insulted and Injured, a novel based on Dostoevsky’s objection of the existence of a
utopia. The main themes he explored in these works, along with other ones such
as Crime and Punishment and The Idiot, include the danger of utilitarianism, his
quest for God, suffering as a means of redemption, and compassion for the poor.
These themes are considered by some to be the underlying aspects of Existentialism.
This can relate to The Heart of Darkness, as both authors present ideas that portray
their society as
effects on a society, whilst Dostoevsky revolts against the ideals in his society such
as the affliction to God. In his novella, Heart of Darkness, Conrad uses techniques
such as color to portray the downside of imperialism on a country. For example, he
continually associates countries where imperialism began, such as the countries in
Europe, with darkness even in the presence of sunlight. This connection with such
countries and darkness, shows us that the societies are morally corrupt. "And this
also...has been one of the dark places of the earth..." (8, Conrad) Here, Marlow is
referring to London, and indicating that it is as dark as the deep interiors of Africa.
This implies that England, and the English, are as morally corrupt as the Africans
are made out to be. This is seen as the result of Imperialism.
Theme 7: Literature of the XX century
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