E X T E N S I O N FEATURES, THEMES AND SYMBOLS Symbolism in Heart of Darkness (illustration by R.E. Wilkinson) Heart of Darkness, first published in April 1899, is a frame story , that is, one story which contains another story. It opens, in fact, with an anonymous narrator who introduces Marlow s narrative and provides a conclusion at the end. This novella1 anticipates many elements which are typical of Modernist Literature. The most important are: the emotions and thoughts of the narrator are as important, or even more important, than the story itself. So, it is both an adventure story and a psychological story; the narrator does not respect a chronological order, but goes back and forth in time (as when he tells us about Kurtz s physical appearance before we have actually met him); extensive use of symbolism: the natural elements are realistic, but they also symbolise emotions and states of mind. So, wilderness and darkness are symbols of the unknown, subconscious parts of the soul, which can be as dark and evil as in Kurtz. Another example is the fog which surrounds the steamboat, so much so that nobody can see their surroundings. The fog reflects the confusion of Marlow, who cannot see that is, he does not know what dangers are waiting for him; 1. novella: a short novel. 112