Jinwan Xuan

The University of Manchester

Abstract：

"Heart of Darkness "is a classic work by British author Joseph Conrad. It occupies an important position in the history of world literature with profound themes, delicate psychological descriptions, and unique narrative styles. Postcolonial theory emerged in the second half of the 20th century as a critical reflection on colonialism and imperialism. With the development of globalization and the independence of colonial countries, people are beginning to re-examine the impact of colonial history on culture, identity, and power relations. The postcolonial theory provides an important theoretical framework for analyzing colonial discourse, cultural conflicts, and identity issues in literary works. Analyzing Marlow's identity and moral dilemma from a postcolonial perspective can provide a deeper understanding of the content of the work, reveal the dangers of colonialism, provide new perspectives for reflecting on history and understanding cultural relations, and promote equal cultural exchange. In this regard, this article provides an overview of "Heart of Darkness" and analyzes Marlow's identity and moral dilemma in the work, and interprets it from a postcolonial perspective, in order to better understand the legacy of colonialism and the value of cultural diversity, and promote equal communication and dialogue between different cultures.

Key Words：

postcolonialism; "Heart of Darkness"; identity recognition; moral dilemma