The setting of "Heart of Darkness" by Joseph Conrad is the Congo Free State in Africa during the late 1800s. The Congo Free State was a region in Central Africa that was claimed as a personal possession by King Leopold II of Belgium and was exploited for its natural resources, specifically rubber.
The novel follows the journey of the protagonist, Marlow, as he travels up the Congo River to find the enigmatic and mysterious European trader, Kurtz. Along the way, Marlow encounters various groups of people, including native tribes and European colonizers, who are all affected by the greed and brutality of the colonial enterprise in the Congo.
The setting of the Congo Free State is a crucial element of the novel as it serves as a backdrop for the themes of imperialism, exploitation, and the human condition. The lush and exotic landscape of the Congo is described as both beautiful and dangerous, with Marlow often remarking on the stunning beauty of the natural surroundings as well as the dangers that lurk within them.
The jungle is portrayed as a place that is both alluring and terrifying, with its dense foliage and dense humidity serving as a metaphor for the moral ambiguity and corruption that pervades the colonial enterprise in the Congo. The jungle also serves as a metaphor for the inner turmoil and darkness that consumes Kurtz, who becomes increasingly isolated and mad as he delves deeper into the heart of the jungle.
In addition to the natural setting of the Congo, the novel also explores the relationships between the various groups of people that inhabit the region. The native tribes are depicted as being at the mercy of the European colonizers, who view them as inferior and exploit them for their labor and resources.
The European characters, on the other hand, are shown to be equally corrupt and ruthless, with many of them being driven by greed and the desire for personal gain. The setting of the Congo serves as a microcosm for the larger issues of imperialism and exploitation that were prevalent during the time period in which the novel is set.
Overall, the setting of "Heart of Darkness" plays a crucial role in shaping the themes and characters of the novel. The exotic and dangerous jungle of the Congo serves as a backdrop for the corruption and brutality of imperialism, as well as the inner turmoil and madness that consumes the characters.