Democracy in America by Alex

¶ … Democracy in America by Alex de Tocqueville, Heart of Darkness by Joseph Conrad, and the Communist Manifesto by Karl Marx all reflect the Enlightenment in very different ways. The Enlightenment is a term used to describe the intellectual characteristics of the 18th Century. The Enlightenment marked major advances in science, rationalism and freedom. The key thinkers of the Enlightenment believed that human reason could be used against ignorance, superstition, and tyranny and to build a more humane world.

Alex de Tocqueville's Democracy in America is perhaps one of the best-known works that is rooted in the principles of the Enlightenment. Certainly, modern democracy itself, and thus de Tocuqeville's book sprung from the Enlightenment. de Tocqueville voiced his worries about individualism in Democracy in America. He suggested that individualism and selfishness could be a direct attack on the virtues of public life or democracy.

In Democracy in America, de Tocqueville espoused the Enlightenment idea that the truth ultimately emerges when conflicting ideas and opinions are allowed compete freely.

Joseph Conrad's the Heart of Darkness is a short account given by a man named Marlow and his perilous journey into the Congo. Conrad's fable has a moral that challenges the very nature of Enlightenment thinking.

Conrad's the Heart of Darkness warns that the world is evil thing, and that our civilized society has not accepted the evil that is at the root of our nature. Instead, our morals and civilization simply mask the truth, that the true nature of the world is darkness, and evil. Conrad wrote the Heart of Darkness when Europeans were engrossed with Imperialism.

Interestingly, the character of Kurtz goes mad when his light goes out. The light is symbolic of the civilized side of human nature in society. In contrast, the dark represents the savage or uncivilized side of our society and individual natures. In the dark, Kurtz begins to question the value of European society, and civilization. This is a direct challenge to the principles of the Enlightenment.

Conrad states, "The brown current ran swiftly out of the heart of darkness..." This describes the savage and uncivilized nature of the Congo that Marlow and Kurtz are attempting to escape. Interestingly, Kurtz is broken by staring into the "heart of the darkness," symbolizing mans' true evil nature. In contrast, staring into the heart of darkness enlightens Marlow.