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Elda White

Oct 23, 2024

What does darkness symbolize in literature?

What does darkness symbolize in literature? I'm not asking for homework; I genuinely want to understand. I know it often represents nature, power, death, and the unknown. Are there any other interpretations or themes associated with darkness that I should consider?

7 Answers

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Anonymous

Feb 21, 2025

Darkness as a symbols lends itself to multiple interpretations. Like you wrote, it can be a metaphor for evil and death but also it can be viewed as a symbol of peace, silence, rest, comfort. Remember that the we are born after nine moths in our mother’s womb: a dark and warm place that satisfies all your needs. Life doesn’t get better than that.

In Joseph Conrad’s The Heart of Darkness which is a story about civilized Englishmen venturing into the savage jungles of Africa Darkness symbolizes the evils of the human heart. Look darkness is bad! Light is good!

Just look at the context of the story to determine the particular symbolism.

A
Anonymous

Feb 20, 2025

confusion,uncertainty, bad intentions, tragedy, negativity,alienation,depression

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