Heart of Darkness
by Joseph Conrad

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Heart of Darkness: Hyperbole 1 key example

Definition of Hyperbole

Hyperbole is a figure of speech in which a writer or speaker exaggerates for the sake of emphasis. Hyperbolic statements are usually quite obvious exaggerations intended to emphasize a point... read full definition
Hyperbole is a figure of speech in which a writer or speaker exaggerates for the sake of emphasis. Hyperbolic statements are usually quite obvious exaggerations... read full definition
Hyperbole is a figure of speech in which a writer or speaker exaggerates for the sake of emphasis. Hyperbolic statements... read full definition

Key Examples in Heart of Darkness

Part 1
Explanation and Analysis—The Best of All Men:

Throughout the novella, Conrad’s characters burnish Kurtz’s reputation using hyperbole—deliberate exaggeration intended to highlight important truths. But while most of these people genuinely believe that Kurtz is an exemplary man, he turns out not to be. Thus, the other characters’ hyperbole shapes Marlow and the reader’s expectations about Kurtz, setting them up for dramatic disappointment at the end of the book—a disappointment that is crucial to the novella’s plot.