Previous
Style
Definition of Tone
The tone of a piece of writing is its general character or attitude, which might be cheerful or depressive, sarcastic or sincere, comical or mournful, praising or critical, and so on. For instance... read full definition
The tone of a piece of writing is its general character or attitude, which might be cheerful or depressive, sarcastic or sincere, comical or mournful, praising or critical... read full definition
The tone of a piece of writing is its general character or attitude, which might be cheerful or depressive, sarcastic or sincere, comical... read full definition
Part 1
Explanation and Analysis:
With several important exceptions, the tone of Heart of Darkness is generally cynical and mournful. Conrad’s word choice consistently highlights the darkness, both literal and metaphorical, that the seaman Marlow encounters in the Congo. And Marlow tells his story with a kind of morbid fascination: since he is describing a journey he took years before, he knows how the story ends, but his listeners (and readers) do not. He uses a consistently gloomy, cynical tone to foreshadow where his story is headed—toward a close-up encounter with evil—without giving away the plot. Thus, Marlow’s gloom and melancholy create a sense of mystery at first, and then readers gradually unravel this mystery as Marlow describes his increasingly horrific experiences in the Congo. In this sense, while most fiction writers use tone in the service of plot, Conrad uses plot in the service of tone instead.
Related Themes:
Part 2
Explanation and Analysis:
With several important exceptions, the tone of Heart of Darkness is generally cynical and mournful. Conrad’s word choice consistently highlights the darkness, both literal and metaphorical, that the seaman Marlow encounters in the Congo. And Marlow tells his story with a kind of morbid fascination: since he is describing a journey he took years before, he knows how the story ends, but his listeners (and readers) do not. He uses a consistently gloomy, cynical tone to foreshadow where his story is headed—toward a close-up encounter with evil—without giving away the plot. Thus, Marlow’s gloom and melancholy create a sense of mystery at first, and then readers gradually unravel this mystery as Marlow describes his increasingly horrific experiences in the Congo. In this sense, while most fiction writers use tone in the service of plot, Conrad uses plot in the service of tone instead.
Unlock with LitCharts A+
Related Themes:
