Imperialism, symbolism and materialism in the heart of darknessIn Conrad's Heart of Darkness, Marlow, the main character, symbolizes the positive side of imperialism. Marlow, as a character, realizes the harm that negative imperialism has caused and decides that it really is pointless. When Marlow states, “It was my heavenly mission to civilize you,” he is expressing his good intentions to help Africans advance and progress. Additionally, when he says, “I was an impostor,” Marlow acknowledges that he is an invader in a foreign land, but he sticks to his moral values. Marlow observes many types of abuse of power by other white people, simply because they have better weapons of war. When the manager severely beats a young black boy for burning the shed, Marlow disapproves. However, when he witnesses abuse and unfair treatment, he does not physically try to stop it. Instead, he turns away and accepts that this is happening. This is one of Marlow's faults, he does not support his beliefs. Marlow also symbolizes the uncorrupted men who traveled to foreign lands to help the "uncivilized" become cultured, but unlike the others, Marlow does not allow himself to be indoctrinated by an alternative motive. He is able to see through the materialistic ideals that have tormented men before him. Marlow has the open-mindedness and sensitivity that were absent in the era of imperialism, but lacks the courage and power to end the abuses that continued. Marlow is proof that when confronted, the bad side of a man can be both instructive and perilous. The manager is the very example of the negative effects of the imperialist institution. He is corrupt, uncaring, arrogant and self-centered. It symbolizes the arrogance of Europeans in the face of indigenous Africans. His good health symbolizes the continued existence of the Europeans who invaded Africa and their ability to continually come to Africa and plunder it of its natural resources. He is the true symbol of the wickedness and coldness of the imperialists. The manager was the illustration of an established imperialist power. He was well established, as evidenced by the fact that he controlled all the stations. An example of his power over others was when he had the black boy beaten for burning down a shed. Furthermore, he is expansionist and wishes to destroy Kurtz and obtain a monopoly on the ivory trade. The manager's discussion with his uncle is another example of his cruelty and amorality..