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Corruption in 'Heart of Darkness' symbolizes the moral degradation and the greed for power and wealth amongst the colonizers. It shows how the jungle's wild allure can corrupt even the most 'civilized' individuals.

The novel explores the innate savagery and barbarism of human nature, disputing the Victorian belief in the continual progress and improvement of human beings.

Silence in the novel symbolizes the ineffable nature of reality and truth in the African jungle, the limits of communication, and the inadequacy of language to convey profound experiences.

The novel portrays work as a means for the colonizers to justify their exploitation but ultimately depicts it as fruitless and symbolic of the greater futility in the face of existential darkness.

The theme of darkness symbolizes the unknown, the hidden evil, and the moral ambiguity that exists within all humans. It challenges the European presumption of being civilized and exposes their barbaric underlying nature.

Imperialism in 'Heart of Darkness' is portrayed as the exploitation and colonization of Africa by Europeans. It examines the destructive effects of colonialism on both the colonized and the colonizers.

The isolation experienced by the characters in the foreign African environment conveys the existential alienation and loneliness of individuals facing the unknown and the incomprehensible.

Conrad uses the its setting and characters to contrast European 'civilization' with the 'savagery' of Africa, criticizing the hypocrisy of the colonial discourse.

Madness in the novel represents the psychological impact of imperialism on colonizers and the loss of European restraint in the African wilderness, particularly reflected in the character of Kurtz.