Conrad also uses the literary device of symbolism to further show the theme, the duality of human nature in his short story Heart of Darkness. Three major examples of symbolism are evident in this short story. These examples include light and dark, the Congo River, and ivory. Similar to Stevenson, Conrad uses the symbolism of light and dark throughout his tale. Yet, curiously, in Heart of Darkness, light does not symbolize genuine goodness, nor does darkness symbolize pure calamity. Marlow demonstrates this when, in a comment to the sailors of the Nellie, he says: "I know that even sunlight can be made to lie" (Conrad 1944). The true essence of the symbolism of light and darkness is depicted when Marlow compares white men to black men, concluding that these men are all the same. In Heart of Darkness, the symbolization of light and darkness actually represents the duality of human nature, a universal condition, which affects all men despite the color of their skin. In Heart of Darkness, Marlow's journey along the Congo River represents Marlow's inner journey. As Marlow advances along the river in search of Kurtz, he begins to learn more and more about himself. Towards the end of his journey along the Congo River, Marlow realizes that he has more in common with the natives than with European imperialists. At the end of his journey, when Marlow finally reaches Kurtz, he has learned that everyone has a dark side, but some people have learned to hide it better than others. The third example of symbolism is ivory. In Heart of Darkness, ivory symbolizes man's greed and calamitous nature, or evil side. Throughout the novella, the Company's agents and executives are consumed by obtaining ivory. So much so that they abandon all their moral principles and... middle of paper... cry out to the tensions of their own divided nature. Both authors, despite their different approaches, use the literary devices of symbolism and personification to preserve this controversial but crucial theme of duality. This is found prominently in late Victorian and modern works such as the intriguing short stories of Robert Louis Stevenson and Joseph Conrad. Works Cited Conrad, Joseph. "Heart of Darkness." The Norton Anthology of English Literature. By Stephen Greenblatt and MH Abrams. 8th ed. vol. 2. New York: W. W. Norton, 2006. 1891 1947. Print.Klin, Candyce. “Darwinism as a Cultural Issue” Cedar Crest College, June 2, 2001. Web. April 17, 2014.Stevenson, Robert L. “The Strange Case of Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde.” The Norton Anthology of English Literature. By Stephen Greenblatt and MH Abrams. 8th ed. vol. 2. New York: W. W. Norton, 2006. 1643-1685. Press.