The Heart of Darkness by Joseph Conrad, essay on the duality of human nature within the novel

The nature of humanity has been questioned by philosophers for centuries. Among the many theories in existence the theory of Thomas Hobbes that all people are born innately evil or that of John Locke in which all people are born pure and innately warm hearted are the most cited and talked about. Linked to these ideas is the question of whether or not people are shaped and corrupted by society or if its heredity that determines a person's morals. The Heart of Darkness by Joseph Conrad brings different theories to the reader depending on how it is interpreted. Even though opinion on the…