More than ten million Africans were killed in the Congo during the invasion of European imperialism in 1850. In Heart of Darkness, Joseph Conrad uses the setting to show the harmful effects of European imperialism. in mind, Africa and those who would become complex pawns in the capitalist greed of European companies. Throughout the book, Africa can be seen as a character fighting against invaders. While the book's characters remain in Africa, they find that their psyches are severely damaged. At the very beginning, Marlow discovers that Fresleven, “…was the gentlest and quietest creature…Therefore…he struck the old negro mercilessly…” (Conrad 8). As Fresleven interacted with Africa, he began to go crazy. The great contrast between the person Fresleven was and the person he became indicates that Africa distorts minds. This gentle man turns into a killer because of his work in Africa. But the incident that caused Fresleven's death was about money. The effects of imperialism in Africa are killing him. Leaving him with nothing but bones in the ground. Greed becomes a major motivation in the killer book. Marlow's fascination with Kurtz never really ends, but Kurtz's greed clearly ruins him during his African escapade. This former “…universal genius”” (Conrad 32), now he is nothing more than a delusional man. His greed pushes him to madness: “The word “ivory” echoed in the air, was whispered, sighed. You would think they were praying for it” (Conrad 24). Kurtz murders and pillages ivory, long after falling ill. It becomes a desperate race for him, trying to collect all the ivory in Africa; even after succumbing to the disease that Africa brings. All the characters in the book become ill due to the effects of imperia... middle of paper ... making it more difficult for them to move around the world. desert. This is because Africa simply wants the agents to leave. Marlow also recognizes that the forest is impenetrable (Conrad 40). Thus, Africa effectively protects most of its interior extremities against agents. Conrad takes a strong stand against European imperialism in Heart of Darkness. It convincingly shows not only the damage that imperialism is doing to Africa, but also to the young men who are sent to Africa to plunder it for ivory to make money for the companies. He creates Africa as a character by allowing the setting to directly affect and interact with the other characters in the story, through the fog, the river, the disease and the vegetation. By creating a metaphor of the host and the parasite, it shows the dehumanization of the agents and the human qualities of Africa..