Significance Of Ivory In Heart Of Darkness

Ivory

Ivory is formed from dentine and constitutes the bulk of the teeth and tusks of animals such as the elephant, hippopotamus, walrus, mammoth and narwhal.

Ivory in heart of darkness by Joseph Conrad represents evil and greed of white men

Ivory symbolizes the pagan God that is worshipped by both whites and natives

The word 'ivory' rang in the air, was whispered, and was sighed. You would think they were praying to it.”

“you would think they were praying to it”, so to all appearances ivory is a god for them.

Natives are also praying to ivory because it’s one of the purest found in nature .

Ivory is the only companion of Kurtz.

Conclusion

So we can say that ivory in heart of darkness shows ever lasting greed of white men that deprived them of their moral and religious values. It seems to have some supper natural power that was controlling their life till their last breath. Conrad made use of ivory to show how greed of one destroys one’s life.