LLT JOURNAL VOL. 15, NO. 2 ISSN 1410-7201 9 Foreshadows and Symbols in The Brussels Company’s Main Office in Joseph Conrad’s Heart of Darkness Ouda Teda Ena Made Frida Yulia Sanata Dharma University Abstract Joseph Conrad’s Heart of Darkness unveils a story about a journey to the inner self to find the mysteries of human mind. The way the writer presents his story is very intriguing in that he makes of use of many foreshadows and symbols. This paper attempts to examine the foreshadows and symbols which Conrad uses in this novella; however, the discussion is limited to the ones that appear in The Brussels Company’s Main Office. Keywords: foreshadows, symbols, The Brussels Company’s Main Office A. Introduction Heart of Darkness literally tells a story about a journey to the center of Africa. Beyond that, the novella reveals a recount of one’s journey to self-discovery. Conrad believes that art works including novels should employ symbols rather than plain narratives. He proposes “…that a work of art is very seldom limited to one exclusive meaning and not necessary tending to a definite conclusion” (Conrad in Kimbrough, 1971). He also suggests that, “… symbolic conception of a work of art has this advantage, that it makes triple appeal covering the whole field of life, gain complexity, in power, in depth and in beauty” (Conrad in Kimbrough, 1971). In one of his work, Heart of Darkness, he uses layers of symbols that make his novel full of symbolic messages. Without understanding these symbols readers would not be able to benefit as much; they will only enjoy reading it, without being able to learn, moreover to be moved. By understanding the symbols used by Conrad, readers can understand the binary oppositions of the common beliefs and his. Moreover, they can further make their own binary oppositions towards Conrad’s that will make reading more fascinating. Since the beginning Conrad has given the description of places in such a symbolic way that they foreshadow the story. One of the places that he describes through Marlow, one of the main characters, in such a symbolic way is the Company’s Main Office in Brussels. This paper attempts to describe the symbols and events in the office and how they foreshadow the story. B. Review of Related Literature This section presents theories about foreshadowing and symbolism. 1. Foreshadowing Foreshadowing is a literary device which commonly occurs at the beginning of a story or a chapter. Foreshadowing is defined as “a way of indicating or hinting at what will come later” (in http://udleditions. cast.org/craft_elm_foreshadowing.html). It can be done directly or in a more subtle way. The role foreshadowing plays in literature is unique in each text. It depends on the story type and the way it is analyzed. Normally it is used to “create suspense or to convey information that helps readers understand what comes later” (in http://udleditions. cast.org/craft_elm_foreshadowing.html). It actually prepares the readers for the