I figured that Marlow's journey is allegorical because of the way he seems to descend into Hell, but could it also be a trip into one's innerself?
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Absolutely. The journey is not only a journey into the Heart of Africa, the "dark continent" but also an exploration into the evil in the heart of all humanity and the potential for corruption that exists because of that evil. The fact that Marlow, unlike Kurtz, survives his journey and is able to relate the story to the others on board the Nellie is his Buddha-like stance suggests to readers that just such insight and wisdom has been gained.
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