Prompt Fifteen

• What is the importance of ivory throughout the novel?  How does it function as both a literal and figurative image?

In all honesty, the first thing I thought of when I read this prompt was the song Ebony and Ivory by Stevie Wonder and Paul McCartney, which isn't that far off from the figurative representation of the ivory in this novel. Though the resonating line of "ebony, ivory, living in perfect harmony" is comically ironic with reference to my theory, it made me think of the contrast between the skin color of the two men and the natives. Ivory represents the white men themselves; the desirable aspect of the literal ivory exists only amongst them, in a way further exploiting the racist tendencies of all involved in the industry. White and black in relation to color definition is interestingly employed in this novel. Black is technically the absence of color, while white is the entire spectrum gathered and intensified. This symbolizes the natives having "nothing" in terms of worldly possessions while traders along with Marlow and Kurtz have "everything", or at least wish to have it all.