Joseph Conrad's "Heart of Darkness" makes use of the stream-of-consciousness technique to convey the fragmented and nonlinear nature of the narrator's thoughts and experiences. Marlow, the narrator of the story, frequently engages in introspection and reflection, and his observations and memories are often presented in a meandering and associative way.
One example of stream-of-consciousness writing in the novel can be found in the opening pages, where Marlow reflects on his experience as a steamboat captain in Africa: "The tranquil waterway leading to the uttermost ends of the earth flowed somber under an overcast sky – seemed to lead into the heart of an immense darkness." Here, Marlow's thoughts shift rapidly from the beauty of the landscape to the ominous sense of impending darkness and danger.
Another example can be found later in the novel, as Marlow journeys up the Congo River: "I felt that I had been taken from the gallows and given a new lease of life. I was invisible, and I was only just beginning to realize it." Here, Marlow's thoughts are fragmented and nonlinear, as he reflects on the transformative power of his journey and his growing sense of isolation from the world around him.