One line I think is significant is one said by Marlow the ship's captain, in Heart of Darkness, Joseph Conrad.
"And this also," said Marlow suddenly, " has been one of the dark places of the earth." (Pg. 3, or 67 - Depending on edition)
This line by Marlow seems to be foreshadowing future events. It also includes the symbol of this story, that is darkness. The darkness seems to predict the unknown. The title of the book also speaks of the "heart" of that darkness. This could imply the depths of the unknown, or the mysteries. It could also imply the true nature of darkness itself as one's heart also represents one's nature.
If I were to use a metaphor to describe darkness as it is used in the story then I would refer to how darkness could also mean emptiness, and how at the break of dawn the sun devours that emptiness and takes over the sky. This could also refer to British colonization and colonialism. Where the darkness or night are the natives, who are empty as the night, and the sun represents the British colonizers who are seen to be strong and powerful as the sun, who subdue the "sky" and "night" or "darkness" to their will and take it over. This is my interpretation of darkness and the significance of this line as the introduction to darkness in relation to the setting and as a symbol.
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