Ivory

“The word ‘ivory’ rang in the air, was whispered, was sighed. You would think they were praying to it.” (pg. 27)

Ivory is a valuable material that closely resembles bone. It is a substance that is most commonly found in elephant tusks. For centuries, ivory has been a vastly desired product. It wasn’t until the 17th century that it became a widely traded commodity. However, with a great demand elapsing over 300 years, the supply became scarce and, in consequence, the elephant, from which the ivory came, became endangered. In recent years, the trade of raw ivory has become illegal. Ivory plays an essential role in this novella as it is a symbol for obsession and the object from which Kurtz’s madness spurs. Conrad included this material for cultural context purposes. It was during the late 19th century that the demand for ivory was at its highest.

"HowStuffWorks "Ivory"" Howstuffworks "Animals" Web. 12 Aug. 2009. http://animals.howstuffworks.com/animal-facts/ivory-info.htm

Photo Credit: Ivory Trade. Digital image. Web. 12 Aug. 2009. http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/f/f4/Ivory_trade.jpg