The River Thames

“…nothing but Thames water to drink…death skulking in the air, in the water, in the bush. They must have been dying like flies here.” (pg. 6)

For centuries, the quality of the water of the River Thames had been under speculation. It wasn’t until the 1800’s that the river’s pollution came into question as being dangerous to the citizens that crowded its banks. Between 1831 and 1866, thirty-five thousand people were killed as the result of four cholera epidemics that could be linked to the water supply. Years of exposure to sewage systems and general pollution caused the Thames to be unsafe for consumption. Because Conrad alludes to such poor conditions, it can be concluded that Heart of Darkness takes place during the late 19th century, a time when the Thames would still have been unsuitable to drink and a potential threat to those who navigated it.

River Thames and boaty things. Web. 11 Aug. 2009. http://www.the-river-thames.co.uk/environ.htm

Photo Credit: The River Thames. Digital image. Web. 11 Aug. 2009. http://www.loguk.com/life/images/2007/11/21/thames.jpg