Don't be too sure,' he continued. "The other day I took up a man who hanged himself on the road. He was a Swede, too.' 'Hanged himself! Why, in God's name?' I cried. He kept on looking out watchfully. 'Who knows? The sun too much for him, or the country perhaps."
In a conversation about the uncertainties of life, the speaker reflects on a recent tragedy involving a Swedish man who took his own life. The mention of the man’s suicide evokes sorrow and confusion, prompting a question about the motivations behind such despair. The tone suggests a struggle to comprehend the reasons behind the man’s drastic decision.
The speaker offers no clear answers, indicating that the reasons for suicide can be elusive and complex. Factors like the harshness of the sun or the overwhelming nature of the environment may have contributed to the man's actions. This uncertainty underlines a broader theme of despair prevalent throughout Joseph Conrad’s "Heart of Darkness," highlighting the unpredictability of human emotions in challenging circumstances.
