Spark from the Sacred Fire

“Hunters for gold or pursuers of fame, they all had gone out on that stream, bearing the sword, and often the torch, messengers of the might within the land, bearers of a spark from the sacred fire.” (Conrad 3).

These voyagers who traveled outwards on the river Thames had many different purposes in mind, but an especially important one was imperialism. The “torch” that these people are carrying could either be a symbol for the torch that Liberty often carries, meaning that these people are being fair and perhaps even liberating and shining light on the countries they are visiting. However, this torch could also be used for a different purpose, that of starting a conflagration. They are passing on the “might within the land,” meaning spread England and Europe’s conquest and empires, and are “bearers of a spark from the sacred fire,” setting this countries alight with the destructive flames from their torches.