Foreshadowing

Marlow himself comments on the absurdity that he would hesitate to undertake the Congo expedition and yet, on page 48, this is exactly what Conrad dictates that he does. This is an instance of foreshadowing, since Marlow obviously knows in looking back the horrors that he was about to encounter and can see plainly, since hindsight is 20/20 they say, that he really did know before boarding the ship that it would not turn out well. Marlow’s commentary on this to the four men to whom he is speaking tells them that it is important that he hesitated and provides a clue as to what is to come.