Heart of darknesssssssssssss^6

As i started reading Heart of Darkness i could tell instantly that it did not have a bright or happy tone. It rather seems to be dim or lonely, or maybe even sad. I think i understood the tone to be this because when i think of a boat out at sea back in that time period, i imagine the seamen being very lonely and depressed without their families ( but that was just what i thought as i was reading the first page). I found a few pieces of vivid imagery one being the first paragraph of the novella talking about the waves and the sails which made it seem majestic. The other being on the very top of page three talking about the flames of different colors which made me think of myself on a boat looking into the city ashore and seeing those lights. By saying that, it almost seemed like they desiring to be ashore where the flames and such are. I personally didn't see anywhere where it said what the word "darkness" they refer to is, but I'm guessing it might be something to describe war or maybe just the obvious being night time because the story did describe the transition from day to night. I did find that there are many references to bright or colorful lights that seem to contrast that darkness that is mentioned. But most of this section is consumed by Marlow's recollection to his friends of how he became a seaman.