What genre does "Heart of Darkness" belong to?

"Heart of Darkness," written by Joseph Conrad, is classified as fiction, specifically a novella. This work explores complex themes such as colonialism, imperialism, and the darkness inherent in human nature through a fictitious narrative. The story follows Charles Marlow as he travels up the Congo River, encountering the enigmatic figure of Kurtz, and grapples with the moral implications of European colonial ventures in Africa.

The combination of its fictional narrative structure, character development, and thematic depth is characteristic of prose fiction, which distinguishes it from essays, poetry, and drama. Essays typically present arguments or reflections without a narrative plot, poetry utilizes verse and rhyme structures to convey emotion and imagery, and drama is meant for performance, following a script format with dialogue between characters. Thus, "Heart of Darkness" clearly aligns with the conventions and purposes of fiction.