How is Mr. Kurtz represented in the “Heart of darkness?” Justify your answer with the text Heart of Darkness is the story told by a character name Marlow about his journey into the central part of Congo as a steam boat captain. More than half of the novel talks about a person called Kurtz so he seems to be an important person. But the character of Mr. Kurtz is hard to describe as some of his character portrays him as a person with cruel heart and at the same time he is a person who is appreciated by all. Mr. Kurtz surely is an important person in the sense he is the important agent or the top agent of the European government who was sent to Congo to extract ivory and he is also stationed at the inner station of the Congo as a charge of a trading …show more content…
Kurtz had power over the natives as in the line “they would not stir till Mr. Kurtz gave the word” shows that they only followed Kurtz’s direction and not any other European who have come to their land. Natives in a way worshipped him as the line “The chiefs came every day to see him, they would crawl” (pg.89) shows that as if he was a god they would literally crawl to him in order to meet with him shows his power over the natives. Manager also mentions that “he had taken a high seat amongst the devils of the land” (pg.75) which signifies that Mr. Kurtz has literally become the king of the natives. Even though Kurtz didn’t have any white army with him to fight against the natives still then he manage to bring those natives to his side that shows his …show more content…
Even though we hear from Russian about how badly he have treated the natives and even to him still then all these people are kind of worshipping him like Kurtz is some kind of god father. So we don’t know what is that he have done that makes them his follower. The reason for worshipping Kurtz can’t be because of fear because if it is so then the Russian at Kurtz’s back would be cursing him but he doesn’t do any of that so we really don’t know what is there in Kurtz that captures people’s mind. We can also see that Marlow even after hearing Kurtz’s misdoing is also appreciating him as shown in the line “I think Mr. Kurtz is a remarkable man”
Kurtz’s lack of restraint and hunger for ivory consumes not only his soul but drains all of his physical existence. Upon seeing him, Marlow states, “I could see the cage of his ribs all astir, the bones of his arm waving (126)”. Conrad focuses on the physical features of Kurtz to display the madness that has consumed him. However, though Kurtz’s body is deteriorating, Kurtz’s mind continues to thrive. Conrad shows this in Marlow’s shock of witnessing a flame of passion that remains in Kurtz’s eyes as he converses without signs of exhaustion (126). Conrad continues to describe Kurtz as a shadow composed of tranquility and satisfaction. Conrad’s incorporation of this detail signifies the evil and greed that consumes Kurtz and is reflected through his physique. However, the power of Kurtz’s presence is personified through the action of his words. As the strength in his voice captures Marlow’s attention, it merely reflects his influence upon his followers. The power reflected through his voice displayed his confidence as well as his position as a leader for the natives. Hi demeanor displays an air of arrogance that makes others feel less equal to him. Those who follow him fear him, but also continue to respect him.
Marlow's journey leads him in an urgent search for Kurtz, the one man who can provide him with the truth about himself. Like Marlow, Kurtz came to the Congo in hopes to bring "light" and civilization to a backwards society. He is a highly-educated, refined gentlemen; yet, in the end, the brutal nature of the Congo forces him to resort to the life of a murderer and pilferer. The name Kurtz itself has symbolic meaning. "The physical shortness in Kurtz implies a shortness of character and spirit" (Heart of Darkness: A systematic evaluation). Marlow and Kurtz both symbolize the two conditions of human nature. "Kurtz represents what man could become if left to his own intrinsic devices outside protective society. Marlow represents a pure untainted civilized soul who has not been drawn to savagery by a dark, alienated jungle." (Heart of Darkness: A systematic evaluation). When the two come face to face, each man sees a reflection of what he might have become in the other. In Kurtz, Marlow sees the potential
Kurtz was a centralized character in Conrad’s Heart of Darkness who began his expedition as a trading post commander and ivory collector. Before they met, Kurtz was described to Marlow as an idol by the Company’s chief accountant. “‘He is a very remarkable person.’ Further questions elicited from him that Mr. Kurtz was at present in charge of a trading post, a very important one, in the true ivory country, at ‘the very bottom of there. Sends in as much ivory as all the others put together…’” (Conrad 382). Kurtz is obviously very valued
The character that turns in Heart of Darkness is Kurtz. He is the best ivory trader in the Company and the commanding officer of a trading station in Africa. Throughout the novel, people describe Kurtz as a charismatic, inspiring, and talented individual. For example, when Charles Marlow, the protagonist, is talking with the Manager in his office, he says, "Then I noticed a small sketch in oils, on a panel, representing a women... To my question he said Mr. Kurtz had painted this..."(Conrad, 30). Also, towards the end of the novel, Conrad reveals that Kurtz is a journalist and "Kurtz had been essentially a great musician..."(Conrad, 90). These quotations show that Kurtz is a painter, journalist, and a musician- talents that one attains by being
As Mr. Kurtz’s stay in the Congo lengthened his health diminished, first mentally then physically. When Mr. Kurtz first arrived in Africa he was a part of the company and was the best ivory harvester they had. He was the representation of a healthy ambitious man. However, everything changed when he fell into the clutches of greed and pride.
The film also depicts the character of Kurtz in a very different light. Conrad builds up the appearance of Kurtz so much that his first scene is intentionally anti-climactic. He is discovered to be an ailing, elderly gentlemen, malnourished and on the verge of death. Marlow himself is simultaneously impressed with and disappointed by Kurtz. He enjoys listening to the old man’s philosophies, but he is let down by Kurtz’s lack of realistic thinking. He has clearly lost his mind, and with it, some of his credibility and mysticism.
We are always taught to appreciate the little things in life; the things that don’t seem to have much of significance at first but end up meaning the world to us. These small things have a value so great but so hidden that they are usually taken a granted for. In The Heart of Darkness by Joseph Conrad, there are a few characters that aren’t present in the book for a large amount of time but have a great affect on the story. Kurtz is one of these characters. Kurtz is introduced towards the end of the story but he has an affect on the action, the theme and the other characters development even when he isn’t present.
In Heart of Darkness, Marlow and Kurtz have many similarities. Perhaps the most apparent and literal similarity is the likeness of their journeys. Both men journey farther and farther into the African jungle. Kurtz, however, is driven to
At the beginning of the journey, Kurtz was a good man who believed in bringing civilization to Africa. You see some of Kurtz’s good intentions in a lot of his writings. When Marlow was reading them, he said, "’…He began with the argument that we whites, from the point of development we had arrived at, ‘must necessarily appear to them (savages) in the
Each character has a special role in the novel; Kurtz and Marlow are the most important, through these two characters we are able to see how good and evil balance each other out. Marlow?s journey into the heart of darkness can also be seen as a journey into his own soul. He was in search of the darkest of objects, the ivory. Unlike Kurtz, Marlow was able to withstand the darkness from controlling him. Kurtz soul became the darkness and caused him to forget everything else there was to life. His last words were not that of love but rather of hate, ?The horrors the horrors.?
Mr. Kurtz was the "chief of the inner station" (Conrad, pg. 28). He was "in charge of a trading post, a very important one, in the true ivory country." Kurtz sent in "as much ivory as all the others put together" (Conrad, pg. 22). The company described him as the "best agent, an exceptional man, of the greatest importance to the company" (Conrad, pg. 25). Kurtz went to the jungle for many reasons, but mostly to make money to return to Europe and marry his intended. Marlow "heard that her engagement with Kurtz had been disapproved by her people. He wasn't rich enough or something." He had given Marlow "some reason to infer that it was his impatience of comparative poverty that drove him out there" (Conrad, pg. 74). He had been driven into the jungle to procure money for the company and for himself and for his life with his intended. Greed is what kept him out there so long and clouded his mind regarding thoughts of nobility.
Marlow states that “Kurtz was no idol of mine (Conrad 53)”. Yet, when Marlow learns what was actually on the sticks, he laughs. Conrad paints Marlow as this simple man, that also laughs at the evils of a man he doesn’t want to idolize publicly, but would later admire his profoundness. The entire trip revolves around meeting the vicious Kurtz, and for what purpose? Marlow’s sightings during his expedition foreshadowed the danger and evil of Kurtz and imperialism itself, but Marlow still takes part of it.
Marlow tells us about the Ivory that Kurtz kept as his own, and that he had no restraint, and was " a tree swayed by the wind” (Conrad, 209). Marlow mentions the human heads displayed on posts that “showed that Mr. Kurtz lacked restraint in the gratification of his various lusts” (Conrad, 220). Conrad also tells us "his... nerves went wrong, and caused him to preside at certain midnight dances ending with unspeakable rights, which... were offered up to him” (Conrad, 208), meaning that Kurtz went insane and allowed himself to be worshipped as a god. It appears that while Kurtz had been isolated from his culture, he had become corrupted by this violent native culture, and allowed his evil side to control him.
Kurtz's behavior in Africa. The Russian tells Marlow how he has nursed Kurtz back to health. Kurtz, however, has grown overcome with an obsession for ivory. The Russian tells us, "He [Kurtz] declared he would shoot me unless I gave him the ivory ...because he could do so, and had a fancy for it, there was nothing on earth to prevent him from killing who he jolly well pleased." (p.72) Kurtz realizes that he has the power to kill who he wants to and take what he wants to and will do so since there is no one to overlook him and tell him not to. We learn that Kurtz has resorted to brutal raids of the country in search of ivory because of his hunger for it. Kurtz even planned an attack on Marlow's steamer so that Marlow and his crew would think he was dead. He did this so he would be able to carry out his plans for obtaining more ivory.
He witnesses the heart of darkness. The absolutely corrupted evil mind by greed and thirst for power. Kurtz has become an insane godlike slaver and leader in a native African tribe. He developed extremely high level of self importance and as the result he disconnected with the world and reality. Although, Kurtz started out like Marlow, as noble conqueror. However, there was nobody to check on him, he had no supervisor and as Marlow often said - Kurtz could not restrain himself from the temptation. He entered a state of mind where had no borders anymore, slaying down other tribes and killing for wealth without showing any kind of remorse. For him it became normal or even natural. Kurtz's godlike side also prevails where he claims around him