Who Is Mr. Kurtz Dehumanize In Heart Of Darkness

Throughout the first two parts of Joseph Conrad's book, Heart of Darkness, the character Kurtz is built up to be this amazing and remarkable man. In the third book, however, we learn the truth about who Kurtz really is. Kurtz cries out in a whisper, "The horror! The horror!"(p. 86), and in only two words he manages to sum up the realization of all the horrors of his life during his time in the Congo.

Although Kurtz was alone, that loneliness helped him in the end. Through isolation, Kurtz was able to see who he really was. The main place where Kurtz finds himself is on his deathbed. Marlow says, ‘"But the wilderness had found him out early, and had taken on him a terrible vengeance for the fantastic invasion. I think it had whispered to him things about himself which he did not know, things of which he had no conception till he took counsel with this great solitude-and the whisper had proved irresistibly fascinating’"(Conrad 57). Marlow is saying that since Kurtz has been in the wilderness,

The bitterest contradiction and the deadliest conflicts of the world are carried on in every individual breast capable of feeling and passion” (Raskin 116). Even those with the best intentions can create some of the deadliest atrocities as passion can take control over one's emotions. This emotional instability can be seen in Heart of Darkness as Joseph Conrad illustrates how one’s “passion” of saving others slowly turned into a madness that caused hundreds of fatalities. We wonder, what could cause a man, such as Kurtz, in Heart of Darkness, to enter another country with the best intentions, to become so violent and be the reason behind thousands of brutal and torturous killings without any resentment. It was the unchecked power instilled within Kurtz that led him to act on his horrific impulses. In Heart of Darkness, Joseph Conrad claims one who has an unchecked power can fear losing it so eminently, that he or she is willing to engender atrocities that sustain the power the individual possess. In this case, Conrad suggests one way an individual reinforces his or her power on others is through annihilation.

Prior to the meeting with Kurtz, both Marlow and Willard encounter a peculiar man, in Heart of Darkness, it is the Harlequin, in Apocalypse Now, the Photojournalist - who is essentially based on the Harlequin. Both characters serve to provide final insight regarding the current disposition of Kurtz, before the inevitable meeting. Like the Harlequin, the Photojournalist views Kurtz as “a great man” and views himself as “a little man.” Thus both characters share feelings of self-doubt, a sort of insecurity, in which they feel themselves to be of less significance than “Mr.” Kurtz, despite their own achievements - as venturing this deep into the jungle, is by no means an easy task. While he does not hesitate to use violence, Kurtz is described more prominently a good speaker, in essence, “a poet warrior in the classical sense”, whose intriguing philosophical insights have enlightened both characters, as the Photojournalist concludes: “The man’s enlarged my mind.” It is the willingness of both the Harlequin and the Photojournalist to cave in to Kurtz’s words, that perhaps marks their own descents into darkness, as despite witnessing the atrocities committed by Kurtz, they fail to refute their view on Kurtz, instead choosing to defend him, as the Harlequin states: “you can’t judge Mr. Kurtz as you would an ordinary man.” The most profound difference between the two is their influence (or lack thereof) on the protagonist. While the Harlequin is convinced by Marlow to abandon Kurtz, the Photojournalist stays by Kurtz’s side with absolute conviction, and it is his profound rant that perhaps forces Willard to question everything his prejudices on Kurtz. The Photojournalist attempts to enlighten Willard, he questions Willard, asking: “why would… you want to kill Kurtz?... Because

In Heart of Darkness, Kurtz is the very representation of the oppression which is impressed upon the natives of the Congo by white men seeking to spread imperialism.

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

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.

Kurtz dying words are a cryptic whisper: “The horror, the horror”. There could be more than one possibility of the “horror” Kurtz could have been talking about. I think that it symbolizes the darkness of Kurtz’s tyrant and savage-like qualities that he gained when he lived with the natives. When he

Ultimately, in both cases Kurtz’s life ended with a grieving statement of “The horror, the horror”

Darkness is a major theme in The Heart of Darkness. Kurtz is unaware of his own darkness which leads to his downfall. He cannot see what kind of person he has become and how the darkness of the jungle has completely taken over him. The jungle is so secluded and mysterious that it actually influences Kurtz’s bad behavior. Kurtz becomes greedy and powerful but never realizes that this behavior is bringing him down until he is on the verge of death. Kurtz last words, “The horror! The horror!”(63) show Kurtz’s realization that the darkness had consumed him. Kurtz himself is one of the biggest examples of darkness in this book.

The standard in the Victorian era was the men were far away, while the women were morally supportive, but oblivious to the reality of the man’s work, although they economically benefitted from it. This proves the way power corrupts because Kurtz abused the opportunities given after falling from the edge of moral standards, even after his Intended attempts to show him the way. In 1902, when Conrad wrote the book, it was common to base culture off of superiority, therefore it was seen that Kurtz was in the Congo for the redemption of natives. In the text, Joseph Conrad gives much respect to the native tribes, Mr. Kurtz, however, has none. “Exterminate all brutes!” (Conrad 50) he says, claiming that if he cannot change the natives, they should be thrown out. He, and many people like him, introduced new cultures to societies that did not want it. The corruption of the spirituality found in some cultures is thus caused by the hunger for power from interference from separate societies.

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.

As a result of this, Kurtz’s biggest fear was being powerless to the natives, leading him to act in inhumane ways as he did not want to become the inferior. This fear can be seen at the end when Kurtz exclaims to “exterminate all brutes” since the natives were unable to change to what he wanted, instead he was the one who became inferior. (Conrad 2009). The idea of the natives not viewing him powerful enough to follow his orders enraged him so much he wanted them all dead even while he was dying. This anger is expressed through why Conrad complex language and syntax for example, “exterminate” rather just “kill” as it illustrates the hatred and frustration he has towards the natives since he has now been a victim of his biggest fear. Conrad explains how we naturally fear being powerless considering society has taught us that being powerless and vulnerable will not keep us alive. Additionally, no matter what, we must stay true to ourselves and values. This is exactly what Kurtz did, he wanted to maintain his unchecked power until he died, but rather this being his individual decision, and it was a decision instilled in him that relates back to Conrad’s proposition that our family creates a sense power within us while we are young. We are all given a rank of superiority through

Spending so much time in the savage jungle dehumanized Kurtz. He lost sight of the thin line between goodness and corruption, as did many others before him. Kurtz ended up raiding the country on his frequent ivory expeditions. He had a tendency to become cruel, once even threatening to kill his friend, the Russian. This makes the reader

  Kurtz was a personal embodiment, a dramatization, of all that Conrad felt of futility, degradation, and horror in what the Europeans in the Congo called 'progress,' which meant the exploitation of the natives by every variety of cruelty and treachery known to greedy man. Kurtz was to Marlow, penetrating this country, a name, constantly recurring in people's talk, for cleverness and enterprise. Joseph Conrad's Heart of Darkness is a portrait of the degeneration of the ideal of Kurtz symbolizing the degeneration of the ideal of colonialism as 'civilizing work'.