Kurtzs Last Words Essay - 653 Words

In Heart of Darkness, Joseph Conrad presents the character of Kurtz as a man who is seen differently by all who know him depending on their individual experiences with him. His cousin knew him as a man with great musical talent, others knew him as a great leader, and his Intended fiance knew him as an admirable humanitarian; but all of these knew him to be a remarkable genius. When the narrator, Marlow, first hears of him, he is told that Kurtz is known as a great leader destined to hold high positions and fame. However, as he travels the river, he also learns that Kurtz has become insane during his time in the African jungle. After Marlow finally comes into contact with him, he discovers that Kurtz has become a god among the natives†¦show more content†¦The absolute power of one individual is too much responsibility and will ultimately corrupt any person, leading them to believe that he or she truly possesses divine power which is true madness. At that point, one is un able to freely make moral decisions because, as demonstrated by Kurtzs own experience, selfishness has taken over. Kurtzs madness, although made clear early in the novel, is barely recognizable among the horrors of the men of the Company who completely dehumanize the Africans and treat them like animals or even worse in some cases. The difference is found in the fact that the Company tries to downplay their brutality while Kurtz is completely honest about his suppression of the natives, whom he refers to as brutes, and his desire to eradicate them. In his final days, he reveals to Marlow the plans for his life that include fame and the expansion of his power and reputation. His wickedness does not haunt him until his final hour; however, when he is horrified by the evil took control of his life in Africa and ultimately ruined him. Marlow, who nearly dies of an illness himself, is fascinated that Kurtz was able to put his final feelings into words, despite their vagueness. Altho ugh Marlow survives and will be carried back to civilization by the rivers current, Kurtz and the darkness of the African interior have permanently marked him. He willShow MoreRelatedHeart Of Darkness By Joseph Conrad1436 Words   |  6 PagesHeart of Darkness, the main themes that are discussed and brought to light throughout the entire story are that of the hypocrisy behind the idea of Imperialism, the madness that surrounds the absurdity of evil, and the idea of the last encounter that Marlow has with Kurtz’s intended and the irony that surrounds the circumstance. First, the issue at hand with Imperialism and the insincerity that surrounds it is baffling, as Marlow is traveling in and out of the many stations that neighbor the riverRead MoreEssay about Heart of Darkness - Summary1145 Words   |  5 Pageshis capabilities and possible job promotion. After three long months of repairs, Marlow and a small crew of white people and about thirty Africans begin to journey up the river towards Kurtz’s station through a jungle setting that strikes Marlow as apprehensions, peculiar and enormous. About fifty miles before Kurtz’s station, they come across a reed hut with wood stacked for the steamboat’s fuel and a message that they should proceed with caution. nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;A couple of morningsRead MoreHeart of Darkness Commentary893 Words   |  4 Pagesreputed to be an idealistic man of great abilities, as if he was a deity. Ultimately Kurtz’s mental collapse and subsequent monstrosities culminate into a tragic anti-climatic death in which Kurtz utters the dying words â€Å"The horror! The horror!† His dying words seem to reflect Kurtz own feelings and realizations of his very being, his demise and his regret for the circumstances of his situation. Kurtz’s mental degradation through his experiences in Africa causes him to spiral down the pathRead More The Powerful Voice of Kurtz in Conrad’s Heart of Darkness Essay1027 Words   |  5 PagesDarkness Many times, words by themselves do not convey an idea wholly or conceal it altogether. Instead, the voice carrying the words conveys the idea, lending shape and new meaning to the familiar syllables. Words resonate with prescribed meanings, whereas voice creates its own meaning and identity. In Conrad’s Heart of Darkness, voice comprises the primitive component of language, with words existing only as a secondary function of voice. Glimpsing a â€Å"primitive truth,† Kurtz’s voice and soul uniteRead More Heart of Darkness Essay941 Words   |  4 Pagesoutright exploitation over the hypocritical justifications of cruelty. Nevertheless, I think Mr. Kurtz is a remarkable man, (112) Marlow is willing to put aside the reality of Kurtzs cruel and selfish behavior, in order to satisfy the flawless image of Kurtz he can not let go of. I was within a hairs-breadth of the last opportunity for pronouncement, and I found with humiliation, I would have nothing to say†¦ Kurtz was remarkable, he had something to say. And he said it, (127-128). Marlows ideaRead MoreKurtzs Affect on Other Characters in Heart of Darkness Essay568 Words   |  3 Pagesnatives in the jungle who basically become his slaves. Kurtz is so well known and put on such a pedestal, that no one would ever try to over rule him. Therefore, all of the characters â€Å"would not stir till Mr. Kurtz gave the word† (Conrad 52) for fear of becoming one of Kurtz’s hut decorations. But the main reason Kurtz affects the action of this story is because he is who Marlow is looking for the entire time. His presence is why Marlow travels into the jungle even though Marlow doesn’t get to meetRead MoreAnalysis Of Joseph Conrad s Heart Of Darkness1233 Words   |  5 Pagesswayed and drove men—men, I tell you.† (63) The word â€Å"devil is repeated to emphasize the horrors of imperialism that they imposed on the natives in Africa. â€Å"Conrad criticizes the c ruel treatment against the natives and imperialism through Kurtz. Kurtz has led a horrible life due to his passion for ivory trade. He treats the natives so violently that he regrets what he has done and cries twice as ‘The Horror! The Horror’ before he dies. These words reflect his feeling of remorse† (Gà ¼ven 17). DarknessRead More Heart Of Darkness Essay1479 Words   |  6 PagesIn his encounters with his Aunt, the African women, and Mr. Kurtz’s intended fiancee, Marlow shows his demeaning and sexist view of women. Marlow objectifies women depending on their race. The white European females are looked upon as domestic beings who should tend only to their home worlds, while the only African women is portrayed as a sexual object. It is this objectivity that causes Marlow to never reveal the truth about Mr. Kurtz’s life and death. The first woman that we meet is Marlow’s auntRead More Apocalypse Now vs Heart of Darkness Essay1120 Words   |  5 Pagesin Heart of Darkness. According to literary scholar and cinema aficionado Mark A. Rivera, â€Å"In Conrad, Marlow is in awe of Kurtz, comes to identify with him in some dark recess of his own psyche; Willard, on the other hand, is more impressed with Kurtzs credentials than moved by his force of mind and will.† nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;Despite the fact that the film is told through Willard’s eyes, his skewed perception does not affect the film’s clear moral intentions. Coppola is sure to let hisRead More Realization of Inner Evil in Joseph Conrads Heart of Darkness1562 Words   |  7 Pagesevil and goodness, but lacks restraint and therefore, chooses evil. Kurtz is, for the most part, alone in the wilderness, however, he is not alone in his wickedness. Kurtzs inner evil spreads outward into Africa making it the dark place that it becomes during the novel. The local people have become corrupt due to Kurtzs position of power and control. His own workers have become hollow and dark while working along side him. Further more, the company manager, who personally works with him, gains