Kurtzs Last Words Essay - 641 Words

nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;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 â€Å"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†¦show more content†¦Perhaps Kurtz is recognizing the results of the choices he made and the evil inside of himself that he unleashed upon other people through dreadful acts. When he came to Africa, he was an admired leader with a fiance and a promising future; but his own power led to his downfall. Despite his high intelligence, his ability to do literally whatever he wished without answering to any higher power aside from his own desires was too much for him to endure sanely. Through Kurtz’s demise, Conrad describes the ridiculousness of one person’s rule over others because all people have weaknesses and faults that they cannot overcome when tempted. 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 unable to freely make moral decisions because, as demonstrated by Kurtz’s own experience, selfishness has taken over. nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;Kurtz’s 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 â€Å"brutes,† and his desire to eradicate them. In his final days, he reveals to MarlowShow MoreRelated Heart of Darkness Essay941 Words   |  4 Pagespermeates every circumstance, scene, and character in Joseph Conrads novella, Heart of Darkness. Darkness symbolizes the moral confusion that Charlie Marlow encounters, as well as the moral reconciliation he has within himself while searching for Kurtz. Marlows morals are challenged numerous times throughout the book; on the Congo river and when he returns to Brussels. Charlie Marlow characterizes the behavior of the colonialists with, The flabby, pretending, weak-eyed devil of a rapaciousRead MoreHeart Of Darkness By Joseph Conrad1309 Words   |  6 Pagesto terms with his past acts of cowardice and eventually becomes the leader of a small South Seas country. (online-literature). Heart of Darkness is British man s journey deep into the Congo of Africa, where he encounters the cruel and mysterious Kurtz, a European trader who has established himself as a ruler of the native people there. Conrad continued as an author and published more books such as Nostromo and The Secret Agent. Many of his writings first appeared in magazines, followed by the publicationRead MoreThe Horror: The Transformation of Kurtz in Heart of Darkness517 Words   |  3 PagesKurtz and the Horror Throughout the first two parts of Joseph Conrads 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. In the first parts of the book most of the characters Marlow meetsRead MoreEssay about Heart of Darkness - Summary1145 Words   |  5 Pagesmentions a man named Kurtz who is a remarkable agent that has sent more ivory from the jungle than the other agents combined. Marlows interest is perked in Kurtz and will eventually grow into an unhealthy obsession and become the focus of the story. After a difficult journey, Marlow arrives at the Companys Central Station where he learns that the steamer he was supposed to command has been destroyed in a wreck. He meets the local manager, who mentions Kurtz and says that Kurtz is assumed to be illRead MoreAnalysis Of Heart Of Darkness 1331 Words   |  6 Pagesimperialism in Africa; the Englishmen wish to colonize in Africa with the purpose of taking their ivory. Charlie Marlow, who works as a sailor in the company of ivory trading. Marlow meets a man named Kurtz, the best-selling agent, during his journey to the Congo. In Heart of Darkness, the characters Marlow, Kurtz helps portray the theme. Marlow’s actions during his journey to the Congo in Africa develops his personality by revealing his character. When Marlow arrives at the Costal Station, the first companyRead MoreHeart of Darkness Commentary893 Words   |  4 Pagesform. The book centers around Marlow, an introspective sailor, and his journey up the Congo River to meet Kurtz, reputed 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 situationRead MoreHeart Of Darkness By Joseph Conrad1534 Words   |  7 Pagesthings about a man named Kurtz, whom he eventually meets. He becomes fascinated by this Kurtz character and becomes obsessed with finding out as much as he can about him. A character in a story â€Å"sticks with us long after we have forgotten the details of what, where, and how† (Mays 123). In Heart of Darkness the reader has the rare opportunity to get to know a character who is only explored through the eyes of other characters in the story so that when we do finally meet Kurtz in the final pages ofRead More Realization of Inner Evil in Joseph Conrads Heart of Darkness1562 Words   |  7 Pagesthe characters Kurtz and Marlow and through the exploration of the dark continent of Africa. Throughout the novel the reader only comes into contact with Kurtz through Marlow and the comments of other minor characters. Kurtz is a first class agent employed at an ivory station in the center of Africa. Due to his great ability to steal and kill mercilessly he is considered to be the best at obtaining ivory. Upon meeting Kurtz, Marlow considers him to be a remarkable man because Kurtz is aware ofRead MoreSimilarly, Conrad’S Heart Of Darkness Explorers An Actual1172 Words   |  5 PagesCongo River in search of a highly reputable ivory trader named Kurtz. Prior to his spiral into insanity, Conrad describes Kurtz as a man of â€Å"promise†, â€Å"greatness†, a â€Å"generous mind†, and a â€Å"noble heart† (2008-9). Hearing of this reputable Victorian man, Marlow sets out to meet him, only to discover that these descriptors no longer fit the man he finds in the heart of the Congo, even if they ever truly fit him at all. As Marlow describes Kurt z at the start of the novel, he worships and reveres him as aRead MoreKurtzs Affect on Other Characters in Heart of Darkness Essay568 Words   |  3 Pagesamount 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. Kurtz is a power hungry man who achieved his power by getting into the ivory business and using shady techniques. He also befriended the natives in the jungle who basically become his slaves. Kurtz is so well known and put on such a pedestal, that no