Kurtz-- Deeper Meaning

Kurtz, first-class agent, painter, musician, politician-- a jack of all trades if you will. A god to the ignorant and weak. Merely gazing upon him or justbeing in his presence changes the course of one's life forever. A mythological creature is what Marlow described him to be basically. "He is a prodigy;" "an emissary of pity and science and progress, and devil knows what else" (Brick master). Kurtz is introduced to us by word of mouth. "A remarkable man" (Company chief) was overhead by Marlow. Driven by curiosity, he bases his entire journey on finding this remarkable divine force seemingly from above. Kurtz like Marlow traveled to the motherland, Africa, in search of adventure—particularly however to colonize, extend Europe’s vast as well as enhance its political, social, and economic influences. Yet once he saw the ignorance in the natives of Africa as well as their feebleness he dropped his benevolent intentions and took the position of tyrant or god to the natives. Ironically Kurtz wanted to bring "light" to the people of Congo, but towards his final hours he only wishes death on the very same people he wanted to reform. Kurtz, in my opinion, represented the gilded attitude of the human race. He was covering up intentions with noble excuses, only he wasn't so descriptive in terms of his intentions. Kurtz represented the greed and the inhumane side of the human race that doesn't seem to come alive so vividly. In part III, Kurtz makes his grand appearance, but he wasn't exactly what Marlow or I for that matter would have expected. Again he was portrayed as a divine creature, yet he had this skeleton like appearance to him, perhaps because of his illness. This is the very same illness that has left him seemingly battered, physically as well as mentally,without enough strength to even utter a single coherent sentence; truly he is near his death. In shambles really is how Kurtz is found. Afterwards he of course dies and leaves one disappointed. I thought that this entire experience of the novel would all culminate with Kurtz sharing his wisdom with Marlow as well as myself. I for one was expecting some sort of fulfilling knowledgeable quote or showing from Kurtz, yet in reality it just ruined my experience of the novel.
posted by Oscar P.