When Marlow got hired as a laborer on a French Steamer, the story began getting more intriguing. They docked first on an island inhabited by indigenous people, and the other people on the steamer keep speaking (very highly) of a man named Mr. Kurtz, an agent in charge of an important trading post. Soon he hears disgruntled others talking about him as well, and Marlow grows anxious to meet him. There are many close-calls with natives on the way to finally connect with Mr. Kurtz, and Marlow is growing exceedingly anxious to meet him, despite this. I can see that he has already gotten a crucial role in Heart Of Darkness, even though he wasn’t necessarily in the story for a long amount of time. He is chiefly the reason why Marlow continues the journey, and a mere interest in Kurtz quickly develops into an immense fixation. After he, the manager, and others finally reach Kurtz after surviving an attack, they come to find that Kurtz is feeble (more of a burden than helpful regarding the business that he’s in), ill, and basically at death’s door: nothing like he was thought up to be. I’m sure everyone had the same revelation of dissatisfaction when they read through this part. Only Marlow and the Russian trader seem to hold any interest in him anymore, and eventually Marlow and Kurtz form a bond. I found it odd because the bond was so strong, strong enough in-fact, that he would leave his papers [and legacy] behind with Marlow. I’m curious to know what everyone thought of Kurtz. I personally thought that he was a malicious man, who exploited the “savages,” and became much like a savage himself.
His last words were “The horror! The horror!”That is where I had left off, and what had me thinking for a while. I think that maybe it could have been the horror of what he had been reduced to, but I doubt that it would be that simple. “The horror!” is so ambiguous that it could mean most anything. Just like Marlow described the horizon as an enigma early on in the book, the last words of Kurtz were mysterious and paradoxical as well, and I think that the remark itself left more a legacy than his letters and papers ever would.
posted by Devon V
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I completely agree that Mr. Kurtz was nothing more than a greedy man who manipulated his surroundings to suit his needs. Since he was away from 'civilization,' he had the opportunity to rise to the top but on the backs of the local savages. I was disappointed when the book hinted that Mr. Kurtz was dead but not as much as i was when i discovered his true personality.
ReplyDeleteI agree that kurtz is a horrible , greedy, person However isn't it peculiar how when he is spoken of it is almost like the "civilized" people are speaking of him in a folk lore sence? its almost as if he is some kind of legend or dare i say it...god it's funny because how can someone be so savage like and yet so praised well maybe not praised but he is more spoken on than anyother character ion this book. Think about it...and how many times does marlow see kurtz?
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