Good And Evil In Joseph Conrad's Heart Of Darkness

Everyone has potential for both good and evil, and everyone faces the battle between which one will be dominant in their life. In the Heart of Darkness, author Joseph Conrad uses Marlow’s, Kurtz’s, and other minor character’s journey through fighting or succumbing to the greedy, naturalistic evil that lies within to illustrate man’s capability for both good and evil. During Marlow’s voyage down the Congo River he encounters different people and situations that show the goodness in him. At the Outer Station Marlow meets the Accountant of the company. The first thing noticed about the Accountant is his appearance: “I saw a high starched collar, white cuffs, a light alpaca jacket, snowy trousers, a clear necktie, and varnished boots.” (28).

Kurtz’s love for the ivory was the match that it his fire of insanity; His one goal was to collect the ivory by whatever means, “He did not see that the time was not ripe for vigorous actions.” (110). Kurtz’s greed overcame all his other priorities and caused him to be aggressive, violent and manipulative. To gain more of the ivory he desired Kurtz manipulates the Russian in many ways. First Kurtz brain washes the Russian into believing he is genius: “Oh, he enlarged my mind.” (114). “’Shoot you!’ I cried ‘What for?’ ‘Well I had a small lot of ivory the chief of the village near my house gave me.” (100), Kurtz had gone mad with the want of ivory that even a small amount was worth a life. He even goes to more extremes like mounting severed heads onto stakes of his followers. Marlow comments on this act and calls it “a savage sight” that was “pure, uncomplicated savagery” (103). The slide into evil continues with Kurtz becoming involved with the native mistress. Being involved with the native mistress is the ultimate loss of morals because he is breaking a vow of promise he made to the Intended. Since the native mistress has such an influence on Kurtz he becomes even more savage through his involvement with her. The true intentions and thoughts of Kurtz are revealed by the written in note, “Exterminate all the brutes!” (88), in his personal pamphlet. Marlow is taken

He forces the natives to work even when they refuse. He doesn’t want to brag about his great accomplishment of teaching a native women to work, “’I’ve been teaching one of the native women about the station. It was difficult. She had a distaste for the work.” (28). The Accountant seemed surprised that she had a distaste for the work because he believes that she should enjoy the work of civilized beings, instead of her savage