In order to understand how Charles Marlow’s tale fits into the larger theme of European Imperialism, one should understand what Imperialism is. Imperialism is the policy or practice of forming and maintaining an empire and controlling the raw materials and markets of that empire. In Heart of Darkness, Conrad has many references and clearly has chosen to judge imperialism. In this story when referring to imperialism this is the period of colonization of African and Asian countries by European states. Colonialism is mainly about political and economic relations. The Western society’s need expands due to the age of industry and nationalism was some of the main reasons for this imperialism. Although in the story, he did not ultimately advocate …show more content…
The idea of being the greatest race played an important role. Many dialogues in Heart of Darkness show this arrogance. The relation between whites and blacks turns into a relation between dominators and dominated. Every attempt to change this situation is treason and provides the right to revenge: "…these heads were the heads of rebels." Kurtz had no restraints in retribution of his domination. To save order and his power he exhibited the decapitated rebels' …show more content…
If a person has enough of the righteous characteristics, they can lead everyone they come into contact with to the conclusion of how wonderful of a person they are. Kurtz was able convince all that he came in contact with, to look at him in a majestic way. He was able to somehow convince a tribe to worship and follow him. In the beginning, it was Kurtz that everyone, especially the company he worked for, thought he was boundless. Every person that Marlow had to associate with would praise all the wonderful deeds of Kurtz. However, it was not until Marlow had finally been close to Kurtz and was in the middle of the events occurring and read his papers that he began to realize the truth behind Kurtz. Marlow gains a great deal of information by watching the world around him and by overhearing others’ conversations. Information comes as the result of chance observation and shrewd interpretation. Those that had been around Kurtz before he became just as wild as the Congo, were already affected positively by Kurtz through his charisma and larger-than-life plans. It is Kurtz who is the evil genius and the highly gifted but ultimately degenerate
The things that Kurtz had both done and seen in his life were in fact horrible, but was something. that Marlow was able to see past. This is later clear by what is in. his thoughts as he talks to the woman. He condemns mankind as a whole with this statement. .
Throughout Heart of Darkness, Joseph Conrad points to the hypocrisy and horrors associated with colonialism. The half-English, half-French Kurtz is the main vehicle used to convey his theme of European colonialism, as “all [of] Europe contributed to the making of Kurtz” (Conrad 164). It was Kurtz who goes to Africa for the "sake of loot, and thus becomes a great literary symbol for the decadence of colonialism" (Zins 63). With his help, Marlow dissects the reasoning behind colonialism, eventually seeing its evil nature.
This situation of waiting for Kurtz allows Marlow to fantasize about Kurtz and create a larger than life figure out of a man who he’s never met before. Soon Finding Kurtz becomes an all-out obsession for Marlow; even the night before they meet Kurtz, he wishes to press on despite the danger. Here the reader can see that Marlow is willing to get to Kurtz at all costs. When Marlow does finally make contact with Kurtz, his fantasy carries over into the person who he sees Kurtz as. Marlow is willing to overlook some of Kurtz’s shortcomings and is very willing to see his greatness. Marlow is obviously fond of Kurtz, as it can be seen in the passage when he speaks of Kurtz’s “unextinguishable gift of noble and lofty expression.” Here the reader can observe that Marlow is truly fond of Kurtz’s. The narrator even chooses to side with Kurtz against the manager; even though he hardly knows the man. Kurtz has also managed to get the native people to worship him as a god, and has mastered their language. This makes Marlow respect him even more. Marlow’s point of view allows him to foster both the reality and the fantasy of Kurtz, and though he is very fond of Kurtz, he is still able to see the truth in him as
Heart of Darkness is a novel in which many relatively minor characters serve major functions in the overall meaning of the work. One such character is Kurtz's Intended who starkly contrasts against Kurtz's evil to better show the evil and primal side of man.
Kurtz once was considered an honorable man, but living in the Congo separated from his own culture he changed greatly. In the jungle he discovers his evil side, secluded from the rest of his own society he becomes corrupted by power. "My Ivory. My people, my ivory, my station, my river," everything was under Kurtz's reign. While at Kurtz's camp Marlow encounters the broken roof on Kurtz's house, the "black hole," this is a sign of the uncivilized. The black hole represents the unknown and unconquered, and therefore represents the uncivilized. Also, Marlow notices the "black heads" on Kurt...
Throughout most of Heart of Darkness very little actual information is known about Kurtz, and what is provided is mostly rumors and often contradictory. An example of this is at the beginning of Marlow’s journey, Kurtz is credited as a great man destined for promotion, but as his journey gets deeper into the Congo, Kurtz is regarded as insane and a traitor. The one thing that becomes clear to Marlow is that Kurtz is a very intelligent man that everyone agrees is clever and persuasive. It also becomes clear that, instead of using these qualities for good, he has given into his greed and lust for power. We know from early conversations in the book that Kurtz is one of best ivory collectors in the company, but as the story goes on, the true nature of his success is revealed, and it becomes clear he has succumbed to
Symbolically, he had gone so far in Kurtz that he doesn’t know how he will get out of him. For instance, Russians look up to Mr.Kurtz, similar to the natives, that he states he listens to Mr.Kurtz more than he speaks to him, Russian told Marlow that he should not look at Kurtz the way he looks at an ordinary person, and also states “this man (Kurtz) has enlarged my mind”. To this Russian man, Kurtz is like the deep jungle. The Russian finds himself so fascinating to Kurtz that he doesn’t know how he will get out of his mind about Kurtz. So he tells Marlow to “take Kurtz away quick-quick”.
Upon descending deeper into the Congo, Marlow is beginning to be unknowing of himself. Kurtz’s identity is hidden from the reader, and Marlow in the beginning of the novel, Kurtz is depicted as an almighty character that just wants to maintain the
Both Marlow and Willard became obsessed with a man by the name of Kurtz. Marlow wanted to meet Kurtz very bad. He was so fascinated with his accomplishments that he...
This novella tells that King Leopold II send Europeans agents to the Congo to bring Ivory back to Belgium. Conrad shows how Heart of Darkness shows the brutally and cruelty of European colonialism towards the natives in the Congo. Throughout the novella, it explores the historical period of European colonialism in Congo to demonstrate Marlow’s struggles. Marlow, the main protagonist, like other Europeans of his time is brought up to believe certain things about colonialism. The ideal mission of every European is to bring the “light” or civilization to the natives.
...s to look at Kurtz as a hero for all that he had accomplished, no matter how evil. Marlow?s obstacles as the hero are not the overcoming of a dragon or evil villain. It is the eternal battle of the story of a Hero versus Antihero. Marlow?s blindness to Kurtz?s impurities are both his strength and weakness. His ignorance to the greatness of his own qualities can best be stated one way: ?The Horror.?
On one hand, Marlow is saved by his self-discipline while on the other hand Kurtz is doomed by his lack of it. Before Marlow embarked on his voyage to Africa, he had a different view. Due to propaganda, he believed that the colonization of the Congo was for the greater good. In his head, he judged that the people of Africa were savages and that colonization would bring them the elation and riches of civilization. Despite an apparent uneasiness, he assumed that restraint would function there.
By the time Marlow and Kurtz meet, Marlow is already well aware of the similarities they share. Both are imperialists, and while Marlow detests the treatment of the natives by his employers (Belgian colonists), he also makes apparent his abhorrence toward the Africans. On the other hand, Kurtz abandons the pretense of helping the natives achieve civilization, as displayed by the Europeans. Instead, he adopts their customs and becomes their leader in the never-ending quest for ivory. "He began with the argument that we whites, from the point of development we had arrived at, 'must necessarily appear to them [savages] in the nature of the supernatural beings- we approach them with the might as of a deity' (Longman, 2000, p. 2226). Marlow also admired Kurtz' resourcefulness and survival skills, especially his perseverence through jungle fever. "The wilderness had patted him on the head....it had taken him, loved him, embraced him, got into his veins, consumed his flesh, and sealed his soul to its own by the inconceivable ceremonies of some devilish initiation. He was its spoiled and pampered favorite." (Longman, 2000, p. 2225).
Throughout Heart of Darkness by Joseph Conrad, a sense of imperialism is present. Imperialism is defined as “acquiring and holding colonies and dependencies”. Through the novel, many of the travels Marlow encounters contain imperialist ideas. The whole continent is used as a symbol for this theme. So therefore you can tell that imperialism is just as bad as the disease that many people get from the Congo, they become infected.
This sight angers Marlow, and when he gets to Kurtz, it’s too late. Even he has been pulled in by the darkness. Conrad makes an effective distinction between Marlow and Kurtz.