The truth can be ambiguous (either a beacon of hope or a terrible secret), and although man prefers to believe that the more personal truths of humanity exemplify ingenuity worth remembering, some truths are rather kept hidden. Inherent with the conception of the first villages and settlements, and imparted from one generation to the next, mankind has strived to suppress their unsavory beginnings. Preferring humanity to radiate an image of tranquil cultured democracy, society masks the barbarous acts of instinct that imbue the past, and resonate in the present. In his novel Heart of Darkness, Joseph Conrad proposes that the construct of civilization is only a safeguard against man’s awareness of his own savagery.
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Upon the first mention of Kurtz, the Accountant describes him as, “a first-class agent… a very remarkable person,” (21) providing an initial characterization of a good man who does his job well. However, the Manager provides critical depth to Kurtz’s character saying, “He is a prodigy… an emissary of pity, and science, and progress,” (28) implying that Kurtz is well educated and was sent to Africa, “for the guidance of the cause,” (28). Indicating that influential members of society sent Kurtz as the best of Europe, the prodigal son of what civilization represents in the hopes of inducing change and virtue to the inner workings of the company. However, the Russian provided a significantly different perspective of Kurtz. He depicted a man who, “[presided] at certain midnight dances ending with unspeakable rites, which… were offered up to him,” (57), a man that, “[wandered] about that river for nearly two years alone,” (61). This Kurtz had been isolated and indoctrinated into the ways of a primitive savage, far removed from the civilized excellence of which he hailed.. Nothing could prevent Kurtz from, “killing [who] he jolly well pleased,” (65) a trait brutally shown by, “those heads on the stakes,” (66) all facing inward towards the house in which Kurtz rested. The severed heads facing Kurtz’s place of rest represent his acknowledgement and acceptance of the primitive instinctual darkness within himself. Upon Marlow’s first meeting with Kurtz, the primitive form of the man emerged from the shadows as an, “atrocious phantom,”
Kurtz was the chief of the Inner Station, where he was in charge of a very important ivory-trading post. Marlow learns that because of Kurtz’s ability to obtain more ivory than anybody else, he is of “greatest importance to the Company” and is to become a “somebody in the Administration” (Conrad 143). However, a critical aspect is the way in which he went about his business, as it was ruthless and selfish, characteristics that go hand-in-hand with European colonization.
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 “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 become a god among the natives and has been brutally collecting the coveted ivory. Marlow finally convinces the deathly ill man to return to the ship where he finally dies. Upon his death, Kurtz’s facial expression causes Marlow to feel as though he may be seeing his entire life passing just before it ends; and finally, he murmurs his final words “The horror! The horror!” (Conrad, p. 64).
...o, while the novella’s archetypal structure glorifies Marlow’s domination of Kurtz. These two analyses taken together provide a much fuller and more comprehensive interpretation of the work. Conrad presents the idea that there is some darkness within each person. The darkness is is inherited and instinctual, but because it is natural does not make it right. He celebrates – and thereby almost advises – the turn from instinct. By telling Marlow’s tale, Joseph Conrad stresses to his audience the importance of self-knowledge and the unnecessity of instinct in civilization.
In German “kurtz” means short. What Kurtz actually says is plain and terse, but appalling. It is not hidden behind words, but revealed within Kurtz’s own voice and scribbled in margins. However, it is the voiceless words, the written words, the lies, and not the note scribbled by his own voice that Kurtz asks Marlow to preserve. By wanting to preserve his report, Kurtz acknowledges the power of written words. He knows that besides Marlow’s memory, writing is the only thing that can begin to immortalize him. But, perhaps, Kurtz’s knowledge is meant to die along with his voice.
Joseph Conrad's Heart of Darkness shows the disparity between the European ideal of civilization and the reality of it, displayed by the domination, torture, exploitation and dehumanization of the African people. Conrad often emphasizes the idea of what is civilized versus what is primitive or savage. While reading the novel, the reader can picture how savage the Europeans seem. They are cruel and devious towards the very people they are supposed to be helping.
Throughout its entirety, Joseph Conrad’s Heart of Darkness utilizes many contrasts and paradoxes in an attempt to teach readers about the complexities of both human nature and the world. Some are more easily distinguishable, such as the comparison between civilized and uncivilized people, and some are more difficult to identify, like the usage of vagueness and clarity to contrast each other. One of the most prominent inversions contradicts the typical views of light and dark. While typically light is imagined to expose the truth and darkness to conceal it, Conrad creates a paradox in which darkness displays the truth and light blinds us from it.
Conrad, J. (2006). Heart of darkness. In P. B. Armstrong (Ed.), Heart of darkness (4th ed., p. 50). New York London: Norton Critical Editions.
The mind is a wonderful thing. It allows us to think on three very different levels. One we choose to express, one we don’t choose to express, and one we do not even know exists. All these stages of thinking are clouded over in Joseph Conrad’s The Heart of Darkness. Three menacing forces occur that completely take over the white man to act inappropriately. They accuse others of acting savage, when they violently act against people of other cultures. They conform to specific beliefs, and push aside their subconscious thoughts. These men also have an abundance of ignorance that makes them feel false superiority. The Heart of Darkness reaches into the minds of readers, to prove that all of civilization is surrounded by an abundance of forces that can fog our mind, and darken our hearts.
Savagery can come from anywhere, even the most ‘civilized’ places, such as Europe. In reality, civility depends on the location and the morals of the people. The idea of a stable ‘civil’ society could easily collapse as a consequence of greed and power. Heart of Darkness tells the story of Marlow, a sailor, and his journey on a steamboat through the Congo River. He shares this introspective journey with three other people aboard a ship referred to as the Nellie. Joseph Conrad’s Heart of Darkness, a parable, reflects how greed and power always triumph over morality, especially in a place where civility no longer exists.
“ The conquest of the earth, which mostly means the taking it away from those who have a different complexion or slightly flatter noses than ourselves, is not a pretty thing when you look into it too much.” (Conrad 65) So stated Marlow as though this was his justification for ravaging the Congo in his search for ivory. Joseph Conrad’s Heart of Darkness shows the disparity between the European ideal of civilization and the reality of it as is evidenced by the domination, torture, exploitation and dehumanization of the African population. Heart of Darkness is indicative of the evil and greed in humanity as personified by Kurtz and Marlow.
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 of the darkness and evil in his own life and in the world. He also knows the "depth to which man is capable of sinking" (Dowden, 159). Through living in the core of Africa Kurtz has discovered the truth about himself. He is aware of evil and goodness, but lacks restraint and therefore, chooses evil.
Location changes, new people arise; but man can always count on mistakes. Conrad uses Kurtz as a surrogate to represent how man may seem mighty on the outside, even though they are actually dying inside. Marlow’s dream after hearing about the mighty Kurtz is just to have a conversation with him. He has not heard the horror that Kurtz is dealing with internally. Nobody has. The natives look up to Kurtz as if he was a god, but he is far from it. As he journeys, Marlow comes to realize, through the many people he has talked with, that Kurtz doesn’t seem to exist. To Kurtz’s cousin, he is a great musician; to the journalist, he is a brilliant politician and leader of men; to his fiancée, he is a great humanitarian and genius. Much to Marlow’s surprise, he is none of these. Kurtz is a suffering man who believes he is the best. He refuses to believe otherwise. “You should have heard him say, 'My ivory.' Oh, yes, I heard him. 'My Intended, my ivory, my station, my river, my - ' everything belonged to him . . . but that was a trifle. The thing was to know what he belonged to, how many powers of darkness claimed him for their own . . . He had taken a high seat amongst the devils of the land - I mean literally.” (73) Kurtz remains mad until the day he dies. His final words are, “The horror! The horror!” (105) This is Kurtz’s final judgment on his life, his actions, mankind in general, and imperialism. His work in the jungle is,
...ch open up the readers mind. Joseph Conrad's "Heart of Darkness", raises many questions about society and the human potential for evil.
The "Heart of Darkness," written by Joseph Conrad in 1899 as a short story, is about two men who face their own identities as what they consider to be civilized Europeans and the struggle to not to abandon their themselves and their morality once they venture into the "darkness." The use of "darkness" is in the book's title and in throughout the story and takes on a number of meanings that are not easily understood until the story progresses. As you read the story you realize that the meaning of "darkness" is not something that is constant but changes depending on the context it used.
Heart of Darkness is a story in which racism presents itself so deliberately that, for many, the dilemma of race must be tackled before anything else in the book may be dealt with. Conrad used derogatory, outdated and offensive terminology for devaluation of people’s color as savages. This use of language disturbs many readers who read this book.