Marlow is the protagonist of the story, who ventures to Africa looking to sail a steamboat, but finds much more.
The only physical description of Marlow is this: Marlow sat cross-legged right aft, leaning against the mizzen-mast. He had sunken cheeks, a yellow complexion, a straight back, and ascetic aspect, and, with his arms dropped, the palms of his hands outwards, resembled an idol (Conrad1615).
Marlow was a professional seaman and the captain of the Congo Rive Steamboat. He seems to possess a good work ethic: working hard is a means of achieving sanity. Marlow dislikes lies and therefore tells only two of them, both in extraordinary circumstances. In the middle of the story, Marlow interrupts himself to say, “You know I hate, detest, and can t bear a lie, not because I am straighter than the rest of us, but simply because it appalls me. There is a taint of death, a flavor of mortality in lies- which is exactly what I hate and detest in the world-what I want to forget. It makes me miserable and sick, like biting something rotten would do.” (1633). Marlow never vocalized a lie; he simply allowed others to continue to believe an untruth. First, the brick-maker thought Marlow was more influential than he actually was, and Marlow allowed him to continue to believe this. Secondly, the intended thought her fiancé was a good man so Marlow allowed her to continue to believe this also.
As a child, Marlow had a passion for maps and it appears that he still does. He has a particular ambition to investigate the blank space of delightful mystery, indicating Africa, which was gradually being filled in with names and features as it was explored and colonized.
For Marlow, the journey up the Congo becomes a pilgrimage to meet Kurtz, the man of reputedly brilliant talent and eloquence who sends down more ivory than all the company s other traders put together(90 Reilly). Gradually, as the people that Marlow despised began to defame Kurtz, he (Marlow) became more interested in meeting him (Kurtz). Marlow, desperate to retain his illusions, wanted to meet a man reputed to be an emissary of pity, and science and progress (124Schwarz). Marlow tried to put the best possible interpretations on his motives: Perhaps he was simply a fine fellow who stuck to his work for his own sake. The more Marlow became more disillusioned, the more Kurtz became the goal of his quest.
The more Marlow learns about Kurtz, he fears that he might turn into Kurtz, he is nonetheless able to emerge from the Congo with his ideals, morals and his civilized character intact, although somewhat sure of himself(159Meyer). After Kurtz’s death, Marlow takes with him the knowledge of human nature that he gains from him. He says, I remembered his abject pleading, his abject threats, the colossal scale of his vile desires, the meanness, the torment, the tempestuous anguish of his soul.
In many respects, the view of Marlow is that of a typical European. Still, he is intended to be a versatile character, one of the few who does not belong to a distinct class, and can thus relate to different kinds of people with more ease than his peers in the story.
Kurtz
Kurtz is the unique victim of colonization; the wilderness captures him and he turns his back on all customs and people that were a part of him.
Kurtz himself is a German. His mother was half-English, his father was half-French.
Kurtz is an ivory trader, sent by a shadowy Belgian company into the heart of the Congo Free State. Everyone who knows Kurtz agrees that he has all the ambition, charisma, and eloquence to achieve greatness. Although he cranks out more ivory than all the stations combined, we have reason to believe he has turned rogue. He has yielded to the implacably hostile nature of the African wilderness and it has caused him to go mad.
In Europe Kurtz was perceived as a “universal genius,” (Conrad, 157) who could paint, play music, write and “electrify large meetings.”(Conrad, 157)
In the Congo, he was revered by most, and hated by some; he was an “extremist” who was charismatic, and capable
When he arrived in the Congo, he had noble intentions; he like Europeans saw what the Belgians were doing in the Congo as spreading civilization and education the savages
Kurtz stayed a genius, accumulating more ivory then any of the other stations but his methods were unsavory even from the perspective of the Belgians. He experienced more then perhaps anyone else in the colony had experienced the calamities caused by Europeans. Kurtz conquered the natives in his area and used them to collect ivory from the other tribes in that area, anyone who stood up to him, was beheaded; his way of subduing the revolvers. Kurtz didn’t stop at taking the ivory from the natives when the Russian procured a small amount Kurtz “declared he would shoot me (the Russian) unless I gave him the ivory… because he could do so…there was nothing on earth to prevent him from killing whom he jolly well pleased.” (Conrad, 136) There was no limit to kurtz’s cruelty, he was driven mad by the jungle and the isolation and as he died he was able to reflect and witness his acts and the acts of those around him and home in Europe, this realization caused him to pronounce his now famous quote “the horror the horror.”
Kurtz is in charge of the Inner Station, the company station deepest in the interior of the Congo. Kurtz is noted for his ability to obtain more ivory than all of the other station managers together. At the same time he is feared for his connections within the upper levels of the company and his unsound methods of operation. When Marlow encounters Kurtz, Kurtz is in very poor health. Kurtz dies before he can be returned to Europe. Initially Kurtz has noble intentions, believing that Europeans can help to bring culture to the region and its inhabitants; however, his experiences in the interior radically transform him and his philosophy.
You May Also Find These Documents Helpful
-
Slavery was a big deal in the 1860’s which lead to The Civil War lasting from 1861-1865. The Civil War was known as the bloodiest four years in American history. America was split up into two parts which were the North and South. The North was known as the Union and the South was known as the Confederacy. Jefferson Davis was the president of the Confederacy and Abraham Lincoln was the president of the Union.…
- 1011 Words
- 5 Pages
Good Essays -
MarlowKurtzAccountantCannibalsGeneral ManagerBrickmaker|European sailor, narrates the story, goes to Africa to pilot a riverboat for a Belgian ivory trading company, duty to seek out Kurtz, another riverboat captain, and bring him back to the trading companies central.Most successful agent for the trading company, becomes so entwined in his trade that he breaks the rules of his company and employs savage techniques to get ivory, becomes very ill and before his death, he tries to escape civilization and go into the jungle.Lives at the Outer Station, the company’s main accountant, tells Marlow about Kurtz.Work on the boat with Marlow as the boat moves towards the inner…
- 377 Words
- 2 Pages
Satisfactory Essays -
In this quote, when Marlow was traveling, he notices a bunch of people were chained up. He notices they look like slaves. He knew they were labors, by seeing them locked up together. The first thought that came up to his mind, was they are enemies. He had a picture in a mind that these people…
- 365 Words
- 2 Pages
Good Essays -
Even though Marlow’s unrealistic depiction of Kurtz has been shattered by Kurtz’s cruelty, he believes that Kurtz achieved a “moral victory” in the battle with death. In a contest “without clamour, without glory, without the great desire, without the great fear of desire,” Kurtz achieved what Marlow fears he may not be able to do: “He had something to say. He said it.” In his final moments, Kurtz realized the cruelty of his own actions and, in this realization, weakly speaks the words “The horror!” When Marlow came within “ a hair’s breath” of death, he faced the humiliation that he might have nothing to say; therefore, Kurtz’s final “pronouncement” is of so much value to Marlow that it keeps him “loyal to Kurtz to the last.” Marlow believes that life is a riddle which baffles all men and that death is an adversary that every men must wrestle with. Conrad’s use of metaphor to depict Kurtz’s final struggle with life highlights the importance of Kurtz’s “moral victory” to Marlow. The notion of defeat or victory in the “unexciting contest” of life emphasizes that Marlow admires the strength Kurtz shows in his final…
- 375 Words
- 2 Pages
Good Essays -
Use of simple sentences; ‘Do you have any medicine?’ I asked. She shook her head,’ is used to create a sense of stark reality that there’s no solution of survival, only death. Marlow portrayed the Congo as human; use of personification. He described it performing ‘the merry dance of death.’ The use of personification is affected when exaggerating Congo’s behaviour when wiping out its intruders. This use of language creates a symbol for Marlow to relate and connect to throughout his journey.…
- 1576 Words
- 7 Pages
Powerful Essays -
This book is written by an unknown narrator who heard the story from Marlow, which for the most part Marlow himself was eavesdropping on other people’s conversation. The original story is told by someone And that story being told to us. For all we know Marlow, the narrator or both are lying. We can’t trust anyone in this book. As a story gets passed around it changes its meaning and the actual truth. We know that that Marlow has lied before, so why should we trust him now? Marlow himself has told as he has lied, “I'm willing to lie for him. .” and at the end of the book when he told Kurtz’s fiancé that Kurtz’s last word was her name even though his last words were “the horror, the horror!”.…
- 155 Words
- 1 Page
Satisfactory Essays -
The mind of man, as he soon comes to know, is capable of many things, and is to be perused by man himself. Marlow is a very wise man, and loves to explore and learn things both about others and about himself. He learns that the evil desires that lie within every man are able to be overcome and avoided, whereas Kurtz and many others do not and fall victim to them. Society in the Europe and eventually in the Congo was trying to pull Marlow down to its levels of corruption and darkness, but Marlow learns that he was able to avoid it as best as he could, and that he has evil inside of himself as well. When Marlow first hears of Kurtz, he hears only good things; Kurtz is a hard worker, an ivory specialist, and an honorable man. However, when he reaches the inner station and gradually spends time with Kurtz, he sees the clear faults in him. When…
- 765 Words
- 4 Pages
Satisfactory Essays -
Marlow faces many problems throughout his expedition but is able to remain placid in the midst of chaos and overcome the evils he is faced with. Additionally throughout this prevalence Marlow is able to develop opinions about his landscape and self through self-reflection. As the steamer they are aboard is attacked by natives and his own helmsman is slaughtered at his feet, Marlow is able to collect himself and succeeds in scaring them away. As Marlow tranquilly pours the blood that has seeped into his shoes out, he reflects on his aspirations for coming to Africa and all the danger he is faced with. He realizes his responsibility to the men on board the steamer and to himself to see through the voyage he has commenced. Meeting Kurtz is another occurrence which renders Marlow into a ponderous state. Throughout the entire novel Marlow hears many things about Kurtz. Some praise him as a great man, such as the Harlequin and the Accountant do, and others envy and distrust him, such as the Manager of Kurtz’s station and the two men walking that Marlow eavesdrops on. With each word spoken about Kurtz, Marlow becomes increasingly anxious to meet him.…
- 629 Words
- 3 Pages
Good Essays -
parallel to and yet contrast to Marlow, helps to elevate Kurtz to new level of isolation form society (not geographically but morally, etc.)…
- 885 Words
- 4 Pages
Good Essays -
When Marlow finally meets Kurtz, he doesn’t think of him as an idol anymore and sees him as a selfish man that just wants to become rich and powerful. While learning about Kurtz, Marlow also begins to learn about himself. Marlow hears Kurtz’s last words “The horror! The horror!” and respects him because he had something to say and he said it. From this point on, Kurtz had such a lasting effect on Marlow that made him eager to carry out his legacy. He changed Marlow to the point where he would even lie, something that he once used to despise, but would do it again to protect Kurtz’s reputation.…
- 782 Words
- 4 Pages
Good Essays -
This wasn’t even everything that he witnessed. With the cruelty described on this one scene you can only imagine what else he witnessed. He described the scene as a massacre, giving you the image of limp bodies lying around, and blood every where. This isn’t what you would picture a conquered area to look like. This provides us with the idea that Marlow wasn’t pleased with what he was witnessing, as he stated “While I stood horror-struck” (Conrad 22). Marlow’s perception of Imperialism changed after everything he witnessed in Africa. He only supported Imperialism because he believed that it was a way for him to explore the world and have a intense and mysterious adventure to the lands no one has explored before. He didn’t realize what Imperialism truly was until he spent his days in…
- 947 Words
- 4 Pages
Good Essays -
Kurtz asserts, “ivory..is really mine. The company did not pay for it. I collected it myself at a very great personal risk. I am afraid they…claim it as theirs” (95), underscoring his challenging to Imperialism. Kurtz pays handsomely for the ivory: his payment includes threat from the enemy tribes, the malady due to his stress, and so on. Kurtz did not pay such exorbitant prize for accumulation of wealth, but for extrication of Africans from merciless Imperialism. To defend his ivory and his tribe, Kurtz attacks a boat from other stations, fearing that they would end his protection. When he is forced to be taken back to Europe, he joins his tribe’s occult ceremony and ignores the warning that he “will be utterly lost”…
- 525 Words
- 3 Pages
Good Essays -
The American Civil War was not the first war to be photographed, that honour goes to photographer Roger Fenton in 1855 who took pictures of the Crimean war, but it was considered the first major conflict to be extensively photographed. Some historians even argue that people know more about the American Civil War than any other war, up to World War Two because of the vast amount of photographs taken during this time. Not only did fearless photographers venture onto the war torn battlefields, but the very images that they captured were then widely displayed and sold in large amounts nationwide. Photographers such as Mathew Brady discovered eager audiences for his images as America 's interests were rocked by this shockingly realistic medium. For the first time in history, citizens from the comfort of their own homes could view the reality of the carnage of war and its faraway battlefields. Some experts even say that the biggest impact of Civil War photos was that this explosion of images changed the way the public perceived the war by turning people, removed from the fighting, into eye witnesses of the bloodshed, in other words, Civil War photographs removed much of the supposed romance that surrounded warfare. The people were able to witness the horrific conditions that the soldiers had to face, not just from the viciousness of battle, but to the very poorly maintained field hospitals; where disease from poorly treated wounds would kill just as many soldiers as the battlefield itself.…
- 1023 Words
- 5 Pages
Good Essays -
Kurtz is one of the characters of the novel that is able to show who he really is and who he has become through his stay with savages. He is able to show an embodiment of Europe, an assault on European values, and that he has become like a tyrant. Like Marlow, Kurtz wished to travel to Africa in search for adventure and to do philanthropic ideals, of “humanizing, improving, and instructing”(pg.96) the Natives, which was in his initial report to the Company. In the jungle, Kurtz, enjoyed the taste of power and he soon abandoned his philanthropic ideals, and he raised himself on a pedestal. He used to have a concern on how to he was going to bring the “light” of civilization to the Inner Station. But he descended into madness that he will not able to save himself, and as Marlow says that Kurtz has truly gone to the “farthest point of navigation”(pg.…
- 260 Words
- 2 Pages
Satisfactory Essays -
Kurtz is an agent of the Trade Company, in fact, one of the best agents. He works for them in Africa in an ivory country, collecting ivory, and he has the ability to collect a lot more ivory than any other man. He is an ambitious, charismatic person willing to do anything that is needed to achieve greatness. Although Kurtz is the main character of the story, most of the things we learn about him come indirectly to us; there are always some people who tell stories about him.…
- 926 Words
- 4 Pages
Good Essays