Kurtz's Intended Symbolism

Darkness is also the inability to see the “dark” reality and failure in an individual. Marlow is telling Intended the false last words of Kurtz. He lies to Kurtz’s Intended by telling her that his last words were not “The horror!” but rather crying her name. Marlo has seen some of the worst horrors of the Congo and does not want to carry the darkness of the real world into Kurtz’s Intended’s idealistic world where she is completely clueless about Kurtz’s true nature. Kurtz’s Intended further supports the symbolism of women as symbols of society’s blindness to its own hollowness. Marlow realizes that he can’t bring himself to make Kurtz’s Intended see the “dark” reality.

3) It was like a weary pilgrimage amongst hints for nightmares. Part
1. Marlow tries to tell that his mission is in fact pure and holy by referring his journey as a “pilgrimage”. However, his motivation is not as noble and he deludes himself into this comforting lie. He clearly understands truths behind the “civilizing of the savages” and comments on his aunt’s belief that his journey is a righteous one. He feels that he also hides away from the evil and darkness of their actions. It is paradoxical that Marlow calls his journey a “pilgrimage” but also adds the “hints for nightmares.” He is trying to hide the truth and the same time attempting to warn the darkness hidden underneath the surface. He is also attempting to foresee the horrors or “nightmares” he will experience during his journey in Africa.
4) They grabbed what they could get for the sake of what was to be got. It was just robbery with violence, aggravated murder on a great scale, and men going at it blind- as it is very proper for those who tackle a darkness. Part 1
The word darkness in this quote could mean several things. The darkness could represent the people and the wilderness within the Congo. The word darkness could also represent that they are tackling not only the inhumane world around them, but also to the darkness within the human race itself. The horrors that people create are arising from the rage within. Blindness hinders the ability to see and several characters in this book choose not to see the horror in truth and instead envelope it with a pretention of righteousness. They are basically living in darkness which is ultimately what keeps people from seeing the real cause and result of what they are doing.