Who Is Kurtz First Impression Of Savage Customs

Each and every person has an idea in their head of what is right and what is wrong. The views we have about right and wrong impact our daily actions and shape our moral code. From one person to the next definitions of right and wrong can be profoundly different. This leads to a lot of gray area when the topic of morals and ethics is discussed. In Joseph Conrad’s novella, Heart of Darkness, we are introduced to two characters with very different sets of moral standards. Kurtz, a strong, white supremacist, confidently commits brutal acts against the people of the Congo. Meanwhile, Marlow a quiet and indecisive explorer stands by allowing these events to occur despite the fact that these attacks violate his sense of morals. Both characters in
While working in the Congo Kurtz kept a report of all his encounters and observations. The report, “Suppression of Savage Customs” was intended to return to Europe as a plan for how to civilize the people of the Congo. However, Kurtz ends the report with a striking postscriptum saying “’Exterminate all the brutes!’”(50). While this remark is harsh and cruel, it is How Kurtz truly feels, and offers valuable insight into what actually goes on in the Congo. Prior to Kurtz’s death, Marlow is given possession of this report. Knowing that the people in Europe are unaware of the brutality going on in the Congo, Marlow feels obligated to hide this note from the people back home in Europe. As a result, when Marlow hands this report over to an authority he makes sure that the postscriptum is not included. By doing this, Marlow “protect[s] the delusive social structures supporting [colonization]” (Strine). Had this note made its way back to Europe, it could have potentially shed light on the true motives of European imperialists. Marlow’s actions helped cover up what was going on in the Congo, essentially condoning and even worsening the abuse in
Unlike Kurtz who speaks his mind, Marlow holds his thoughts inside, and refuses to take action. As a result, Marlow feels as though he is not living his life to its fullest potential. When Kurtz dies his last words to the world are “’The horror! The horror’” (69). As simple as these words are, they say so much about everything Kurtz has encountered in the Congo. While Kurtz may not have had a positive impact on the people of the Congo, he at least made did something during his life that he found meaningful. Watching Kurtz die, Marlow comes to the realization that he has lived an empty life up to this point in time. Marlow takes a moment to reflect upon his life and “with humiliation [realizes] probably [he] would have nothing to say [when he dies]” (70). This thought triggers Marlow’s feelings of emptiness inside. Simply put, Marlow stands for nothing which leads to him feeling hollow While Marlow appears to be slightly shaken up by Kurtz’s death and his new feelings of emptiness, Marlow still makes no changes to his life. When Marlow was given Kurtz’s report, “Suppression of Savage Customs”, he had the perfect opportunity to change his ways and take a stand. If Marlow had simply left Kurtz’s note on the report he could have given the rest of Europe a glimpse into the realities of imperialism in Africa. Instead of taking this