Heart Of Darkness By Conrad essays

Heart Of Darkness By Conrad essays In the novella Heart if Darkness by Joseph Conrad Marlow and Kurtz undergo similar journeys through the most evil and dark regions of their psyche; however, Marlow is able to realize the darkness inside him and retain his soul before he reverts to a savage animal-like Kurtz has. Marlows disillusionment begins as he arrives on the shore of Africa. When he first arrives on the coast of Africa he sees a large warship bombarding the overgrown forest that has encroached on the beach. This firing is random and is only pointless destruction. He sees the natives, and the people view them as their enemies. Marlow thinks of them as enemies at first, however when he sees them up close he thinks they are nothing more than "black shadows of disease and starvation." Marlow sees the natives clinging to the shade which seems cooler and peaceful but when he enters the shade he realizes it is actually "a gloomy circle of some inferno." Marlow identifies with Kurtz finding many of the same qualities that Kurtz has in himself. Marlow idolizes Kurtz. Marlow sees a freeness and rebellious quality he wishes he could possess. Marlow sees that Kurtz has embraced his savage side when he goes and travels with the native savages. Marlow shows he has the savage qualities as well when he follows Kurtz into the forest, but not to the extreme Kurtz has. Marlow also shows his savageness when he is first in Africa when he and his men are carrying a dead man. One of his men expects to see Marlow kill someone, this man sees that Marlow has the potential to kill a man. Marlow realizes that Kurtz is a savage by his actions and behavior. First Marlow is horrified by the human heads on the poles outside his house. Marlow is also outraged and upset when Kurtz threatened to kill him if he did not give him the ivory. Kurtz is willing to kill over a small amount of ivory. Kurtzs viciousness is shown when he threatens him; because Kurtz does no...