Post 3

In Part 3 of Joseph Conrad’s Heart of Darkness, Marlow finally meets Mr. Kurtz. Conrad develops our understand of Kurtz indirectly through various clues that hint at his identity “In the interior you will no doubt meet Mr. Kurtz… Mr. Kurtz is at present in charge of a trading post, a very important trading post,” demonstrates his position and wealth within society. Later on, we hear that Mr. Kurtz is “the chief of the central station” (62) and “Mr. Kurtz is a universal genius” (65) and through other examples as well, we develop the image of Mr. Kurtz as a sort of god-like figure for the ivory business. His success in the business meant that he could have retired with wealth and prosperity and moved back to England long ago but he chose to stay. Why? Who is Mr. Kurtz and why did he do what he did? The Russian trader sums this up well with his words “I went a little farther” he said, “then still a little farther- till I had gone so far that I don’t know how I’ll ever get back” (99) Perhaps Kurtz experienced the same thing. Perhaps he absorbed the darkness around him and remained enveloped in the lifestyle and ivory trade to the point that he had the money, but it was not enough. The Russian Trader provides descriptions of Kurtz’s actions like “Kurtz wandered alone, far in the depths of the forest” (100) in search of ivory, which point towards his dedication and involvement. Through his descriptions, the Russian maintains an adoring perspective of Kurtz that seems almost as if he’s brainwashed. Later, we hear Kurtz love back in Europe, say “who was not his friend who had heard him speak once” (122). What these suggest is a gilded perspective of Kurtz. On the outside, we the see the hardworking, adoring, linguistic master that creates adoring followers. Enough so that “Mr. Kurtz’s adorers were keeping their uneasy vigil,” (109) while he was sick. So this gilded perspective of Kurtz allows him to cover up his true “Heart of Darkness” The image of Kurtz in his bead when he was dying is described as him having an open mouth wide, giving him a look of an unquenchable appetite, as if we wants to absorb and take in everything. However this need to plan and consume around him has, in turn, consumed his soul and life, because of what it has forced him to do. Kurtz seeks to control his surrounding and manipulate the earth (nature again: response #2) and we see the backlash of such actions that take their toll on Kurtz. Perhaps Conrad is providing caution against trying to control that, which is outside of your domain. At least for Kurtz, expressing himself in this new environment in this fashion meant the loss of his old self.