I can shoot the devil right between the eyes.
or have I already seen the devil? Kurtz may be the devil himself, so could the Russian in his happy enlightened attitude in such a desolate land. But back to my real point.
Marlow has finally reached the Heart of Darkness, or has he? This final chapter begins with the Russian that is in the ragtag clothing, which to me seemed very significant in the end of the second chapter, telling stories of how Mr. Kurtz liked to go exploring alone. This man is still a very strong symbol in my opinion of what imperialism and mankind as a whole is capable of. This Russian, though in this lonely and desolate place and constantly being attacked by Mr. Kurtz with the thread of being killed, seems to be almost enjoying himself. He lives his life in an almost whimsical manner to which anything and everything can happen. He reminds me vaguely of the Mad Hatter, where he simply wished to tell stories and have his own “cup of tea” where he only wants adventure, which is a very pure and noble ideal. Bringing another connection as to why he seems so untouched by this entire ordeal, he purely wants adventure and nothing more, he found some ivory but gave it to Mr. Kurtz so that he may keep his life, this Russian man is pure of heart and soul and therefore is not part of the damned that are destined to be punished in this final circle of hell, this so called Heart of Darkness.
Upon finding Mr. Kurtz, Marlow finally sees him, but in a very desolate and degraded state. Mr. Kurtz himself is a symbol that can be interpreted in a few ways, one that he represents the country of Africa itself, where imperialism was meant to do it good, however it ravaged it and left it for dead, or two that he represents the white man and their folly in thinking that it is their burden to “enlighten the Africans of their ignorant ways.”. Kurtz dies with a very somber, and highly disturbing last phrase, the Horror….the Horror, now I capitalize horror in this case because I believe it to be a specific thing in this case. The horror is the wisdom that he wished to obtain in life, or maybe it is life itself. So is the mystery of death.
P.S sorry this was so long, I wished to type more, but the word limit got me.
Zach, your attention to the Russian is striking to me (not because he's simply Russian) but because of the fact you were capable of understanding the outer aspects of his personality in regards to the procession of the final chapter. Your connection towards the Mad Hatter is entertaining as it's another thing that's quite English but entirely relative all the while. The Mad Hatter always seemed to know more than he spoke, commonly speaking in riddles and aloof phrasing - and your comparison towards the pure of heart seems to illuminate light - or perhaps a knowledge not forwardly spoken of.
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