This book started out crappy, got better, then ended crappy. This section was by far the biggest let down of my English “career.” I got psyched for the end of this book after section 2. Section 2 created such suspense. Marlow is standing there talking to the Russian, only yards away from Kurtz. However, section 3 did not capitalize on this suspense. It just kept going from chapter 2 with some boring dialogue with the Russian. You don't even see Kurtz until like 4 pages in. And it is such a let down. He is being carried on a stretcher, near death. Sure, it hints at Kurtz's terrible condition in section 2, but this man is supposed to be a “god”! He isn't supposed to be some weakling who got the flu. It completely reverses any sort of characterization about Kurtz that was previously developed. However, after several pages, along with this beginning image, Conrad reveals Kurtz's true characterization. He is this man who is completely dominated by greed. He was even willing to shoot his right hand man for a little bit of ivory. On top of that, Kurtz uses the African people to kill their own in order to get this ivory. Sure the man is a god to them, but that still seems pretty messed up to me.
Although I barely got through this section, I did stumble across something I found very interesting. When Marlow sees Kurtz alive for the last time, Kurtz screams “The horror! The horror!” followed by Marlow simply remaining in the room when everyone else goes to check on the status of Kurtz. I think this is probably the most significant part of the entire book. At this moment, when he is on his deathbed, Kurtz truly sees the evil in his actions. I think that Kurtz is also trying to tell Marlow “what he has to say.” I think Kurtz is trying to let Marlow know that the “heart of darkness” (Africa) can take you over and change you into someone you do not want to be. I think that the fact that Marlow remains seated after Kurtz dies slightly hints at the idea of Marlow becoming evil similar to Mr. Kurtz. However, this slight possibility, I think, is destroyed when Marlow survives this mysterious illness. This symbolizes that, although Marlow went into the Heart of Darkness, experienced everything, and even supported Kurtz, he will not become the evil man Kurtz was.
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ReplyDeleteI'm glad you share my frustration at what a let down this book was.
ReplyDeleteI was expecting Marlow to go through a horrible transformation as he ventured deeper into the "heart of darkenss" and thicker into the mire of greed and imperialism but he really didn't. His character is so static and unchanging and just plain boring. He always seems to be unfazed by everything like "Oh look, Kurtz, who is supposed to be on his deathbed, is army crawling through the jungle at night. Seems sketchy, I guess I'll follow him." He remains the same man that he was when he entered Africa, not compelled by anything in particular than a vague desire of knowledge.
Blech.