In the novella, The Heart Of Darkness, by Joseph Conrad, the audience is taken on a journey through Congo, Africa where the main characters are forced to reevaluate their morals and personal judgments. Marlow, one of the main characters, is hired as a seaman to explore the Congo River. However, on his journey he learns about the chief of the Inner Station, Mr. Kurtz, who is highly respected and admired by both the natives and Europeans. Thus, leaving Marlow extremely curious and on a adventurous journey to find him. He first learned about him through a sick employee on a company work site who describes him as being "'a very remarkable man'"(19) and nothing further. This leaves Marlow with numerous questions. An important one being who is Mr. Kurtz?
Marlow becomes interested in Mr. Kurtz because of his mysterious impact on people. To the Europeans he is characterized as being a prodigy, someone sent to them by a higher class in order to help improve the outcome of their hard work. At the central Station Marlow is told by a brick maker that Mr. Kurtz "'is an emissary of pity, and science, and progress, and devil knows what else. We want…for the guidance of the cause entrusted to us by Europe, so to speak, higher intelligence, wide sympathies, a singleness of purpose'"( 25).Mr. Kurtz is the one person who listened and understood the employees. They trust him because he was hired by Europeans with the purpose to make the company prosper by gaining power. Marlow is also interested in meeting Mr. Kurtz because some of the employees compare Marlow to him. The brick maker of the Central station believes and tells Marlow that "'the same people who sent him specially also recommended you'"(25). Since Marlow was also hired by the Europeans the workers believe that he too will help the company grow.
Upon first entering the jungle, Mr. Kurtz was a typical sane educated Englishman. However, gaining power for the company began to take him over and he lost sight of his well being. Mr. Kurtz became hungry for ivory, the main part of tusks on an elephant, which is very valuable. Mr. Kurtz became extremely greedy and did whatever means to get what he desired most. Marlow meets one of Mr. Kurtz friends who says that "'He declared he would shoot me unless I gave him the ivory and then clear out of the county because he could do so, and had a fancy for it, and there was nothing on earth to prevent him killing whom he jolly well pleased'"(Russian man 56).Mr. Kurtz was going to shoot one of his good friends in order to gain ivory for himself. He became corrupted, selfish, and insane. He no longer had the company's best interest in mind rather than he was only looking out for himself.
In the end Marlow meets Mr. Kurtz, who is very ill now. He began to trust Marlow and confided in him. Before passing, Mr. Kurtz says to Marlow "'The horror! The horror!'"(69) which leaves Marlow with the knowledge of knowing that Mr. Kurtz knew what waited for him in life after death. Mr. Kurtz knew that he did some terrible things while being in Congo and somewhat regretted them.
Marlow grew to respect and admire Mr. Kurtz in the end despite of what was said about him. After his passing Marlow reminisces about Mr. Kurtz and says that "he had stepped over the edge, while I had been permitted to draw back my hesitating foot…that is why i have remained loyal to Kurtz to the last, and even beyond…"(70). Even in the short time of Marlow knowing Mr. Kurtz he too knew that he was indeed "'a very remarkable man'" (19).
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