Character Analysis Of Kurtz In The Heart Of Darkness

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Caroline Zaino

In The Heart of Darkness, Kurtz has a central role in playing a morally ambiguous character. The reader is allowed to observe two sides of Kurtz, that of an insane tyrant and that of a charismatic god. Marlow sees this and is faced with opposition. Although he is disgusted with Kurtz’ lack of “restraint,” he understands at how even a man this great can lose himself without civilization. In the beginning, there was nothing to hear but good about Kurtz. Kurtz was associated with greatness. He possessed great success and adoration. The manager at first assures Marlow that Kurtz was “the best agent he had ever had, an exceptional man, of the greatest importance to the company.” Kurtz is even very talented. What separates Kurtz from the other pilgrims are his god-like qualities. His voice seems to separate himself from others. People gather to listen to his words, almost as if he is a preacher. Anything that Kurtz says is highly regarded. He even appears to have a “disciple,” Harlequin. The only people that are in disagreement with Kurtz are the ones that are envious of his wealth and power. When Marlow meets Harlequin, he begins to question Kurtz. Upon noticing stakes with human skulls, Marlow makes an observation about Kurtz’ “lack of restraint.” Unlike the cannibals, who never ate a pilgrim despite having opportunities to, Kurtz completely gave into himself while he was in the African wilderness. Whereas most men struggle between their id and superego, Kurtz lacks his superego. He succumbs to his instinct to possess wealth, rather than take into account the lives he is destroying. Kurtz’ ambiguity is largely evident in his pamphlet for the International Society for the Suppression of Savage Customs. At first Kurtz writes of how Europeans should present themselves as supernatural beings to the “savages” however later closes his argument
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