Introduction to Kurtz

Throughout Part II, the character of Kurtz is given more substance. However, it is only through the voices of other people that Kurtz is characterized. The manager and his uncle discuss Kurtz in a negative light in the beginning of Part II, for they feel threatened by his desire to become the new manager. This contributes to his role as an enigmatic entity and the prize at the end of Marlow's quest. Marlow desires to match the voice with this legendary genius of ivory production and trade. The Russian trader further confirms Kurtz's mysterious existence when he tells Marlow, "You don't talk with that man--you listen to him" (132). In a sense, Marlow places Kurtz on a pedestal because of his unfathomable existence at the true "heart" of the "darkness" of the African jungle. Kurtz embarks on the African journey with the initial intent of bringing civilization to the dark area. However, Kurtz comes to contradict himself and eventually breaks off into a world of insanity. Psychological transformation could be considered another theme of Heart of Darkness in that the African jungle is known to change people. Kurtz has become "dark" in that he steals the resources of the natives in order to advance his own disposition and portrays himself as a powerful deity in their presence. Marlow hopes to find European enlightenment in Kurtz's character, but instead, he finds insanity.