Dualism In Kurtz's Character

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Dualism in Kurtz’s Character

Civilizations are created by the defining of laws and codes that promote higher standards and ethics amongst men. Civilization, as seen in the Europeans in the Congo, acts to prevent humankind from returning to the darker inclinations inherent in its generic character. This idea is deeply supported in the Heart of Darkness by Kurtz.

Joseph Conrad’s, Heart of Darkness centers around madness. In relating Kurtz to the principles of Imperialism, Conrad portrays an apparently delusional man who manages to cloak himself in the deceptive raiment of rationality -- and yet, perhaps Kurtz retains reason.

Kurtz is an ivory poacher that runs a station deep in the African jungle, isolated from civilized life. From Europe he brings with the finest technology and ideals. Kurtz is a well educated man and highly respected. With all of these attributes, greed and power soon overcome him and his heart of darkness is brought out.

Immediately after Conrad introduces the barbaric Kurtz, numerous eccentric, savage, behavioral traits manifest themselves in Kurtz’s person. Having succeeded in awing an African tribe of savages into worshipping him, Kurtz converts his formerly civilized Inner Station into a bastion of the darkest animal
irrationality. A God to the savages, Kurtz sates his terrible lusts for violence and wealth with callow abandon, sticking heads on poles for thrills and raping the Congolese countryside of ivory. The Narrator, Marlow, being a man long steeped in the idealistic views of the European Imperialist, sees more and more evidence suggesting Kurtz’s madness as time progresses.

Kurtz’s had been asked to write a report to the International Society for the Suppression of Savage Customs -- a piece of work that even Marlow acknowledges as an idealistic and brilliant detailing of Imperialist conquest in its most r...