Introduction:
Colonel Kurtz, a man highly-respected by some and feared by others was, as
Marlowe, puts it: “a remarkable man.” What makes him remarkable is up to interpretation. A
few might claim that what he did way up there in the heart of the Congo was necessary for the
advancement of mankind; it benefitted the company and the Europeans. Most might be of the
mind that what he did was brutal and sadistic. There is no doubt that what Kurtz accomplished
was because of a change of heart. With his European upbringing, he probably had no idea of the
things he would do when he first entered the African continent. Clearly, the man changed; he
was affected by this new, foreign, and quite primitive, environment.
Writing Task:
With Freud’s insights into the psyche to help guide you, compose a thesis-driven
essay of four of more pages analyzing what happened to Kurtz that made him into this “monster”
in the depths of the African jungle. Cite relevant passages from the novel to validate your
assertions about Kurtz as well as from Freud to help explain why your assertions about his
behavior are valid.
Tips:
Make sure your entire paper, from the first sentence to the last, is focused on your
argument about Kurtz. Avoid any general statements about abuse, prejudice, primitive cultures,
etc.; stick entirely to the issue you are addressing about Kurtz in
Heart of Darkness.
You can
certainly reference Marlowe in terms of his interpretation of Kurtz from his interactions with
him. Marlowe’s ambivalence over what to make of Kurtz may be helpful in understanding the
“metamorphosis” the man went through in just trying to do a job he was hired to do. In doing so,
you might consider:
What Marlowe witnessed en route to Kurtz is also something Kurtz himself saw when he
first arrived. Kurtz, too, saw how the natives were being “used” to excavate the natural
resources that he was also employed to find and extract.
The trip up the river is several hundred miles into a very foreign environment. It’s not
civilized and there is no “law” to adhere to; law is established by whomever has the
power to control others (evident in the treatment and/or disregard for the natives by both
the accountant and the station manager).
Kurtz is “celebrated” as a man of achievement because of his incredible collections of
ivory that he sends down the river. Marlowe learns much of the man before even
meeting him, both by those who revere him and those who fear him. (In a conversation
with his uncle, the station manager lets Marlowe know – only because Marlowe
overhears the conversation – that Kurtz is both productive and fearless, skills which
clearly intimidate the “chattering idiot.”) Marlowe is so intrigued by what he’s learned of
Kurtz, that he is genuinely angry when he later fears he will not meet the man who had
become “A voice” to him.
In spite of Kurtz’s rather brutal actions against the natives to do the job the company
hired him for, they, as Marlowe himself witnessed, adored the man. His power over them
is amazing to see, especially when he has been reduced to a feeble, dying shell of his
former self. Somewhere in that dark soul was still a man of thought and insight – “The horror! The
horror!”
These are two of the most hotly debated words from a novel in literary history;
what did Kurtz mean? Is he mulling over what he did and has remorse? Or is he
appalled by the abrupt end to his achievements and potential future accomplishments by
his illness and that buffoon, the station manager?
These are some of the specifics you might consider in analyzing what influenced Kurtz and how
such influences may have altered his European “sensibilities.” What is helpful to your argument
is entirely based on what the focal point – thesis – of your argument is.
Guidelines:
1.
Remember to make your thesis and points (each paragraph) clear. Again, consider
starting with an outline (after you’ve brainstormed).
2.
You only need two sources here: the novel and Freud. Cite relevant and effective
passages from each to support your assertions. Be sure to cite properly – page numbers.
3.
Use MLA style and remember to include a “Works Cited” at the end of your essay for
your two sources.
