What happens to Kurtz in the horror the horror?
Kurtz cries out—“The horror! The horror!”—and Marlow flees, not wanting to watch the man die. He joins the manager in the dining hall, which is suddenly overrun by flies. A moment later, a servant comes in to tell them, “Mistah Kurtz—he dead.” The pilgrims bury Kurtz the next day. Marlow succumbs to illness and nearly dies himself.
Why is Kurtz so popular in heart of Darkness?
Part of the reason Heart of Darkness is so widely studied is that it sets up a lot of binary pairs: The list goes on. Since Kurtz is so mysterious for most of the book, he's easy for other characters to form a pair with.
Is Kurtz a good guy?
For the Intended, Kurtz is a champion who can do no wrong. Only Kurtz knows the real Kurtz, his desires and plans, and only Kurtz can appreciate the darkness of what he does. ''The horror'' indeed. To unlock this lesson you must be a Study.com Member.
What happened to Kurtz in the Brown current?
The brown current ran swiftly out of the heart of darkness, bearing us down towards the sea with twice the speed of our upward progress; and Kurtz’s life was running swiftly, too. . . . The steamer breaks down, and repairs take some time. Marlow is slowly becoming ill, and the work is hard on him.
What does Kurtz say in his final illness what if anything does Marlow learn from Kurtz How does he interpret Kurtz's phrase the horror the horror?
And now for those famous final words: "The horror! The horror!" (3.43). Marlow interprets this for us, saying that these words are the moment Kurtz realizes exactly how depraved human nature is—that his inability to exert even a shred of self-control is the same darkness in every human heart.
What does Kurtz acknowledge or realize in his dying breath?
Darkness prevails when he dies, symbolizing that his actions were evil. Thus, it is Kurtz's realization of the bitter and absolute truth of his life.
What were the last words of Mr Kurtz?
Kurtz dies on the boat with the last words, "The horror! The horror!" Kurtz ultimately was changed by the jungle. At first he wanted to bring civilization to the natives, as his painting shows, but by the end he wants to "exterminate all the brutes!"
What does Kurtz give Marlow on his deathbed?
Marlow is slowly becoming ill, and the work is hard on him. Kurtz seems troubled, probably because the delay has made him realize that he probably will not make it back to Europe alive. Worried that the manager will gain control of his “legacy,” Kurtz gives Marlow a bundle of papers for safekeeping.
What does Kurtz last words mean?
What do Kurtz's last words mean? Kurtz's last words—“The horror! The horror!”—can be interpreted in various ways. Firstly, and most simply, they could be a response to a fever dream as Kurtz's body and mind disintegrate.
What does Kurtz's death represent?
In Heart of Darkness, Kurtz's death symbolizes the death of the illusion the Belgian trading company paints of their actions in the Congo.
What does the ending of Heart of Darkness mean?
After Marlow trails off, the crew of the Nellie sits silently, and the narrator looks toward London, which appears to be at “the heart of an immense darkness.” These two endings make parallel references to “darkness.” The first reference pertains to Kurtz's shameful demise, and the second pertains to the ominous cloud ...
Why did Kurtz go insane?
When he rose to power as the "God-King" of the Montagnards, Kurtz was treated truly like a godlike king, using his extensive military training to form an army of followers and soldiers around him, eventually becoming a philosopher of war, reading poetry and quotes from the Holy Bible, leading him to be seen as truly ...
Why does Marlow lie about Kurtz last words?
Her devotion is so absolute that Marlow cannot bear to tell her Kurtz's real last words ("The horror! The horror!") and must instead tell her a lie that strengthens her already false impression of Kurtz.
What happens during Marlow's near death illness?
What happens during Marlow's near-death illness? He hallucinates speaking with Kurtz again. How well does Marlow claim to know Kurtz during his meeting with Kurtz's fiancée?
What did Marlow do when Kurtz's death was announced?
Shortly after midnight, Marlow awoke to the sounds of a drumbeat and natives reciting incantations. After hearing a "burst of yells," Marlow entered Kurtz's room and found he had escaped.
How does Marlow feel about Kurtz at the end of the story?
And then, at the end, Marlow seems to come back around to admiration. After Kurtz dies while gasping out the words "The horror! The horror!" (3.33), Marlow decides that these are words of self-realization, that maybe Kurtz has finally faced up to his horrible deeds and the depravity of human nature.
What is Kurtz in MacGuffin?
For Marlow, Kurtz is a MacGuffin, which is an object of desire that will fulfill his mission. Marlow's journey to understanding who and what Kurtz is starts with that sense of mystery.
What does Marlow feel about Kurtz?
The anticipation Marlow feels to meet Kurtz is more like anticipation for solving a mystery or finding out what happens in the season finale of a TV show.
Why is Heart of Darkness so widely studied?
Part of the reason Heart of Darkness is so widely studied is that it sets up a lot of binary pairs: black and white. dark and light. Europe and Africa. The list goes on. Since Kurtz is so mysterious for most of the book, he's easy for other characters to form a pair with.
Why does Marlow lie to the intended about Kurtz's last words?
Marlow lies to the Intended about Kurtz's last words to protect her innocence, even her innocent, incomplete picture of Kurtz. She thinks she knew him best, but really, she didn't know him at all. Kurtz's words are really important to a lot of people.
Is Kurtz tall in Heart of Darkness?
All right let's take a moment to review what we've learned about Kurtz. Kurtz as a physical presence is only barely described in Joseph Conrad's Heart of Darkness; really, all we learn is that he's tall. But Kurtz embodies something that makes Heart of Darkness so compelling, or binary pairs: black and white.
Why is Kurtz so troubled?
Kurtz seems troubled, probably because the delay has made him realize that he probably will not make it back to Europe alive. Worried that the manager will gain control of his “legacy,” Kurtz gives Marlow a bundle of papers for safekeeping.
What was Kurtz's last word?
Kurtz’s last words could refer to the terrible nothingness at the heart of his soul and his ideas, the ultimate failure of his “destiny.”. In a way this is true: Kurtz’s agony seems to be a response to a generalized lack of substance.
What does Kurtz say to Marlow?
Finally, one night, Kurtz admits to Marlow that he is “waiting for death.”. As Marlow approaches, Kurtz seems to be receiving some profound knowledge or vision, and the look on his face forces Marlow to stop and stare. Kurtz cries out—“The horror! The horror!”—and Marlow flees, not wanting to watch the man die.
What does the impenetrability of Kurtz's death and his reduction to something “buried in a
The impenetrability of the brief moment of Kurtz’s death and his reduction to something “buried in a muddy hole” indicate the final impossibility of describing either Kurtz or his ideas. Kurtz’s death is very nearly followed by Marlow’s demise.
What was Kurtz's final ambition?
Kurtz’s final ambitions—to be famous and feted by kings, to have his words read by millions—suggest a desire to change the world . This is a change from his previous formulations, which posited a choice between acquiescence to existing norms or total isolation from society.
Who is left alone with Kurtz?
The pilgrims are disdainful, and Marlow, for the most part, is left alone with Kurtz. As he had done with the Russian trader, Kurtz takes advantage of his captive audience to hold forth on a variety of subjects. Marlow is alternately impressed and disappointed.
What is the interlude between Kurtz and Marlow?
Analysis. Both Kurtz and Marlow experience a brief interlude during which they float between life and death, although their final fates differ. For Kurtz, the imminence of death ironically causes him to seek to return to the world from which he had “kicked himself loose.”.
What caused Kurtz's downfall?
In conclusion, it is apparent what caused Kurtz’s tragic downfall. His love for money, power, and success drives him to a point of madness and, ironically, failure in life as a whole. He affects those around him, such as Marlow and the “savages”, by exemplifying his darker side. This submission to the darkness of his soul, ...
Why does Kurtz accept darkness?
Kurtz is a character who takes his success in his job and his power over the “savages” very seriously and accepts darkness into his life because of the hunger for money. Making money is like a religion to him. He uses this power in the business as an intimidation tool.
What does Sophocles say about money?
Sophocles once said, “ Money: There’s nothing in the world so demoralizing as money.” Since the beginning of time, humans have associated money with tearing away people’s goodness or, for a more known example, the saying that money is the root of all evil. In Joseph Conrad’s Heart of Darkness, Kurtz exemplifies this exact situation of becoming somewhat addicted to gaining riches and lets his darker side take control. This tragic obsession eventually leads to his character’s downfall.
What does Marlow know about Kurtz's death?
Marlow sees this and knows that he cannot submit to his darkness within for fear of having the same fate.
What does Marlow see in Kurtz?
Marlow clearly recognizes the fact that the love of money has taken over Kurtz and his demons all come from within. Realizing this, he sees the need to do a little soul searching. He looks within himself to assure that he has not become a victim to the darkness as well.
Why are the people underneath Kurtz complaisant?
The people underneath Kurtz are complaisant because he had been put up so high on a pedestal and was so incredibly intimidating. Through his job, Kurtz is put into a position of power and was able to choose the path he wanted to take. Obviously, he chooses to respond to that inner darkness deep inside of him.
What is the heart of darkness about?
In Joseph Conrad’s Heart of Darkness, Kurtz exemplifies this exact situation of becoming somewhat addicted to gaining riches and lets his darker side take control. This tragic obsession eventually leads to his character’s downfall. Kurtz is a character who takes his success in his job and his power over the “savages” very seriously ...
