What does the Russian Tell Marlow
Charles Marlow
Marlow is a fictional English seaman and recurring character in the work of novelist Joseph Conrad.
How does Marlow describe Kurtz?
Marlow describes Kurtz as looking like "an animated image of death carved out of ivory.". The natives swarm forward. The Russian whispers to Marlow that if Kurtz says the word, they'll all be killed. Kurtz speaks (Marlow can't hear him from so far away), and the natives melt back into the jungle.
What does the Russian have in common with Marlow?
The Russian is naive to the point of idiocy, yet he has much in common with Marlow. Both have come to Africa in search of something experiential, and both end up aligning themselves with Kurtz against other Europeans.
Who does Marlow describe as “she seemed ready to listen”?
Who does Marlow describe as "She seemed ready to listen without mental reservation... without a thought for herself"? The girl in Kurtz's painting What is the reason the Harlequin give Marlow as an excuse for the natives' behavior? They are simple people. They do not want Marlow to take Kurtz away. Kurtz ordered the natives to attack the steamboat.
Why did Kurtz order the attack on the steamer?
As the manager walks off, the Russian approaches again, to confide in Marlow that Kurtz ordered the attack on the steamer, hoping that the manager would assume he was dead and turn back. After the Russian asks Marlow to protect Kurtz’s reputation, Marlow tells the Russian that the manager has spoken of having the Russian hanged.
Why does the Russian trader tell Marlow Why does he trust Marlow?
Why does he trust Marlow? The Russian tells Marlow that Kurtz ordered the attack on the steamship in order to fake his death. The Russian trusts Marlow because he has aligned himself with Kurtz, just like him.
How does the Russian view Kurtz?
He is naïve and innocent and believes Kurtz is a great man beyond any conventional morality. He even nursed Kurtz back to health on a number of occasions though Kurtz once threatened to shoot him. Of all the white men in the Congo, only the Russian refrains from trying to assert control over the jungle.
What does the Russian trader leave for Marlow?
What does the Russian trader leave for the steamer? He leaves firewood.
What is the significance of the Russian in Heart of Darkness?
The Russian in Heart of Darkness represents both the search for knowledge and the surrender to the madness of the Congo. In the search for knowledge, the Russian chose to become a sailor and travel the world.
Why does Marlow envy the Russian?
Marlow envies the Russian man because of how far he has come. The fact that this young man has made it so far and is still thriving surprises Marlow.
What is the Russians name in Heart of Darkness?
Answer and Explanation: In Heart of Darkness, the Harlequin is the Russian sailor that has been Kurtz's only European companion for several months before the steamboat arrives. He greets the boat along the shore and informs Marlow that he was the one who stacked the wood at the shack for the boat to use.
What were Kurtz's last words?
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 useful information does the Russian sailor provide about Kurtz and the situation at the inner station?
What useful information does the Russian Sailor provide about Kurtz and the situation at the Inner Station? The Russian sailor was a man working for the ivory trade but he had been a son of an archpriest. He had went all around the world.
What happens to Marlow after Kurtz's death?
Stricken by Kurtz's death, Marlow almost considered suicide, and the remainder of his journey back to Europe is omitted from his narrative. Back in Brussels, Marlow's aunt tried to nurse him back to health.
What does the harlequin symbolize?
Ever since the time of the Commedia dell'Arte, Harlequin has represented a combination of humor and sadness, romance and entertainment.
What does Kurtz write at the end of his report on the natives?
At the end of his “Report” on the natives, Kurtz writes: “Exterminate all the brutes!”
What does the harlequin say about Kurtz?
Heart of Darkness The Harlequin says of Kurtz, "This man has enlarged my mind"; like Marlow, he finds Kurtz's voice fascinating, shocking, and compelling.
What does Kurtz symbolize in Apocalypse Now?
Willard's journey into Cambodia to kill Colonel Kurtz is a big, visual metaphor for his own internal journey into the darkest corners of his soul. Apocalypse Now is all about the dark side of humanity that only comes out under the extreme circumstances of war.
What is the horror Kurtz refers to?
Mr. Kurtz's last words in the “Heart of Darkness” were “The horror. The horror” has various meanings. First, the words show his reaction to what he witnessed in Africa. The terms horror depicted the exploitation that was seen in Africa and the evil practices of humans.
Why did Kurtz go crazy?
Why does Kurtz go crazy? Marlow suggests that the loneliness and unfamiliarity of the African environment induces Kurtz's madness, and that his mind weakens the deeper he travels into the “heart of darkness.” As Marlow describes it: “Being alone in the wilderness...
What do you know about Kurtz?
Kurtz is a central fictional character in Joseph Conrad's 1899 novella Heart of Darkness. A trader of ivory in Africa and commander of a trading post, he monopolises his position as a demigod among native Africans. Kurtz meets with the novella's protagonist, Charles Marlow, who returns him to the coast via steamboat.
What does Marlow realize about Kurtz?
Marlow realizes that the things that Kurtz has done is brought about only because of Kurtz’s exposure to Africa. Marlow’s understanding of Kurtz lead him to see Kurt as an alter ego. And finally, the two main protagonists’ relationship does end even after Kurtz’s death.
What is the relationship between Marlow and Kurtz?
Relationship of Marlow and Kurtz in Joseph Conrad’s Heart of Darkness. Joseph Conrad’s Heart of Darkness is a story about the adventures of Marlow , the story’s protagonist, on the Congo River where he meets Kurtz, an agent that works for the Company, providing them with ivory supplies. Although Marlow and Kurtz are not by any means “best friends” ...
Why does Marlow blame Africa for Kurtz's downfall?
Marlow blames Africa for causing the downfall of Kurtz and not directly blame Kurt for his actions. He claims that the Dark Continent has driven Kurtz into madness because he is unable to adapt fully to a world outside of modern civilization. Marlow’s Viewing of Kurtz as an Alter Ego.
Why does Marlow see Kurtz as a hero?
Marlow sees Kurtz like a hero because of all his adventures and success in ivory collecting. Much of what Marlow’s picture of Kurtz is based on his conversations with the Russian trader. Apparently, the Russian trader has spent some time with Kurtz and has become his relative companion.
What happened to Kurtz at the end of the story?
Near the end of the story, Kurtz seemingly had absolute power in Africa. Marlow and Kurtz both realized of the former’s power. Marlow enlightened by this knowledge, claims that Kurtz’s own realization of this power lead to his madness. Marlow becomes also aware that Kurtz himself knows this power and thus associating the realization to himself. Marlow sees Kurtz’s wickedness in relation to his own potential for evil, providing yet another link between the two protagonists. And thus, when Marlow was contemplating on killing Kurtz he held back because he knows it would be like killing himself since he sees Kurtz as somewhat of an alter ego of himself. “I did not want to have the throttling of him, you understand” (Conrad, 1898 p. 111).
Why is Marlow biased?
It would not be surprising to hear Marlow be biased on passing judgment on Marlow’s actions. He is only second to the Russian trader for being an ultimate fan of Kurtz. Marlow states reasons for why his “idol” was not as successful as he thought he would be. Almost like the semi-crazed Russian trader, Marlow defends Kurtz even if he provides a sense of threat to him. Perhaps this is because of their agreement that they would keep the name of Kurtz clean, at least to those in Europe.
Why was Marlow curious about Kurtz?
Frankly, Marlow’s curiosity to Kurtz is because the rivets that he needed to build the ship would not come, and thus giving him more free time to think. “I had plenty of time for meditation, and now and then I would give some thought to Kurtz” (Conrad, 1898, p.68-69).
What does Marlow say about Kurtz?
Kurtz's soul, Marlow says, "knew no restraint, no faith, and no fear.". Yet in the end Kurtz allows Marlow to support him back to the ship. This is the climax of Heart of Darkness.
Why is Marlow so disgusted by Kurtz?
Yet Marlow is more disgusted by the General Manager's fake show of sadness at Kurtz's demise than with Kurtz's atrocities, and says that Kurtz is still a remarkable man.
What is the climax of Heart of Darkness?
This is the climax of Heart of Darkness. With the words "You will be lost," Marlow forces Kurtz to battle in his own soul, to choose between his savage monstrousness and his civilized dreams of advancement and accomplishment. Kurtz ultimately chooses civilization.
What does Kurtz look like in the movie?
The pilgrims come out of the house bearing Kurtz on a stretcher. Marlow describes Kurtz as looking like "an animated image of death carved out of ivory." The natives swarm forward. The Russian whispers to Marlow that if Kurtz says the word, they'll all be killed. Kurtz speaks (Marlow can't hear him from so far away), and the natives melt back into the jungle.
What did Marlow tell the men on the Nellie about Kurtz?
Marlow tells the men on the Nellie that for all Kurtz's magnificent talent, eloquence, and learning, he was hollow at the core, and the jungle filled that hollowness. When he described the Roman conquerors in England at the beginning of Heart of Darkness, Marlow imagined them as appalled and attracted by its savagery.
What does the Russian say about Kurtz?
The Russian says that Kurtz can't be judged as other men are. He adds that Kurtz "suffered too much. He hated all this and somehow couldn't get away.". Marlow, meanwhile, lifts binoculars to his eyes and looks at the building where he thinks Kurtz is lying ill.
What does Kurtz say about everything?
Kurtz talked of "everything.". Of course, talking of everything is a lot like talking of "nothing.". Note that the color white, the color of blindness in Heart of Darkness, is the result of every color brought together into one. Kurtz, the Russian says, is a god to the local tribesman, who adore him.
Who likes to look into his things when Kurtz isn't looking?
the "noxious fool" (manager) likes to look into his things when Kurtz isn't looking
What did Kurtz tell the natives to do?
The natives don't want Kurtz to leave and Kurtz told the natives to attack the ship
Did Kurtz lack restraint?
Kurtz lacked restraint in the gratification of his lusts
Tuesday, April 3, 2012
We started working on these last week. They are due Thursday at the beginning of class. I hope this is helping get a more general grasp of what is happening in the book as you work through it.
Heart of Darkness Part 3 Questions
We started working on these last week. They are due Thursday at the beginning of class. I hope this is helping get a more general grasp of what is happening in the book as you work through it.
Why does Marlow admire Kurtz?from sparknotes.com
Marlow expresses his admiration for the Russian, if only because of the man’s sheer ability to survive in unfamiliar and dangerous territory. However, Marlow also criticizes the Russian for his unreflective devotion to Kurtz, one that he has accepted with “a sort of eager fatalism.”.
What does Kurtz look like?from litcharts.com
A wanderer and trader who wears a multi-colored patched jacket that makes him look like a harlequin (a jester). Through some miraculous stroke of luck, he has ended up alone in the jungle along the Congo and survived. He is naïve and innocent and believes Kurtz is a great man beyond any conventional morality. He even nursed Kurtz back to health on a number of occasions though Kurtz once threatened to shoot him. Of all the white men in the Congo, only the Russian refrains from trying to assert control over the jungle.
What did the Russian trader do in Africa?from sparknotes.com
After serving on a number of Russian and English ships, the Russian Trader entered the African interior as a representative of a Dutch company . For two years he wandered the river alone, until he met Kurtz and became one of the man’s devoted followers. Before he came to Africa, the Russian Trader was already predisposed to the kind of grandiose philosophical musings he encountered in conversations with Kurtz. As he explains to Marlow, “when one is young one must see things, gather experience, ideas, enlarge the mind.” And this practice is precisely what Kurtz offered him: “I tell you, this man has enlarged my mind.” Marlow expresses his admiration for the Russian, if only because of the man’s sheer ability to survive in unfamiliar and dangerous territory. However, Marlow also criticizes the Russian for his unreflective devotion to Kurtz, one that he has accepted with “a sort of eager fatalism.” The Russian’s naïveté is most tangibly reflected in his youthful appearance and the brightly colored, patchy clothing that reminds Marlow of a harlequin, or jester-like character.
What does Marlow believe about Kurtz?
Marlow goes through a variety of feelings toward Kurtz but in the end, he believes the man's final words show that Kurtz had a greater understanding of himself and the world. This is something that Marlow acknowledges and admires.
Who is Marlow interested in?
Marlow has been interested in Kurtz since he first heard about the man. He wasn't sure why Kurtz had so many people discussing him; he didn't know what the man's motives were or why he made the choices he did. It was difficult to separate the truth from the fabrications. Once Marlow met Kurtz, however, he was able to see more of the man himself.
What did Kurtz say in his last words?
In addition to possessing this broad range of talents, Kurtz seems like a "universal genius" because of his reported last words, which were, "The horror! The horror!" Marlow says of Kurtz's statement, "After all, this was the expression of some sort of belief; it had candor, it had conviction, it had a vibrating note of revolt in its whisper, it had the appalling face of a glimpsed truth." In other words, Marlow admires Kurtz because Kurtz, in his last moment of life, dared to make a bold admission and assertion that what he had witnessed of the European involvement in Africa was wrong. Marlow refers to Kurtz's statement as a "moral victory" that has been earned through defeat. That is why, Marlow says, he remains loyal to Kurtz and his memory. In the end, Kurtz admitted that what he had seen and done were travesties of enlightenment.
Why is Kurtz considered a genius?
Marlow calls Kurtz a universal genius because of his take on humanity and his talents in a wide variety of subjects.
Is Kurtz a genius?
Marlow mentions that Kurtz is a "universal genius" in the conversation that he has with Kurtz's cousin after Kurtz has died. Marlow is in the "sepulchral city," where the company's management is based, and Marlow says of Kurtz, "He was a universal genius—on that point I agreed with the old chap." Kurtz's cousin describes Kurtz as a musical genius, and Marlow realizes that he does not even know what Kurtz's profession was, though Kurtz had interests in writing, painting, and journalism.
Was Kurtz a painter?
Kurtz is never completely defined by Marlow. Marlow isn't sure what his primary interest and talent was because he was good at writing and at painting. Marlow says, "To this day I am unable to say what was Kurtz’s profession, whether he ever had any—which was the greatest of his talents." He hears of Kurtz as an excellent musician, a painter, and a potential politician. Kurtz's talents encompass a variety of spheres.