Marlow and Kurtz as Doubles

             Marlow and Kurtz as Doubles in Heart of Darkness
             In Joseph Conrad's Heart of Darkness, Marlow and Kurtz can be seen as a set of psychological doubles. Kurtz is what Marlow could have become if confronted with the same choices. Although Marlow could have easily succumbed to the darkness, he does not become like Kurtz because of what he sees when he gets to Africa. Marlow sees and hears of the harsh treatment forced upon the natives by the Europeans. Marlow understands that the Europeans are only in Africa for profit and to civilize the natives.
             Marlow begins his journey in the Congo hoping to find great adventure. Marlow, like Kurtz, enters the Congo with good intentions Marlow calls the Congo "the biggest, the most blank, so to speak" place on the map, but he is remarkably drawn to it (1968). When Marlow first arrives in Africa he sees first hand the harsh treatment the Europeans have forced upon the natives. Marlow is walking to the company station and sees a line of chained natives and remarks, "I could see every rib, the joints of their limbs were like knots tied in a rope; each had an iron collar on his neck, and all were connected together [...]"(1968). It finally becomes clear to Marlow what the Europeans are doing in Africa when he remarks:
             "I've seen the devil of violence, and the devil of greed, and the devil of hot desire; but, by all stars! These were strong, lusty, red-eyed devils that swayed and drove men-men I tell you. But as I stood on this hillside, I foresaw that in the blinding sunshine of that land I would become acquainted with a flabby, pretending, weak eyed of a rapacious and pitiless folly. How insidious he could be too, I was only to find out several months later"(1968).
             Here Marlow calls the Europeans devils and mentions that he will soon meet another devil- Kurtz. This quote helps explain how the Europeans are in Africa only for imperialistic rea...

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Marlow and Kurtz as Doubles. (1969, December 31). In MegaEssays.com. Retrieved 22:29, March 28, 2024, from https://www.megaessays.com/viewpaper/33643.html