Kurtz Heart Of Darkness Essay

The character of Kurtz in Joseph Conrad's 'Heart of Darkness' is portrayed through his faults and personal flaws, which represent the negative attributes of the force invading Africa. His gradual deterioration of sanity proves his submission to the wilderness, similarly to the way his own mind consumes him as the novel progresses. His greed for ivory mirrors the lust for money as shown by the white invaders, and this contributes to the power-hungry side of Kurtz that corrupts him; resulting in a more relatable character that adds to the appeal of the text as a whole.
The concept of deterioration of sanity arises throughout the novel as Conrad explores the character of Kurtz. A once noble conqueror, power hungry for control and feeding off
Including the representation of white people invading Africa for money and as well as the violence and aggression that follows. The effect of revealing the gradual downfall of Kurtz as a result of his faulty ways from Marlow’s perspective creates an alternative to having the antagonist be portrayed as utterly heartless. It creates a more realistic, relatable character that can represent more than what he is like, but the human race as a whole, specifically the white men who invaded
This idea is represented in the character of Kurtz, as he finds himself amongst superstitious, ignorant savages in which he can overrule as a result of his superior knowledge and eloquence. As is often evident in the history of man, once Kurtz finds he can control some of the ‘savages’ he begins to exert all of his power and control over them. Whilst the statement made by Kurtz, “Exterminate all the brutes” additionally contributes to the flawed character. In attempt to govern the uncivilised land, Kurtz turns to violence and fear. The question of whether the natives worship Kurtz through respect, or through fear creates the appeal of his characters' manipulative, charming and often eloquent characteristics in the