One of the most enigmatic characters in twentiethcentury literature, kurtz is a petty tyrant, a dying god, an embodiment of europe, and an assault on european kurtz my preferences. It is an expedition that has a tremendous impact on marlow. Kurtz meets with the novellas protagonist, charles marlow, who returns him to the coast via steamboat. At the central station of joseph conrads book heart of darkness. The native africans worship kurtz like a god, even attacking to keep kurtz with them. However, these ideals become devoured by the darkness of imperialism. Kurtz, whose reputation precedes him, impresses marlow strongly, and during the return journey, marlow is witness to kurtzs final moments. In a world of mundanely malicious men and flabby devils, attracting enough attention to be worthy of damnation is indeed something. On the other hand, the intendeds love confirms marlows earlier suspicion that women live in an alternate reality, and that it is his duty to protect her from the truth. The heart of darkness explores this transformation through the three chapters of the novella. Kurtz can be criticized in the same terms that heart of darkness is sometimes criticized. On the one hand, marlow finds her steadfast love naive, since kurtz himself viewed the woman as one possession among many other possessions, such as his ivory and congo station.
Kristen over, associate professor at northeastern illinois university, provides an indepth summary and analysis of part 1. Heart of darkness is the tale of charlie marlows journey into the heart of the african congo, where he encounters the extraordinary mr. The first section recounts marlows appointment as a steamboat operator for a. A trader of ivory in africa and commander of a trading post, he monopolises his position as a demigod among native africans.