What does the ending of Heart of Darkness mean?
What does the ending of Heart of Darkness mean?
Heart of Darkness has two endings: that of Marlow’s story and that of the frame narrative. Such a symbolic reversal reflects the fact that what Marlow finds in the deepest reaches of the Congo is not so much African savagery as European evil, with Kurtz symbolizing the peak of European moral bankruptcy.
Who has the final say in Heart of Darkness?
When she asks about Kurtz’s final words, Marlow lies: your name, he tells her. Marlow’s story ends there. Heart of Darkness itself ends as the narrator, one of Marlow’s audience, sees a mass of brooding clouds gathering on the horizonwhat seems to him to be heart of an immense darkness.
What are Kurtz’s final words?
Kurtz dies on the boat with the last words, “The horror! The horror!” Kurtz ultimately was changed by the jungle.
Why Kurtz say the horror 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.
Why is Kurtz so important in heart of darkness?
Heart of Darkness One of the most enigmatic characters in twentieth-century literature, Kurtz is a petty tyrant, a dying god, an embodiment of Europe, and an assault on European values. Kurtz is a dangerous man because he gives the lie to the Company’s “humanistic” intentions in the Congo.
What is the main idea of Heart of Darkness?
Heart of Darkness was first published as a three-part serial story in Blackwood’s Magazine. Central to Conrad’s work is the idea that there is little difference between “civilised people” and those described as “savages.” Heart of Darkness implicitly comments on imperialism and racism.
Who is the helmsman in Heart of Darkness?
The helmsman who is responsible for steering Marlow’s boat is disliked by Marlow because he would act as if he was very important in front of people but he would be very “passive when left alone”. Marlow considers him a fool and he demonstrates this when the boat is attacked.
Why does Marlow say the natives will not attack?
Marlow is confident that the natives will not attack because the thick fog was one. If they left the bank in their canoes they would get lost in it, as we would be if we attempted to move. The jungle of both banks quite impenetrable. They also has not the fierce character boding of immediate hostile intention.
What does Marlow symbolize in Heart of Darkness?
Another major figure of the novel is Marlow. He has a symbolic role in the novel. He symbolizes the spirit of adventure and a love of knowledge. He stands for the thoughtful observer of human life and a student of human nature.
How does Marlow change in heart of darkness?
In Heart Of Darkness, Marlow changes in the sense that he moves towards self,whilst moving towards the centre of earth, taking on a whole new perspective as he does so.
What is the relationship between Marlow and Kurtz?
Marlow respects Kurtz and his decisions, and also Kurtz respects Marlow, but they weren’t friends, they just had no other. In the end of the story, when Marlow meets Kurtz’s wife, he has realized that Kurtz was a sort of universal genius, because he had read Kurtz texts and was really fascinated.
What does light symbolize in Heart of Darkness?
The symbolic meaning of light and darkness play the central role in the novel Heart of Darkness. If we try to see the meaning of light it means bright, knowledge, capable in every field, life, perfection, etc. and Darkness, on the other hand, refers to dark, illiteracy, death, ignorance, inability etc.