Marlow finds this knowledge of the universe -- the truth of the world, in a sense -- relieving. Marlow often alludes to his feeling of fading reality: “the reality -- the reality, I tell you -- fades. The inner truth is hidden -- luckily, luckily. But I felt it all the same” (103). As Marlow ventures deep into Africa, reality becomes skewed and inner truth becomes difficult to find. Kurtz, in his last words, finally gives Marlow what he needs -- a raw, truthful statement about the real horror of what takes place in the heart of darkness, and a sense of self-certainty that Marlow is struggling to retain in the midst of the horror. Thus Marlow cannot tear himself away from Kurtz, or from Kurtz’s “expression” -- that is, his final words, which represent a judgment or summation of truth to
Marlow finds this knowledge of the universe -- the truth of the world, in a sense -- relieving. Marlow often alludes to his feeling of fading reality: “the reality -- the reality, I tell you -- fades. The inner truth is hidden -- luckily, luckily. But I felt it all the same” (103). As Marlow ventures deep into Africa, reality becomes skewed and inner truth becomes difficult to find. Kurtz, in his last words, finally gives Marlow what he needs -- a raw, truthful statement about the real horror of what takes place in the heart of darkness, and a sense of self-certainty that Marlow is struggling to retain in the midst of the horror. Thus Marlow cannot tear himself away from Kurtz, or from Kurtz’s “expression” -- that is, his final words, which represent a judgment or summation of truth to