How Does Kurtz Represent Evil

The main character of Heart of Darkness is a man by the name of Kurtz. Kurtz is going to Africa for the adventure, and the thought of getting rich with all the natural recesses from Africa. Once getting to Africa he begins harvesting ivory to then sell. Ivory harvesting fulfills Kurtz’s dreams of getting rich, but the more ivory he harvested, the more greedy he became, and the more ivory he wanted. He had become popular because of his successful ivory harvesting, he became the god of his life. He did not believe he was responsible to anyone. Greed is a concept of evil in Heart of Darkness. Kurtz, would even go to lengths of killing a man in order to get his small amount of ivory. Kurtz gave into material gain, and this led his to become evil. Joseph Conrad uses Kurtz to perfectly personify evil, and the barbaric mentality that comes with evil. Another representation of evil is fog. Fog is not clear, it does not reveal everything, and it distorts many things. Joseph Conrad uses fog to trap Marlow and …show more content…
Kurtz is engaged to a woman we know as the intern, his fiancé is living back in Europe, and then Kurtz involves himself in a relationship with another woman in Africa. This is one more was Joseph Conrad shows the evil and corruption in Heart of Darkness.

Through his book, Heart of Darkness, Joseph Conrad shows evil by personification, and representation. I think Joseph Conrad is trying to show us that everyone possess evil inside of them. Even people like Kurtz, who are successful, and powerful. If not contained, this evil instinct can and will consume our lives. We all posses traits such as greed and lust, but the second we let down our guard they will take over, and govern our lives. Joseph Conrad persuades his reader to keep on guard for the the evil in this world, and to always be watching and guarding our hearts and