Kurtz and Colonization
Heart of Darkness follows Marlow, a seaman, who embarks on a journey to the ‘heart of darkness’ to find Kurtz, a station commander. Along with a crew of cannibals and a few other white men, they travel along the Congo river to Kurtz’s station. When Marlow arrives he finds shocking sites such as the heads of rebels on pikes around Kurtz’s home. These events and other moments show that Kurtz is the embodiment of the ugly side of English colonization and for this reason he worries the English men.
English colonization gives the impression to their people that they bring knowledge and enlightenment to the natives. Marlow’s aunt even believes that the English are “weaning those ignorant millions from their horrid ways” (Conrad
Heart of Darkness follows Marlow, a seaman, who embarks on a journey to the ‘heart of darkness’ to find Kurtz, a station commander. Along with a crew of cannibals and a few other white men, they travel along the Congo river to Kurtz’s station. When Marlow arrives he finds shocking sites such as the heads of rebels on pikes around Kurtz’s home. These events and other moments show that Kurtz is the embodiment of the ugly side of English colonization and for this reason he worries the English men.
English colonization gives the impression to their people that they bring knowledge and enlightenment to the natives. Marlow’s aunt even believes that the English are “weaning those ignorant millions from their horrid ways” (Conrad