What does Kurtz symbolize?
Kurtz, one of the leading characters, the other being Marlow, the narrator of the soty, represents many symbols in the novel. Firstly, he symbolizes the greed and the commercial mentality of the white people of the western countries. Secondly, he symbolizes the white man’s love of power.
What does Kurtz intended represent in Heart of Darkness?
Kurtz’s Intended, in Joseph Conrad’s Heart of Darkness, is this kind of character. He has Kurtz’s fiancée appear to provide a justification for Marlow to lie, to be the catalyst that leads to Marlow’s revelation that darkness does indeed exist everywhere, and to symbolize all of civilization.
Which of these do you think Kurtz might be a symbol of?
The most prominent example of this is Kurtz. First and foremost, he symbolizes the darker side of humanity, starting with greed and an obsessive love of power. In addition to the ivory, Kurtz is the other symbol of European greed.
What does the boat symbolize in Heart of Darkness?
The steamboat is Marlow’s means of getting to the Inner Station, and in addition to being part of the setting, it symbolizes (or represents) his movement away from civilization. This starts with Marlow finding the steamer wrecked at Central Station and having to do all the repairs himself with minimal supplies.
What did Kurtz do in Heart of Darkness?
Kurtz is a central fictional character in Joseph Conrad’s 1899 novella Heart of Darkness. A trader of ivory in Africa and commander of a trading post, he monopolises his position as a demigod among native Africans.
Did Kurtz cheat on his wife?
Through Marlow’s experience we learn that Kurtz has been stealing ivory from his company, cheating on his fiancée, and has been treating the natives horribly.
What do the stations symbolize in Heart of Darkness?
Kurtz’s home is surrounded by heads on stakes. Kurtz is brought out of the jungle by Marlow, but darkness’s evil is too strong to save Kurtz. Symbolically, each station represents the journey into the darkness of the heart and mind. That darkness can lure one in and destroy the soul.
Why is Kurtz important in Heart of Darkness?
The primary antagonist in Heart of Darkness is Kurtz, whose descent into madness makes him the clearest embodiment of corruption and evil in the novella, and ultimately the character that fully disillusions Marlow in regard to European conquests.
What does the jungle symbolize in Heart of Darkness?
In the novel, the jungle fosters darkness and provides a platform for the contrasting ideas of truth and vagueness, and symbolizes the true savagery that lies within the Europeans. It is suggested that the jungle revealed the true nature of Kurtz’s being and allowed the inherent savagery of man to be revealed.
What’s the meaning of Kurtz in heart of Darkness?
For Marlow, Kurtz is a MacGuffin, which is an object of desire that will fulfill his mission. Marlow’s journey to understanding who and what Kurtz is starts with that sense of mystery. We can see that through a few of his quotes:
What are some quotes from heart of Darkness?
The young Russian, ‘Kurtz’s last disciple’: ‘You don’t talk with that man–you listen to him.’ ‘He could be very terrible. You can’t judge Mr. Kurtz as you would an ordinary man.’. The black servant-boy on the ship: ‘Mistah Kurtz–he dead.’. For these characters, Kurtz is whatever they need him to be at the moment.
What are the symbols in heart of Darkness?
The knitting of dark wool by two women at the Company office in Brussels reinforces the symbol of darkness in the novella. The women are the knitters of funeral shrouds, used in death, the ultimate darkness.
Who is Kurtz and why is he important to Marlow?
! 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. These contradictory elements combine to make Kurtz so fascinating to Marlow — and so threatening to the Company.