Heart Of Darkness Kurtz Essay

While most characters who significantly affect the plot are present throughout most of the novel, others, who appear only briefly, or even not at all, also provide a significant presence. For example, in Death of a Salesman by Arthur Miller, Ben Loman proves a strong driving force for Willy, despite not appearing for most of the play. This holds true in Joseph Conrad’s Heart of Darkness with the character Kurtz. Kurtz majorly affects the development of other characters, most notably Marlow and the harlequin.

Marlow, at first unaware of Kurtz, soon becomes entranced with his purported brilliance, before realizing Kurtz’s true depravity. Marlow first hears of Kurtz from the Manager, “He is a very remarkable person” (85). This statement piques

Marlow even uses the same words in his later description of Kurtz, signifying the great impact the Manager’s words had upon him. After hearing from the manager and the accountant of Kurtz’s grandness, Marlow becomes fascinated with the man, to the point of obsession. Realizing the possibility of Kurtz being dead, Marlow becomes distraught, “I couldn’t have felt more of lonely desolation somehow, had I been robbed of a belief or had missed my destiny in life”(123). Until this point, Marlow has been journeying in search of his idol, but with the idol gone, he has lost his purpose in life. Marlow realizes how much Kurtz means to him, despite never having met the man, and the sorrow overwhelms him. However, upon receiving a letter from Kurtz, Marlow has a revelation which topples this idol of his. While initially the letter overwhelms Marlow with it’s brilliance, he soon sees a different side, “It was very simple, and at the end of that moving appeal to every altruistic sentiment it

Upon first meeting Marlow, he exclaims, “...this man [Kurtz] has enlarged my mind” (133). The harlequin character thus shows that he too, has been taken in by Kurtz’s words. The words have changed his mind, made him believe in the many things which have been shown to him by Kurtz. Upset at Marlow’s remarks, he becomes defensive of Kurtz, “‘It isn’t what you think,’ he cried, almost passionately, ‘It was in general. He made me see things-things.’” (135). Kurtz has not actually shown the harlequin anything though, merely talked to him, and the harlequin has become enthralled by the grandeur of Kurtz’s voice. Here Kurtz’s true nature is revealed, as he makes many a great speech, without actually doing much. However, this does not phase the harlequin character, who remains steadfast. He protests against every slight to Kurtz, “You can’t judge Mr. Kurtz as you would an ordinary man. No, no, no! Now--just to give you an idea--I don’t mind telling you, he wanted to shoot me, too, one day--but I don’t judge him” (135-136). The harlequin views Kurtz as a sort of godly figure, a person above the judgement of regular people. Even the attempt on his life does not phase the harlequin, who has been blinded by his obsession. The harlequin character serves to show just how much power Kurtz wields with his awesome eloquence and