Monday, October 22, 2012
"A Voice! A Voice!"
Kurtz at last materializes and ceases to be more than just a voice to Marlow. How is this "atrocious phantom" a foil to the Russian? The natives? Marlow? What seems real about him? Unreal? Who could love such a man? (Choose a couple of these for your response - you don't have to answer EVERY question).
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The Russian is a foil to Kurtz, contrasting completely. The Russian is described as being full of life: “the sunshine made him look extremely gay” (176). He had “A beardless, boyish face, very fair, no features to speak of, nose peeling, little blue eyes, smiles and frowns chasing each other over that open countenance like sunshine and shadow on a windswept plain” (176-177). He looked younger than he was “I am not so young as I look. I am twenty five” (180). Kurtz on the other hand looks as if he has one foot in the grave, way more elderly and frail than he should be at his age. Kurtz is described as “that apparition” with eyes “shining darkly far in its bony head that nodded with grotesque jerks” (201). Whereas the Russian is bright-eyed, Kurtz has dark eyes. Kurtz has a bony head, the opposite of the “boyish face” of the Russian. His description sounds very unreal, as Marlow uses the words “apparition”, “phantom”, and “animated image of death” (202) to describe Kurtz. In his present condition I couldn’t imagine someone loving this man, but I believe that the energetic Russian who now foils Kurtz, mirrors how Kurtz was when he was a child. If Kurtz once was full of life, I can see it being very easy to love him, given that he has many talents and a magical use of language.
ReplyDeleteI like your foil of the Russian man to Kurtz. I agree that it is hard to see anyone "loving" Kurtz. You had good use of references.
DeleteThe way you described The Russian and Kurtz as foils was very deep and really opened my mind about the diffictulty to love Kurtz!
DeleteI really like all of your references...makes it easier to see the connection! I like that you point out the eyes. People always say the eyes are the doorway to the soul (the real person). I think that Kurtz's eyes being dark definitely symbolizes the darkness that is inside of him. Great connections!
Deleteall of your references to the book really helped support your argument!
DeleteYour references to the book really helped me to see the connection you were trying to make. I never thought of them as being a foil to one another. I think the fact that they are two opposities in the book is key to the plot of the story.
DeleteYour idea of the Russian foiling Kurtz is very unique and original.
DeleteYour references and nice connections really helped make things more clear! I also agree on how "loving Kurtz" is hard to imagine, but is possible.
DeleteI like how you stated descriptions of both characters to show how Kurtz and the Russian were foils of each other!
DeleteYour post is very similar to mine. I agree with how the Russian is a great foil to Kurtz. I like your expression of how Kurtz is an, "animation of death."
DeleteI like your reference of "the image of death;" it captures the meaning of what you want to describe.
DeleteI had similar view, also. It is very distinct that Kurtz and the Russian encompass opposing characteristics. Kurtz conveys more of the dark side in life and the Russian displays the light/good side in life.
DeleteAs we progress into the Heart of Darkness I have realized that Marlow is slowly beginning to become corrupted, tempted, and defiled like Kurtz. However, Marlow has some respect for the "restraint" and "strong" natives while Kurtz feels that whites are superior to the natives and that the natives "should be exterminated." The foil of the Russian and Kurtz is that the Russian is a young twenty five year old who has a happy go lucky personality while Kurtz reminds me of a zombie. It seems unreal that Kurtz is still alive because the diction used to describe Kurtz describe death "phantom," "dark," "image of death," "apparition."
ReplyDeleteI like how you notice the description of the two characters. Do you think that possibly the Russian is described in such a way just to contrast him with Kurtz, as a sort of way to highlight what Kurtz' corruption led him to?
DeleteYes, I agree! It does seem weird that Kurtz is still alive. What do you think could be possibly feeding him? I can't find any other reason for him to stay alive than simply for profit! It's literally killing him. Such a sad life...
DeleteWow I love your comparison to Kurtz and a zombie! I never thought of that before.
DeleteMarlow shows a certain amount of respect to the native Africans; however, he truly believes the whites are much more superior. With the diction that Conrad uses to describe Kurtz in my eyes in more on the dark side rather than the light side such as "dark" "image of death" and "phantom". Kurtz and Marlow are slowly becomming parallels in the novel, as Kurtz is revealed we see more connections between the two. For me, it's difficult to tell whether Kurtz is a foil to Marlow or if Marlow is a foil to Kurtz. Either way, the two men reflect certain aspects of each other. It seems that recently the book depicts Marlow’s slow decay and transformation into a corrupted "Kurtz".
ReplyDeleteYour prediction on Marlow's slow decay to becoming Kurtz is interesting and I wonder if that'll happen..
DeleteI like how you thought of Marlow becoming like Kurtz. It seems only natural because Marlow has been chasing after Kurtz so long that his mind should be altering in the same sense as well. Interesting post.
DeleteIt does seem as if up until this point in the book that Marlow was indeed becoming like Kurtz as you said but I believe that in this moment he starts to veer away from that.
DeleteI definitely agree that Marlow may be transforming into Kurtz. Do you think that the doctor at the beginning of the novel saying that no one ever returns from Africa is foreshadowing to Marlow staying in the Congo and possibly taking Kurtz' place?
DeleteI liked your parallel drawn between Marlow and Kurtz. Very insightful.
DeleteKurtz is seen as a very sick man when Marlow gets to him. The Russian, on the other hand is lively and talkative with Marlow. Since the Russian is Kurtz' assistant, it is interesting that these two men are foils to each other, especially considering that the Russian does not seem to have the materialistic goal as Kurtz does (seen when he willingly gives up his ivory to Kurtz, "And it was true, too. I gave him the ivory. What did I care! (pg 51).) The Russian highlights the very sick and very bad qualities in Kurtz. Marlow and Kurtz are foils to each other as well, though not as dramatic as with Kurtz and the Russian. While at this point they are very similar, there is a key difference that sets them apart. As the unnamed narrator has highlighted numerous times, Marlow is nothing but a voice, and Kurtz is nothing but a voice as well. Their characters are strikingly similar, regardless if Marlow acknowledges that he has changed or not. However, when their voices are paired with physical bodies, Kurtz' extreme sickness compared to Marlow's relatively good health is the difference that sets them apart. In all other aspects they are the same, since Marlow continues to descend into the world of corruption just as Kurtz did.
ReplyDeleteI never considered the talkative characteristic! I also love that you point out that the Russian is not greedy while Kurtz is! I really like all of your connections and I never would have thought of that!
DeleteI never thought about Kurtz and Marlow being a voice and the comparison of their bodies with the voices. I like the quote you used to show Kurtz materialistic goal and the Russians non materialistic goal.
DeleteI really like how you brought up that the Russian, in spite of the fact that he practically worships Kurtz, brings out the worst in him. I especially like how you pointed out that the Russian has little regard for the material substances and ivory unlike Kurtz because this could foreshadow a possible reason for Kurtz' illness. Could his greed be the cause of his declining health?
DeleteI like the whole "both Kurtz and Marlow were just a voice" and how you contrasted how Marlow is incredibly healthy and Kurtz is lying ill with sickness. You described how they relate and are different
DeleteI like how you pointed out that the Russian was not interested in obtaining ivory, unlike Kurtz who revolves his life around it. Seeing that they have different goals does make it harder to compare the two.
DeleteI like that you said the Russian highlights Kurtz's bad traits. Would you say that Marlow wouldn't realize how evil the things Kurtz is doing are if he did not have the contrast of the Russian to highlight them?
DeleteThe Russian is full of life. Marlow even says, “if the absolutely pure, uncalculating, unpractical spirit of adventure had ever ruled a human being, it ruled this bepatched youth.” He is also brightly colored. Kurtz, unlike the Russian, is not full of life. Kurtz wants to hurt those around him and bring them down (like he is doing to the natives). The Russian is also described as a young person. Young people typically share a quality of innocence. The Russian admires Kurtz like a boy would admire his father, and the Russian’s innocence may lead to this admiration. Kurtz, on the other hand, is dying. He is very sick, so naturally he would not be full of life and would resemble something closer to a grandfather than a youth. The natives show a respect that Kurtz does not have. The natives respect the whites when they choose not to eat them, even though the whites treat them horribly. Kurtz does not respect the blacks by making them work even though they did nothing to them. The natives show respect while Kurtz does not. I think the only people that could love such a man are the ones that are naïve and do not know what he is really doing, or the people that have no option, because it is hard to see anybody else loving him. Marlow had a love for Kurtz when he did not know him, the Russian has a love for Kurtz because of his boyish innocence, and the natives love Kurtz because they have no other option.
ReplyDeleteI like how you brought up the point that the Russian has the quality of innocence. I also like how you highlighted how nobody truly loves Kurtz for him, that Marlow only did because of his reputation, the Russian with innocence and the natives because they have no other choice. Good insight!
DeleteI like your noting on people's love for Kurtz and the true dimensions of it. I agree completely and it's something I didn't even think to point out.
DeleteI really liked your connection between the grandfather and the grandson. That is a really good point on why the Russian is in awe of Kurtz. Also, the Russian is all by himself in the heart of darkness. The only person he has is Kurtz, so Kurtz is like his only family in this scary place which may be why he looks up to Kurtz so much.
DeleteI like your comment about the Russian being "child-like" and "innocent" almost as if Kurtz was controlling him because he was so young. I also saw that when I was reading.
DeleteI thought the way you outlined the different character's loves was very creative and a good method of contrasting them.
DeleteI like how you showed that the natives and Kurtz were foils of each other. The natives do show respect while Kurtz does not. It is very surprising that the natives are called savages, when Kurtz is the true savage.
DeleteI like your idea of how the Russian is naive and is a boy at heart when he follows Kurtz.
DeleteAs mentioned, the Russian and Kurtz are complete foils of each other. Kurtz is seen with "his body emerged from it pitiful and appalling as from a winding-sheet." Marlow could see his rib cages and the bones of his arms and describes Kurtz as if molded as the vision of death from ivory (ivory because it is the cause of his disease, mentally and physically). However, the young, "happy," gay Russian is noted as a devout follower of Kurtz yet he is healthy and completely straight. This possibly be because he knew what was right and wrong, he even tried warning Kurtz and begging him to leave before it gets worse, but Kurtz refused and continued his obsessive hunt. Kurtz is deteriorating due to his sick mind and the Russian is not fully tainted with materialistic desire which could link to the reason of his health. Kurtz's desire for ivory is real to me. Although it is on an extreme scale, it's like a drug addict or anything addict. He knows it's wrong but once in the appropriate zone or environment, he can't help it. It feeds his soul and it's mandatory for him to have. I don't condone this behavior obviously, but I can see that he is trapped with no way of getting out and I don't completely blame him.
ReplyDeleteI like how you suggested that the reason for Kurtz' illness was as a result of his materialistic desires and greed for ivory and the other raw materials found in the Congo. This would explain why he, the most powerful man and the role model for all other station managers, was the prime suspect and most susceptible to disease.
DeleteI agree with Glory, on how you paralleled his illness to his materialistic desires.
DeleteI also agree with Glory, I did not consider this aspect to Kurtz illness either Ange. Great insight as the idea that his physical health declines as his morality declines. However, this raises the question as to why the manager is immune from such a greed-connected illness?
DeleteI really like your idea about the health of the soul reflecting the health of the body! It really makes you think how life would be different if everybody's body was only as healthy as their soul.
DeleteI agree with practically all of the comments made before about Kurtz being a foil to the Russian in the sense that while the Russian is portrayed as a lively, gay, youth, Kurtz is described as being weak and dangerously ill. I also believe that Kurtz is a foil to the natives, regardless of contrary notions. Although the natives are usually believed to be weak and subject to the harsh imperial rule of the Europeans, Conrad has described the Africans as possessing great physical strength several times prior in the story. This can be seen for example when Marlow comments on the physique of the Africans aboard his steamer, speculating that they could easily overpower their white counterparts if they sought to, in spite of the fact that they were starving. Unlike these natives, Kurtz, a European, is described in this particular section as "an image of death." However, even in his present state, Marlow comments that Kurtz still possessed a "fire in his eyes" and a "composed languor of expression," suggesting that he truly has a passion for what he is doing in the Congo, be it positive or negative. Whether his actions are fueled by greed for ivory or for a genuine longing to "civilize" the savages, the one thing completely "real" about Kurtz is that he is fully invested in his purpose for being in the Congo.
ReplyDeleteWOW I never really noticed that the Russian was portrayed as being gay. A talkative... yes. But not being gay. Gives us something to think about
DeleteFirst off Chubi, gay means HAPPY! Second off, Though you said that Kurtz is all into his purpose for being in the Congo, do you think that his purposes have shifted during this time or has he been pursuing the same goal from the start of his journey.
DeleteI had not thought of Kurtz being a foil to the natives due to his weakness and their inner strength.
DeleteThe Russian accounts his experiences with Kurtz. He states that although he has been enlightened by Kurtz, taking his level of intelligence into account, their relationship has also had some bad turns. During his [Kurt's] illness, the Russian was there to care for him, after which he would disappear for days raiding several terrains for ivory. Kurtz was so obsessed with ivory that he threatened to kill the Russian over it. Around the corner where Kurtz resides, lay heads of several rebels. So it means that although he is greatly liked by the natives, he is very strict in punishing the rebellious ones. His whole intensity at which his sickness has enveloped seems real. However, this sickness has not stopped him from taking charge in the jungle. Kurtz becomes a foil to anyone who stands in the way of his ambitions.
ReplyDeleteI like how you said his sickness hasn't stopped him from controlling the jungle because it shows how much the natives and everyone else respects Kurtz.
DeleteWhen the voice of Kurtz in the heart of the Congo is revealed and Marlow can see the actual person, it is seen that Kurtz is a foil to everyone around him, and during this time he has hindered the Russian the most. The Russian sticks around and helps Kurtz with his illnesses and other issues, hoping to help him, but Kurtz in return doesn't give anything back, leaving the Russian alone when he goes on raids by himself and even threatening the Russian to give him all the ivory he owns or die, so that now the Russian is a bit terrified of Kurtz. Kurtz has also become a foil for himself as well. His desire/lust for ivory and wealth has forced him into this life-style of evil; raiding villages, plundering ivory, etc, and he has driven himself so far that he is unable to turn back "I think knowledge came to him at last-only at the very last. But the wilderness had found him out early, and had taken on him a terrible vengeance for the fantastic invasion." I can even see his illness as a symbol of his vile soul, the mind is so corrupted with "grime" that his body has fallen ill as well. The line "Oh he is bad, very bad," not only described the disease but Kurtz as well. Also, though Kurtz's illness can be seen as his evil it also shows how he is still a real person, one who is affected by the germs that bring illness to any other person on the Earth, and that he is limited to a short life and not an eternal one like the God he thinks he is.
ReplyDeleteI like how you point out that Kurtz does not give anything back to the Russian, and only takes, similar to how he treats the Congolese.
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DeleteThe russian serves as a foil to Kurtz at this moment because he is so full of life, in contrast to Kurtz's weakness caused by his illness. Kurtz can barely sit up to speak, while the Russian seems to bound all over the place. The Russian wears many bright colors, Marlow remarks that he looks like a jester, however Kurtz lacks color in his illness. The Russian also foils Kurtz as he is a complete follower. While Kurtz is a strong, charismatic leader, the russian seems almost incapable of functioning on his own.
ReplyDeleteKurtz's incredible power over the natives seems almost unreal. Although it is hinted that Kurtz commits terrible atrocities, the natives still adore him due to his immense powers of speech. His verbal power seems all the more unrealistic when Conrad presents an image of a sickness weakened, frail man who can barely sit up to speak. Yet, the natives' response to Kurtz's words prove the power of the words that Marlow has heard so much about.
I like your comparison to the illness of Kurtz and vigor of the life of the Russian. It was a comparison I had not drawn in comparison of their foils.
DeleteI agree with Kayuri in that I would have never thought of the comparison of how Kurtz is a strong leader while the Russian cannot act on his own.
DeleteAs previously stated by others, the "atrocious phantom" is a foil to the Russian in that the Russian is naive in his view of the world. Kurtz has seen and been contaminated by the greed of the Congo, while the Russian is seemingly immune in his innocence. Marlow even describes "his very existence [as] improbable" (Conrad 68) because the very idea that such a "modest and clear flame" (Conrad 68) exists in this heart of darkness is unheard of. In contrast to this, Kurtz represents the fall from grace as he is consumed by hatred and a desire for riches while the Russian "wanted nothing from the wilderness but space to breathe in and push on through" (Conrad 68). The person who could love Kurtz is exactly a man such as this due to the fact that he does not see th faults of Kurtz. In comparison to the novel The Poisonwood Bible, the relationship between Kurtz and the Russian can be paralleled to the relationship between Leah and her father Nathan. Leah, like the Russian, is completely devoted to her father and does not see his faults. Even when she sees him doing wrong, this only invigorates her to desperately fight for Nathan's affections in the same way that the Russian continually attempts to paint Kurtz in a positive light in Marlow's eyes. Both characters are deluded by their love and devotion to men who are outwardly wrong. They are- to use a cliche- purposefully blinded by love.
ReplyDeleteI like the connection to Poisonwood Bible Comparing Kurtz and the Russian to Nathan and Leah helped me to understand their relationships better.
DeleteI like your use of quotes in the reply. It made it sound very professional! I also like how you threw in The Poisionwood Bible reference! Great job!
DeleteAw man, Kayuri! I was going to say that... But good connection (: Do you think Kurtz is as brutal and neglectful to the Russian as Nathan is to Leah?
DeleteI believe that Kurtz is definitely a foil of the Russian. The Russian is described as young and full of life. The Russian is described with terms such as “gay”, “young” and as having a “boyish face.” However, Kurtz is just the opposite of that description and is deathlike as his fate quickly approaches. Marlow even goes as far to describe Kurtz with the terms phantom," "dark," "image of death,” and "apparition.” The choice of diction that Marlow uses to describe Kurtz makes him seem very unreal. By calling Kurtz a “phantom” and an “apparition” it makes him seem as if he is already dead to Marlow. This could be literally dead to Marlow or even metaphorically.
ReplyDeletei really like how you mentioned how Conrad refers to Kurtz as a phantom yet the Russian as an apparition. I would have never seen how Kurtz is referred as a phantom mean anything, yet you're right after learning so much about Kurtz, Marlow sees him as a dead man.
DeleteThe Russian and Kurtz are foils to one another for many reasons. The one thing that really stands out between them is that the Russian is a happy and loving guy while Kurtz is filled with darkness and greed. While they are completely different, I feel as if the Russian is only living because of Kurtz and that is who he relies on now. The Russian is always staying with Kurtz even when his life is being threatened. It's as if he can't be away from Kurtz or he will lose himself when Kurtz is really destroying the Russian. Also, the Russian is always looking to please Kurtz even though Kurtz could really care less about the Russian because all he wants is ivory.
ReplyDeleteIn the story, Kurtz is becoming a real character now which is hard to imagine since he has always been a voice. The one thing that is making him real to me is the fact that the Russian is talking about Kurtz from personal experiences. All the other things that we have heard about Kurtz are stories from people who haven't really gotten to know Kurtz or been with him one on one. However, the Russian has been staying with Kurtz and is around him a lot, so we get a first hand experience from the Russian which makes Kurtz alive.
I don't see how Kurtz is loved so much, especially by the Russian. Kurtz has people's heads on posts outside his house. To me, that doesn't seem like a guy that can be loved. Also, Kurtz threatened the Russian's life. So how can someone who is so corrupt and evil be loved? Well, I think that people love him out of fear. The Russian doesn't want Kurtz to hate him, and he is always looking for acceptance. Also, the natives adore him, but probably because they are scared of what could happen if they don't love him. They don't want to have their heads on the posts outside Kurtz's house. So, Kurtz isn't loved, he is feared.
I completely agree with you on Kurtz being feared. He has committed such horrendous acts towards the natives that they have no choice but to listen and adore him. They've seen what's happened to the rebels.
DeleteI also agree with the fact that he is feared. They do not admire him at all, because of the acts he has committed but they have to deal with him anyways so they live in fear
DeleteBut since the Russian is the first person we have seen who truly knows Kurtz, and since he is so fond of Kurtz, is it possible that there is something to love?
DeleteTo be frank, I think the Russian and the natives, if they're not secretly living in fear of Kurtz, have to have a touch of Stockholm Syndrome. Didn't Kurtz even tell the Russian he was going to kill him if he didn't hand over his small pile of ivory? How is it possible to truly love (and I mean without being taken advantage of) such a materialistic man who doesn't have a second thought about killing his own alleged friends for profit?
DeleteAs we read through the Heart of Darkness, we see how the Russian is a complete foil to Kurtz. The Russian is described as almost child-like, which represents innocence. " A beardless, boyish face, very fair, no features to speak of nose peeling..." (Conrad48) He is dedicated and loyal to Kurtz despite Kurtz almost sooting him for not giving him the ivory. Kurtz has fallen into a sick state of illness and is percieved as ghastly and pitiful. " ...and his body emerged from its pitiful and appallin as from a winding sheet. I could see the cage of his ribs all astir, the bones of his arm waving". (Conrad55) Both Kurtz and the Russian are complete opposites of eachother seeing as though they both have different desires, state of health, and appearences. Marlow and Kurtz can be seen as foils as well. We can see that Kurtz has lost his "sanity" and how he basically sold his soul and health to get more ivory. Marlow's number one concern is exploring and adventure, and we can see that Marlow has kept his sanity despite everything he has witnessed.
ReplyDeleteI like your analysis...and I thought that the fact that the Russian was described as having childlike features was ironic because compared to Kurtz,he acts like the adult (a caretaker) and Kurtz is the total opposite.
DeleteI also thought Conrad's portrayal of Kurtz was quite fascinating... He juxtaposes the weak and the pugnacious elements into Kurtz's character and I found that interesting. He's feeble but ravenous... hungry for ivory.
DeleteGood analysis. Maybe the fact that Kurtz is ill and the Russian isn't deals with the fact that Kurtz has been affected by greed and temptation whereas the Russian hasn't been. I like how you brought Marlow into this. It was interesting to see the differences between the two characters.
DeleteKurtz and the Russian are foils in a way that what they actually are supposed to represent the other. Kurtz is suppose to be seen as a fiery and strong being who the Russian looks up to as a role model, yet his actions and looks don’t add up. Instead, Marlow sees Kurtz as sickly and helpless, and the Russian is displayed as a vivacious caretaker for Kurtz. The Russian is more like a parent, trying to guide Kurtz from ruining his life and Kurtz is the little kid who refuses to listen and wonders astray from the warnings and teachings of his guardian. As a repercussion for his rebellion, Kurtz dies dies.
ReplyDeleteKurtz is a foil to Marlow in the sense that he is not who Marlow expected him to be. As the Russian tells his story, Marlow is stunned by this man who he admired and like the others, looked up to. Instead of Kurtz being the lovable hero that they all expected, I think the Russian is. Despite the threats and cruel treatment that he received from Kurtz, he chose to stick around not for his benefit but as an obligation to Kurtz. I think as the Russian continues his story, Marlow sees the reality of who Kurtz actually is and this realization might alter his mindset.
Last, Kurtz is also a foil to the natives in a sense. The natives adore this man who took over their land and unheartedly abused their people. One would think that all the natives would view Kurtz as a threat to their society and plot to attack, but instead they respect him, despite his deteriorating health and cruel acts.
Kurtz is a foil to the Russian in a few ways. First, Kurtz is sick, gloomy, and dark. The Russian trader is happier and more optimistic about life. Also, Kurtz is an intelligent, powerful man while the Russian, though he is not stupid, does not show any defining qualities of intellect. Finally, Kurtz is bald. Russians are all hairy. This is why Kurtz is a foil of the Russian. Kurtz also presents himself as a foil to the natives. Kurtz is hailed as a god among mere mortals. Sacrifices are performed in his name, and he allows it. On the other hand, the natives are the lowest of the low. They eat each other to get a meal, and allow themselves to be controlled by Kurtz when they could easily overtake him in a revolt. The only real characteristics that Kurtz has would be his sickness, intellect, and sense of superiority. It’s easy to believe that Kurtz is sick in the Congo because it happens all the time. His intellect can be accredited to his early life in Europe, and his sense of superiority also spawns from the idea of the “white man” being superior because of their brains. However, the reality stops when Kurtz can somehow justify himself letting the natives treat him like a god. The fact that he allows this is not unheard of in history, but it is quite rare and appalling.
ReplyDeleteI love how you contrast Kurtz and the natives. I, however, think Kurtz and the natives are bery similar. Both live off the land. Both get sick. Both feel at home in the heart of darkness. These characteristics help complete the foil.
DeleteKurtz is a foil to the Russian because when Marlow meets Kurtz, he is frail and ill while the Russian is full of life and healthy. The Russian thinks of Kurtz basically as a God saying he was "seduced into something like admiration-like envy" (Conrad,50). However, Kurtz is rude and selfish and barely appreciates all the Russian man does for him. It seems unreal that Kurtz, who is seen as a God to everyone, could get so sick. Usually people with power are strong and healthy, which is not the case with Kurtz. It seems as if Marlow believes Kurtz will never regain his health because he calls him a "phantom," which yet again makes Kurtz seem unreal.
ReplyDeleteI like the connection between Kurtz being ill and the Russian being healthy--perhaps that has something to do with the Russian's kindness and happiness and Kurtz's anger and cruelty?
DeleteI really liked how you pointed out Kurtz's ironic god-like presence in the Congo. How could such a powerful man who is treated like a god be so powerless at the same time physically?
DeleteAfter reading Conrad's descriptions of the Russian and Kurtz, it is clear that they are foils of each other. By the early descriptions of Kurtz, we learn that he is a "genius", a "prodigy", and he natives see him as some kind of deity. Conrad's descriptions of Kurtz make me think of death and darkness, which he is nearing because of his sickness. "It was as though an animated image of death carved out of old ivory..." It seems unreal that Kurtz possesses so much control over the natives, while he is physically in such a dire state.
ReplyDeleteIn contrast to Kurtz ghastly appearance, the Russian's character is full of life. The Russian has somewhat of a comical appearance. His bright colored patches reminded me of a court jester. The Russian is described as youthful, "a beardless, boyish face". Also, his "fair skin" and "blue eyes" contrast to Kurtz's dark eyes. The Russian represents life, while Kurtz represents death.
I agree with you of how we learned about how smart Kurtz was and then we were shocked by who he actually was, a man who seems to be hanging onto life by a thread and a man who is not a good man; instead he is greedy and lacking good intentions. I am also shocked that Kurtz has so much power over the natives even though he is so weak. Perhaps it is because of his skin color and smarts? You know what they say, brains beats bronze (well it sometimes does...). I also agree with you in that the Russian is like a court jester, so full of life and colorful. I like how you said that Kurtz represents death while the Russian represents life. Great job.
DeleteI definitely think that Kurtz is a foil of the the Russian. The Russian is described wearing bright colors, being happy and welcoming, and is like a court jester: whimsical and comical. However, Kurtz is dark, depressing and seems to be evil to the core, especially after writing "Exterminate the brutes" in his paper. The only thing that seems real about Kurtz is his drive to be wealthy and successful. He has a definite passion for success and I think this gives him the life that he really lacks in other areas. He seems unreal in the sense that a man so evil and power hungry could love another human more than himself or what he was looking for to feed his wealth. I find it hard to believe that Kurtz still loves the woman he is engaged to after being engulfed in this world of greed and fortune. It reminds me of Scrooge from A Christmas Carol because both are completely immersed in wealth that they cannot see anything other than that. Even though Scrooge is enlightened to the real meaning of happiness by the end of the novel, I think that Kurtz already knew happiness in Europe but is replacing that bliss with the false happiness of wealth. The only person that I can think of who could love a man such as Kurtz is a person who is so insecure about themselves that they seek perfection and adoration of another person because they cannot bring themselves to love themselves for who they are.
ReplyDeleteNever thought to compare it to Scrooge and I agree that the Kurz is looking for the happiness in wealth, but rather than saying he knew happiness in Europe, perhaps he didn't and looked for it in the wrong places.
DeleteI agree with the fact that Kurtz is portrayed as a foil to basically every other character in the novel. While the Russian represents life and youthfulness, the natives represent innocence, and Marlow represents unexamined opportunity. However, Kurtz is none of the above. While the voice he is portrayed as shows him as a better, younger, happier man., the audience meets a bitter man who looks like he will go at any second. He lacks the glow of life and the passion in everything he does.I don't understand who could love such a despicable man, as i feel as though every person wants to inhabit some form of life and happiness and his bitterness and lack of life could detract from her life as well.
ReplyDeleteI like your response here. I especially like how you called Marlow an "unexamined opportunity." I agree with you on that. I also like how you show the contrast of what we expect Kurtz to be to what he actually was. He does seem to just be greedy, no real happiness to him; which is probably part of his insanity.
DeleteThe Russian shows deep admiration for Kurtz: "'this man has enlarged my mind'" (50). Some may extend his love for Kurtz to an obsession: "He made me see things- things" (50). We see him think of Kurtz as a supernatural being here: "His very existence was improbable, inexplicable, and altogether bewildering" (50). The Russian plays an important role in HoD because he highlights Kurtz's extent of his influence, imperialism, regime over the area. Moreover, the Russian maintained an energetic tone throughout Part II and III; he seemed full of life. Even physically, the Russian and Kurtz are stark juxtapositions: "...the bones of his arm waving" (55). Kurtz literally seems like the walking dead. The two are opposites of each other and emphasize life (the Russian) and death (Kurtz).
ReplyDeleteI like your idea of the Russian being the life and Kurtz the death. With that idea do you think you could also say Kurtz is the darkness and the Russian the light as opposed to the previous idea of Kurtz being the bit of hope in the darkness?
DeleteKurtz and the Russian are two very interesting characters that we do not yet know much about. We have assumed things about the Russian based on what he has said and have made our judgments about Kurtz—again, based on the Russian’s words—but we have very little of substance to go on. We can, however, assume that Kurtz is a generally cruel and unforgiving man whereas the Russian is kind and full of life. It seems that this may be due to their varying intellectual levels. Kurtz is clearly an intellectual man who has the power to manipulate and uses this power for evil. The Russian, however, is a simple boy who worships Kurtz and finds good in him. Ignorance truly is bliss.
ReplyDeleteAnother excellent point is the one that Nancy brought up: while Kurtz is ill, the Russian is healthy and active. It is possible that health plays a role in their actions: Kurtz’s illness may have made him rash and angry. On the other hand, their health may be representative of their souls: Kurtz is ill because his soul is black (because he is in the “heart of darkness”) and the Russian is healthy because his soul is pure.
Although it is hard to imagine that anyone could love a man like Kurtz, it is true that humanity is often drawn to that which is broken. We love Walter White and Neal Caffrey and Dexter because we have seen them struggle and still see some good in them—we believe they can be saved. The same thing may end up being true with Kurtz. Once we are able to sympathize with his situation, he may be a character that steals our hearts in a way we never could have imagined. As I mentioned in a previous comment—the Russian is the only person we have met who truly knows Kurtz, and he found reason to care for the man. Who’s to say that we won’t?
While I find the idea of sickness/health indicative of a person's "soul" extremely intriguing, that raises the question of the Station Manager. How can we reconcile the Station Manager's relatively good health and his simultaneous lack of care for the native Africans/lack of purity if we go by this symbolism?
DeleteI like how you pointed out that 'humanity is often drawn to that which is broken'.
DeleteI love how you open by saying that we d not truely know these characters. It's true. Marlow knows only what he has heard and infers. Maybe the more we learn about Kurtz and the Russian, we'll start to see them in a different light.
DeleteI wonder whether the Russian cares for Kurtz not because he sees good in him, but because he is innocent and pure. We see almost no instance in HoD in which people care about others because they necessarily see good in them.
DeleteI spent the entire first chunk of this novel annoyed with Marlow for being so interested in Kurtz as he imagined this "voice" as a last figure of morality in Africa despite all foreshadowing. Now that this picaresque image of Kurtz has finally been smashed to pieces, it's almost funny how negatively Marlow describes Kurtz, for example, as an "animated image of death card out on old ivory." What lovely imagery! Marlow's disappointment in Kurtz as the alleged light of Africa is extremely apparent, especially the more disgusted Marlow becomes with the Russian, who ironically foils Kurtz as a person full of life, innocence, and purity although he defends the morbid and distasteful actions of the warped Kurtz. The Russian, however, chooses to follow Kurtz because he himself cannot find personal meaning in life; he seeks "enlightenment" through Kurtz as an authority figure to guide his footsteps, giving no thought to his own autonomy.
ReplyDeleteI feel like I can better connect the short story "Araby" to Heart of Darkness now that we've read this section. The protagonist, just like Kurtz, spends a ridiculous amount of time in pursuit of an idealistic goal (the girl for him, Kurtz as a Christ figure for Marlow). Both character then metaphorically lose their innocence once they realize that what they've been trying to obtain is repulsive or unobtainable; i.e., the boy sees the couple at the market and is disgusted, Marlow realizes that Kurtz is a terrible person whose own mommma probably doesn't love him. This loss of innocence for Marlow is probably much more significant than we can comprehend right now.
I like how you described Marlow's disappointment by saying that Kurtz's image 'has been smashed to pieces'. Nice metaphor!
DeleteI wonder why Marlow has come to lose his innocent, yet the Russian still dearly clings onto it. Do you think that the jungle that is clouding the Europeans' senses could have affected the Russian in an ironic way, making him more devoted to the ivory trader?
DeleteAs we have been introduced to each character, we have seen how they relate to each other. For example, Kurtz, the “atrocious phantom,” is a foil to the Russian. Where Kurtz is a greedy man, the Russian is a care-free man of his possessions. In addition, the Russian is a happy, colorful man. In contrast, Kurtz is a dark, sick man. The Russian seems to be a man who represents life and light, and Kurtz is a man who seems to represent death and darkness. Kurtz’s life seems to be hanging on by a thread, just waiting for the fates to take their scissors and snip it. He is a greedy man and it is surprising that anyone loves him, the natives and his fiancé.
ReplyDeleteI find it hard to believe that anyone could love such a greedy, selfish man. I wonder how much the land has changed him. I wonder who that man was that his fiancé loved. I am curious why the natives worship him so much. He is a weak man, who seems to be on the edge of death. I wonder if being white comes into play or if it is his intellect that he controls them by. I also wonder how he controls them; does he speak their language or have someone translate? Or perhaps he uses a sort of body language to communicate.
I found it interesting that you brought up "his intended" and the natives. I think there's a part of Kurtz's story that we are missing. Once we figure out what that piece is, maybe we will be able to see how these people love him.
DeleteI think that Kurtz is a foil to the Russian. When Marlow describes the Russian, he says, "If the absolutely pure, uncalculating , unpractical spirit of adventure had ever ruled a human being, it ruled this bepatched youth (Conrad 77)." Marlow also says, "The glamour of youth enveloped his parti-coloured rags, his destitution, his loneliness, the essential desolation of his futile wanderings (Conrad 77)." This shows that the Russian, unlike many of the Europeans, has not been influenced by the temptation for wealth found in the heart of darkness. The Russian represents new life and innocence, whereas Kurtz represents the opposite. When Marlow first sees Kurtz, he describes him as an "image of death carved out of old ivory," showing him to be life-less. He also says that Kurtz is hollow at the core and a shadow. "Shadow" was also used to describe the natives at the first station. It was as if the life had been sucked out of them, and maybe that's what happened to Kurtz. The temptation took over his life and drained him of his innocence and life he had before coming to the Congo. Kurtz's entrance seemed unreal when he suddenly appeared, surrounded by natives, from the jungle on a stretcher. His entrance fuels Marlow calling him a phantom and a shadow. His description is that he was death carved out of old ivory. The things he is described as aren't things that are tangible. You can't touch a phantom or shadow, so the diction gives off an air of illusion and maybe a blurring of reality.
ReplyDeleteI love that you mentioned the irony where Kurtz is described as death carved out of ivory YET simultaneously characterized as a phantom. Although the descriptions are both ominous, one is tangible and the other an illusion.
DeleteKurtz and the Russian are two very different characters. While Kurtz is sick, greedy, yet powerful and revered by many, the Russian is this innocent and healthy boy who admires Kurtz. In my opinion, the two characters differ due to their social statuses. For instance, since Kurtz is intelligent and has power, he is able to demand for more, thus making him greedy. On the other hand, since the Russian does not seem to have had as many experiences as Kurtz, he prefers to follow Kurtz and obey him.
ReplyDeleteAlthough we see Kurtz as this greedy man based on what we know about him thus far, many worship him. Perhaps the fact that Marlow narrates the story may be the reason why we view Kurtz as an evil person. If Kurtz were to narrate the story, then we would have known more about his intentions for his greed and obsession with possession, which would then allow us to actually like him.
Yes I see how you mentioned the striking contrast in social statuses that definitely solidifies the men's roles in the Congo. As Kurtz as the head-honcho of the Heart of Darkness, we also see the role of obedience among the Europeans themselves.
DeleteKurtz foils the Russian with his immense amount of respect that he has from the natives. The natives wish to protect what Kurtz has and increase it, while they wish to take away what they can from the Russian. This shows how Kurtz holds the power while the Russian submits to his lack of power. Kurtz also is very closed off with who he really is; many stories are created about him but few actually know who he is. This contrasts the Russian who is very willing to tell Marlow his story and seems to have a light hearted attitude. The Russian is described as being young which contrasts Kurtz who is dying and very emaciated when he meets Marlow. This shows how health does not necessarily prove a factor in power since the man with good health is the one submitting to the man who is on the brink of death. Since Kurtz is portrayed as this sickly man, his unspeakable actions do not seem fathomable. Seeing the man on the edge of death, it becomes hard to believe that he could be capable of atrocities such as killing and enslaving the natives. With him being sick it becomes easier to picture him having love, but when you look at his actions it doesn't seem plausible that anyone could love such an evil man.
ReplyDeleteIn HoD, Kurtz is portrayed as sickly, not as outgoing and full of life as the Russian. The Russian is often described with sunshine and youth while Kurtz seems old, weak, and seems like and “animated image of death”. The Russian is friendly, open, and talkative. Kurtz, his foil, is the exact opposite, even though both men live in the Congo. Kurtz seems ghost-like and almost like an illusion because he slips away from reality when he gets sick. He has also been driven mad by the Congo. His lack of sanity makes Kurtz seem more unreal because his grip on reality is not strong. The more Kurtz loses his sanity, the more his hold on reality weakens and the closer he comes to disappearing in to the Congo forever, not just for a few months. Kurtz, the old Kurtz (before he went crazy), could have been loved by a variety of different women who admired his intellect, his passion for adventure and his dedication to being the best at what he does. Now, however, these characteristics have turned him into a madman. Only a person who understands the Congo could accept Kurtz and understand him enough to love him. Perhaps this is why he lives in close proximity to the natives who understand the Congo
ReplyDeleteI like how you mentioned that his close proximity to the natives is because they are the only ones who can understand him now given the congo has consumed him.
DeleteThe biggest contrast between Kurtz and the Russian is their composure. The Russian is this lively, welcoming man that is very admirable and loyal unlike Kurtz who was at first portrayed as a "distant" man who carried a deity-like aura. Kurtz is ill, mentally, and shows weakness as a leader. The characteristics of Kurtz and the Russian are ironic where the Russian holds the uplifting characteristics that Kurtz is supposed to have.
ReplyDeleteThe illness falls over Kurtz and makes him like a "phantom," yet we know that the people among the stations across the Congo acknowledge and adore Kurtz AND Kurtz has a fiance in Europe. Is it love, infatuaton, or an illusion?
While the Russian trader is described as lively, youthful and welcoming, Kurtz is described as an ill, weak leader. Kurtz and the Russian contrast in light and dark. Kurtz is characterized as a dark, weak yet powerful "atrocious phantom" while the Russian is healthy and full of life i.e "...the sunshine made him look extremely gay" which shows how happy and full of life he is compared to Kurtz who is full of illness. I feel like not only is Kurtz ill physically, but he is ill mentally also. Kurtz's weakness and fragility shows how much the greed of wealth and power can affect you. The darkness of the Congo that he has brought through his greed for wealth, power and status has sucked the life out of him.
ReplyDeleteGood explanation of why Kurtz is so phantom-like and almost less human than others. He does seem to have traded away his health and soul for ivory and riches, and perhaps even the adoration of the natives. Though the Russian man is lively now, we cannot guarantee that he won't follow in Kurtz's godlike footsteps, down a path of darkness with no escape. Since he idolizes Kurtz so much (and we all in some way want to be more like our idols), he may attempt to emulate Kurtz and cease to be that gay, lively man in the sun and become another phantom slave to darkness.
DeleteThe end of this section of the novel has proven that Kurtz and Marlow are more similar than either character or audience may have realized. They may possibly be considered foils of one another because of their similar yet opposite actions. While they are in Africa for different reasons, they both agree that whites are predominetly superior to the native people of Africa. His persistent greed becomes evident to Marlow and the reader but his presence feels somewhat dream-like such as the setting the main characters have previously been surrounded by.
ReplyDeleteI disagree with you, Kimberly, on two parts. I believe Marlow and Kurtz were once very similar, and that Kurtz indeed came to Africa for reasons not too different from Marlow's pure intentions. Africa changed their reasons for progressing forward, and that is where the two begin to diverge. Kurtz becomes enchanted by the ivory trade while Marlow is disgusted by the state of humanity and fixated on meeting this legendary Kurtz. Also, there is no doubting that Kurtz believes himself and other whites to be better ("exterminate the brutes!"), but Marlow's thoughts are changing, especially after the helmsman's death. Natives may be inferior to him yet, but he is starting to come around to the idea that perhaps a native man truly is no less human than a European.
DeleteKurtz and the Russian are total foils/opposites of each other physically and mentally. The Russian is described as a man full of energy, good-will, and innocence whereas Kurtz is described as an "atrocious phantom", "animated image of death", and a man who is under darkness. By juxtaposing two utterly opposite characters, Conrad is showing (or the way I interpreted it) how deep Kurtz has fallen into the darkness of his own greed, even to the point of sickness. Even though Kurtz could turn back and get treated, he chooses to stay in the Congo, evening looking for ivory himself out of impatience and obsession. He is real since we have met him now as his own character rather than as only a voice by someone else's telling, yet he is still almost unreal because we have not actually heard words that we could comprehend from his mouth yet (the only sound coming out of him was his yelling) and his physical features seem so extreme and distant. A really good question is who could love such a man who is so twisted physically and internally. He probably was loved by many before he got sucked into the darkness, but even now he might still be loved in a way perhaps out of pity, admiration, or sympathy. The Russian is very loyal to him and the natives listen and follow Kurtz. Since he is so trapped by his own illness and darkness, he can't help but stay in the Congo where he is surrounded by people who accept him as who he is regardless of his looks and intellect.
ReplyDeleteThe Russian serves as a foil to Kurz in that he is characterized in the book as having unflattering facial features, weak, and also as constantly babbling or rambling. While conversely, Kurz is characterized throughout the book as being charismatic and is even referred to by the Russian as having "enlarged his mind." Additionally, early on we are introduced to the notion that Kurz is a “universal genius” while the Russian is seen as an annoyance and to some extent an idiot by Marlow and Kurz further characterizes Kurz as a voice which symbolizes the great power in his words, a stark contrast from the babbling of the Russian. Kurtz was continuously characterized as an mysterious and almost god –like character while the Russian was considerably humanized.
ReplyDeleteAdditionally, we see this illustrious and almost unreal aspect of Kurz when he is brought on a stretcher from the jungle by the natives, and Kurz sees him for the first time, but conversly, see the kurz, himself, bein humanized as he is seen in bad health.
Kurtz can be seen as a foil to many people in the novel, one especially being the Russian. In the novel Kurtz was viewed as a knowledgeable man that was kind and humble. although when the Russian brags about Kurtz, this "atrocious phantom" 's true colors have appeared. The Russian describes Kurtz as greedy for ivory, whicch is contrasted to the Russian himself who isn't as obsessed. The Russian tell Marlow about the time when Kurtz tried to kill him over ivory. When the Russian was given ivory as a gift for killing game, Kurtz, "wanted it, and wouldn't hear to reason" (70). The Russian gives Kurtz the ivory, and doesn't think that it is worth losing Kurtz or his own life. This shows that the Russian and Kurtz are very different from each other. Kurtz is very materialistic and selfish while the Russian has sacrificed his life to help Kurtz recover from his numerous sicknesses. Another thing is their appearances. The Russian is lively and young which represents his innocence, while Kurtz is on the verge of dying from sickness and old age, which represents how corrupt his heart is. Kurtz is described, " I could see the cage of his ribs all astir, the bones of his arm waving. I was as though an animated image of death... had been shaking its hand." (74). To be honest I don't understand why the Russian and the Africans adore Kurtz so much. First, Kurtz raids villages and makes a living off of ivory. He consistently exploits the Africans. Then there is the Russian. I mean kurtz threatened to kill him if he didn't give Kurtz ivory that the Russian had earned. Even after this the Russian sticks by his side. It is really surprising how Kurtz has a spell over them.
ReplyDeleteKurtz is the complete opposite of the Russian, making him the perfect foil example. The Russian is described as being full of life. He is described as having “A beardless, boyish face, very fair, no features to speak of, nose peeling, little blue eyes, smiles and frowns chasing each other over that open countenance like sunshine and shadow on a windswept plain." Kurtz, however, looks older and more frail than someone at his age should look. Another comparison is that the Russian is bright-eyed, while Kurtz is being described as having dark eyes. The Russian has a “boyish face”, and Kurtz has a bony head. Kurtz's description sounds very unreal, because Marlow describes him uses the words “apparition”, and “phantom” to describe Kurtz. If it depended on his appearance, I could imagine someone loving this man, because love should not be about what you look like. Although if it was about his personality, then I could not see anyone loving him because his personality is selfish. The way the Russian mirrors how Kurtz was when he was a child, I can see it being very easy to love him, because Kurtz had many talents and an amazing use of language.
ReplyDeleteThere are many things that seem unreal about Kurtz, such as the possibility that the man was once good and pure, like Marlow. How could a man who has committed such atrocities been so virtuous at one point? What seems most real to me is a sense of divinity, as if Kurtz were a god on earth, a vengeful and wrathful deity who cares little about his worshipers. Readers can feel the emanating savage rage when they see the decapitated and eerily smiling heads, ones the Russian referred to as rebels, as an angry god wipes out those who dare to defy his will. Kurtz may not have started out seeking divinity, but his ivory-lust and greed made him indulge in less acceptable desires. By using his intelligence and eloquence as soldiers, he effectively made himself a god to the natives, a very real trait about him. As for who could love such a savage man, I do not believe his fiance back home knows of what he has become. With his frequent escapades into the jungle to check on his natives, I doubt he manages to find the time to write a letter to her showing the degradation that the darkness has caused him. The African mistress is quite a twist of irony. A white man who wants to exterminate the brutes has decided to keep one by his side because he's a god? It is unlikely the tribal woman loves him in the slightest; last night's reading described her as being worth far more than ivory, suggesting that Kurtz has made her a sort of queen at his side and presented her with all those lavish gifts and adornments; she may just be seeking power or beauty, but not wanting to work for it as Kurtz does. I find the tribal woman to be quite an enigma. I believe she may be a personification of the heart of darkness, or the delicate center of the jungle, who is trying to entrance Kurtz. The jungle is already making him ill in an attempt to weaken him and have him taken away, but thanks to the Russian, Kurtz is constantly nursed back to 'health'. The woman, described as "the wilderness itself" also stops walking as if her heart had been pierced, just as the jungle is now entirely exposed to Marlow and the crew. Is she the jungle, an apparition of the heart of darkness, or just some mysterious woman with a sway over the darkness and the local deity?
ReplyDeleteKurtz, at this point, seems to reveal his true character the more Marlow travels with him. Kurtz and the Russian are foils of each other. For instance, look at Kurtz; he is a voice to Marlow, but he has a flaw: greed of ivory. He is very materialistic than the Russian who seems to not desire anything as much as Kurtz. "A boyish face, very fair" - this quote represents the Russian . He seems to be naive when he follows Kurtz (He doesn't have a material need), and he also point out Kurtz material obsession of ivory to Marlow. Kurtz, now, seems to be more than a voice to Marlow, but a "atrocious phantom."
ReplyDeleteKurtz seems to be an antithesis of the "innocent" Russian, at whose almost child-like innocence Marlow marvels. Contrary to the Russian, Kurtz is -- contrary to Marlow's original expectations -- described as a dark person whom has completely been overwhelmed by the darkness of the jungle. Kurtz is very real, unlike the prodigy and forebearer of light and civilization that Marlow originally imagined, he is, in terms of character, like other European ivory traders. The Russian, however, is so unlike the other Europeans in Africa that Marlow marvels at his mere existence. One could draw on the character of the Russian and extrapolate that Kurtz must have been like him earlier in life.
ReplyDeleteInitially, Kurtz was introduced as an extremely ill man and is described as an “atrocious phantom” and “image of death.” On the other hand, the Russian is displayed as “boyish face…little blue eyes, smiles…like sunshine and shadow on a windswept plains.” They are two completely different people with opposing characteristics. I thought Conrad’s dark and enigmatic description of Kurtz was extremely unreal. How can someone in Kurtz condition be still alive? As Kurtz was carried into his bed, his bones were visible, “I could see the cage of his ribs all astir, the bones of his arm waving.” Moreover, it is messed up how the natives praises and worships Kurtz, betraying the other natives. Ultimately, Kurtz was able to manipulate his power and corrupt the minds of the natives in order to obtain the one thing that matters to him.
ReplyDeleteYes, the Russian is a foil to Kurtz. He is described as joyful and gay, while Kurtz is described as the exact opposite. My question is why is this Russian so loyal to Kurtz? Is he too naive to actually see the atrocities of Kurtz or is he too naive? I personally feel like the Russian is the embodiment of what Kurtz intelligence, charisma, and persuasiveness could do. He revers Kurtz also he has seen first hand the evils Kurtz have committed, yet he is still loyal. I think the Russian is a symbol for during that era that were brain washed by their leaders to support colonialism.
ReplyDelete