Marlow sees the result of what has been done and is disgusted. Marlow’s opinions of civilisation are changed throughout the novel. When Marlow find out what Kurtz has done he is very much against him and believes he is not civilised but the end of the novel, when the darkness of Kurtz’s mind and heart is truly shown. Marlow protects Kurtz and lies about what he has done to his fiancé as he is so disgusted about Kurtz he cannot face to tell her what he has done for fear of breaking her heart.
Marlow believes anyone that can cause so much pain to a person like Kurtz did cannot be civilised, ‘what you may call principles’ believe in the basic principles of humanity. Kurtz has no restraint and Marlow believes this too when he refers to Kurtz as the devil and goes looking for him to see the man behind this name.
Conrad uses images to symbolise civilisation, the image of the ‘flabby white devil’ or the pilgrims wearing pink pyjamas these sow that the white seem civilised but under the skin they are the same or worse than the natives they have no civilised .
The cannibals restraining themselves from eating the speared man, a sight that shows civilisation. This shows that the cannibals have the basic human principle of restraint and therefore shows that they have not made the journey into the darkness of man’s heart. The journey of travelling into the darkness of mans heart along the river Congo ‘The pulsating stream of light’ as Marlow’s mind is broadened and enlightened. The white pilgrims firing their Winchesters from the hip with their eyes shuts show that they’re typical Englishmen which no training how to use a gun showing they are probably very civilised and un cultured. The white man appears to be superior to the black mans culture but it is not. There should be no differences which include race or religion because this book shows there is no difference both white and black are civilised. The black heads on sticks the ‘savages’ heads. The heads are a sign that Kurtz believes he is superior to the black man but it is Kurtz who is the savage breaking the rules to humanity.
There are imitations of supernatural forces throughout the novel, the fog surrounding the boat.’ We have been buried deep in a heap of cotton wool’ A cloud forming that no one can venture trough a shutter of the darkness. The smiling heads on sticks a hint of the darkness that Kurtz mind and heart beholds. A reminder that Kurtz heart has been altered. As Kurtz becomes more of a dictator the tale sails further into the Congo and the darkest depths of the heart. Kurtz has walked into an ethically ruled civilisation where white law is no enforces and has created a new world for himself no matter what happens to anybody else. He has been able to commit cries a of savagery and has shown he has no restraint and resentment for his actions. The white men show what Kurtz was like before his demise into the jungle ‘white shirt’ starched’ properly turned out and following an enforced law but he has turned into a wanton murder and to him the natives are no more than a game.
Restraint is a key emotion needed to build a civilisation. Restraint has many definitions the one that applies here is to stop you from committing an action which may be regretted later in life or which could bring immediate suffering or dead to a fellow human. Restraint is a key aspect in life without it there would be no law, no order and no civilisation. Civilisation is composed of a ethical code or law and restraint. Kurtz lacks restraint and therefore cannot be civilised.
Marlow’s nightmare includes Kurtz’ last word before his death triggers the idea of justice. Marlow view upon Kurtz life is that it was a ‘mysterious arrangement of merciless logic for a futile purpose’ he believes at Kurtz death he had inexcusable regrets.
Conrad seems to consider moral issues in the book, he considers god and the devil and the spiritual nature of mankind. The devil is ambition and greedy, ambition drove Kurtz and the pilgrims into the Congo so they became unholy pilgrims worshipping a white, flabby idle devil. They seek only material gratification in the form of easy ivory.
The black men are considered primitive as they do not wear starch shirts or have shoes. They are still civilised because they have restraint and law and order. Marlow’s general opinion of them improves as we progress into the novel and considers them as equals at the end. The black mans enslavement by Kurtz is frowned upon by Marlow from the outset of the novel. The beating of the prisoners and punishment was not frowned upon by Kurtz as he had no restraint he superiority was shown but Marlow believed ‘ no one is above or below’
Kurtz death symbolises his life. He dies alone which sums up the end of his life and his dictator ship. He believes he is superior to all his fellow man including white men. H e lives in terror and in an area were he lives and rules in devastation. His ‘magnificent’ tribal mistress is the only person treats well. Kurtz originally lived as a civilised man he was a clever head of a business with a bright future in administration. This symbolises his civilisation, his fiancé shows that he was law abiding and loveable. Marlow protects his fiancé with the lie saying he was a good citizen and his last words were the name of is fiancé and not ‘The horror…the horror’ This shows how much Marlow respects Kurtz’ fiancé and that Marlow has made up his mind to protect her goodness and light. Marlow admires Kurtz leadership and now he taught the natives things but he will not respect him for betraying his fiancé. Kurtz last words are significant ’The horror’ as they describe his reign exactly and show what his final thoughts were about what he had done . Kurtz past life showed civilisation but his present life showed nothing but brutality.
Civilisation is restraint. The definitive guide to being civilised, as presented to us by Conrad, in this novel, consists in resisting the instinctive, primal impulses which make us cruel and selfish, and exercising restraint, no matter how primitive our cultures, we treat others with respect. This respect is in the heart of a truly civilised person, not darkness.