The picture of Kurtz that is created by Marlow in the opening scenes of the novella is one of an ‘ideal’. Kurtz is a man of many talents – we learn that he is a gifted muscian and a fine painter. Although he remains a mystery to Marlow, Kurtz exerts a powerful influence on the people in his life. This is shown when Marlow first describes Kurtz as a man,
“who is so indissolubly connected with the memories of that time.”
Marlow is talking of the ‘time’ he spent in Africa on the Congo River where he met Kurtz. This sentence suggests to the reader that Kurtz is an important figure who is going to have a great impression on Marlow. The words ‘indissolubly connected’ imply that Marlow cannot talk about the story without mentioning Kurtz and the impact that he had on his life.
Kurtz is viewed from others, such as the manager and chief accountant of the Central Station, as an ‘ideal’. They use such words as ‘remarkable’ and ‘best agent’ to describe his character and work. When mentioning his work it is also said that he will go ‘far, very far’. However, Kurtz was already the chief of the Inner Station, which suggests in itself to be a very high post but the chief accountant of the Central Station says that he will soon be ‘assistant manager’.
Kurtz is portrayed as a ‘prodigy’ and ‘universal genius’ by his peers and this gives Marlow the impression that Kurtz should be admired and does not leave Marlow to create his own views and opinions of him. However, there are some people who dislike Kurtz and even though they do not say this directly to Marlow, he over-hears their conversations. This secretive talk manages to create an air of mystery and tension around Kurtz as no-one knows ‘who’ he actually is. However, it is because of everyone’s conflicting views of Kurtz that makes Marlow so interested in meeting him.
I think that Marlow looks forward to meeting Kurtz because he has heard so much about this person he wants to meet him so he can pass him own judgement. He seems to ‘expect’ something from Kurtz, such as an ideal to look up to as this is the impression that has been created for him. I think that Kurtz is Marlow’s hidden motive to get to the ‘heart of darkness’ as he ‘crept on, towards Kurtz’.
Marlow had a sense of ‘extreme disappointment’ when there was a thought that Kurtz might have died and that he would never have the chance to meet him. I think that this suggests that Marlow was becoming obsessed with the image of Kurtz. However, in a contrast to this, Marlow refers to Kurtz as ‘hollow’ more than once in the story and this could be taken negatively to mean that Kurtz is not worthy of thought; it also suggests that Kurtz is not ‘real’.
The opening sections of the novella suggest Kurtz to be an ideal agent and also a ‘scoundrel’ but it also implies that when he is struck with an obstacle he always succeeds. An obstacle currently in his path is that he is ill and the reality is that everyone gets ill, but no body wants this to happen to Kurtz and it was ‘hoped that it was not true’. The manager of the Central Station commented that Kurtz’s illness made the situation,
“very grave, very grave.”
The word ‘grave’ means serious and this suggests that Kurtz was a very exceptional man within the Company and is looked up to as supreme so when he gets ill it shows that he is only the same as everyone else. This shows the reader that Kurtz is only a human and can be affected by his surroundings.
I think that Kurtz is series of images constructed by others for their own use. As Marlow’s visits with Kurtz’s cousin and his fiancée show, there seems to be no true Kurtz. To his cousin, he was a great musician and a brilliant politician and leader of men; to his fiancée, a great humanitarian and genius. All of these contrast with Marlow’s version of the man, and he is left doubting the validity of his memories. Yet Kurtz, through his personality and overstated plans, remains with Marlow and with the reader.
