Kurtz
Joseph Conrad created
his narrator Charles Marlow to establish him as a device that would
provide both form and shape for his novels. In the present novel Heart of
Darkness he is one of the two narrators. The first one only introduces
Marlow to us and goes into the background, thereby, speaks only at long
intervals when Marlow stops narration or when he is indulged in some
philosophical brooding. It is an established and recorded fact that Heart
of Darkness is the record of Conrad’s own visit to Congo. It may
therefore, be said that Marlow plays the part in the novel which Conrad played
in actual journey. He serves as a mirror through which Conrad examines the
savage exploitation of Congo natives and the degradation of Mr. Kurtz. In fact
Marlow is another self of Conrad though there are some very vital differences
between the two persons.
Marlow moralizes in a sense in which Conrad
decidedly does not.
In the very opening of
the novel, the first narrator describes Marlow as a man,
Sitting cross-legged right aft, leaning against the
mizzenmast. He had sunken cheeks, yellow complexion, a straight back, an
ascetic aspect with his arms dropped, the palms of hands outward resembled and
idol.
Marlow’s personality is
characterized by oriental overtones. Meditation forms an essential part of him.
A contemplative man, whose abstraction from the physical world is complete.
Both as a philosopher and pragmatist he acts as a moral guide for readers as
they are confronted with hypocrisies, contradictions and imperialism. As Marlow
unfold his tale, readers are positioned to see him as a thoughtful and caring
individual, a perceptive and reliable observer and a man profoundly affected by
his encounter with Kurtz. He expresses a philosophical truth; we live as
we dream alone. He refers to man’s loneliness in the universe that
later on formed the central theme of modern literature.
While Marlow is clearly
intelligent, eloquent and a natural philosopher, he can also be described as a
psychologist. He has the insight to judge the human minds. Foe e.g. He
describes and analyses the character of the Russian with great psychological
precision and adoration towards Mr. Kurtz. He also gives convincing portrayals
of individuals whom he meets.
Marlow is brave and
daring young man. This can be depicted by the nature of his voyage and
adventure. He went to the dense Congo forest which was highly uncivilized. He
was not aware of how the natives would treat him. Regardless of all these
challenges, he accepted to go to this mission. He was also a determined young
man. Even after facing, a multitude of setbacks, he was determined to achieve
his goal of returning back home with Mr. Kurtz. He was also quite sensitive and
humane person as he could have returned back alone but he didn’t.
He can be called as a mediator
(middleman) between the two extremes- the light of civilization and the
darkness of primitivism, between colonising Europe and exploited Africa. He is
through the supreme compromiser, the moderator of the show who yet does not
renounce his own views. He is moderate enough to allow the reader to identify
with him, yet open-minded enough to identify at least partially with either
extreme. Thus, he acts as a guide for the reader.
Marlow is evidently an
appreciator of natural scenery. He is an avid nature lover. The vivid
description of Congo forest given by him is,
The edge of a colossal jungle, so dark green as to
be almost black, fringed with white sulf, ran straight, like a ruled line, far
far away along a blue sea whose glitter was blurred by a creeping mist.
The sight of the city
makes him think of a white-sepulchre. This shows Marlow disillusionment with
the city life.
Therefore, Marlow is
unquestionably a man of action, given to philosophic thinking. He has a
thoughtful mind and a tendency to meditate. Also, to brood upon what he
observes.
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