Marlow's Changing Views on Kurtz

Marlow’s feelings about Kurtz constantly change throughout his recollection of his time spent in the Congo. When he first hears about Kurtz, he has a strong desire to meet him. This desire slowly fades as he realizes the cruelties forced upon the natives, all for greed and the collection of ivory. Marlow meets a Russian trader, who is a loyal follower of Kurtz. At the Inner Station, Marlow sees severed heads on stakes and learns they are heads of rebels. Instead of being disgusted, Marlow is not surprised at this act of savagery. As the trader tells Marlow about his admiration for Kurtz, Marlow believes that “it did not occur to him that Mr. Kurtz was no idol of mine” (139).

            Once Kurtz is on the boat, Marlow realizes that the manager came solely to take Kurtz’s ivory. Kurtz tells the manager that he is “not so sick as you would like to believe” (143) and does not believe that the manager came to rescue him. However, he stands up for Kurtz, telling the manager that he thinks Kurtz is “a remarkable man” (144). This action isolates Marlow from the rest of the people on board, yet he still remains loyal to Kurtz. Marlow learns from the trader that Kurtz ordered the attack on the ship because “he hated sometimes the idea of being taken away” (145). The trader trusts Marlow to maintain Kurtz’s reputation. Marlow remains loyal to his promise and thinks that “it was ordered I should never betray him- it was written I should be loyal to the nightmare of my choice” (147).

            Throughout the boat ride back to Europe, Marlow becomes Kurtz’s companion and develops respect for him. After Kurtz dies and Marlow becomes ill, he believes he must continue to live in order to “show my [Marlow’s] loyalty to Kurtz once more” (154). His close brush with death makes Marlow realize that “Kurtz was a remarkable man. He has something to say. He said it” (155). Once back in Brussels, he refuses to release all of Kurtz’s private documents, and tears the postscript off the report on the Suppression of Savage Customs in order to maintain his heroic reputation. At the end of the story, Marlow meets Kurtz’s fiancée, who is still mourning a year after Kurtz’s death. Marlow tells her that Kurtz’s last word was her name to avoid negative feelings about Kurtz. Overall, Marlow develops a deep respect and admiration for Kurtz, resulting in his utmost loyalty, even after his death.