The Search for Mr. Kurtz: In Joseph Conrad’s – The Heart of Darkness
Abstract
This is a novel of delusions, anxiety, and suspense. The central theme is about Mr. Kurtz, the leader of an expedition to central Africa with dual purposes:
- One was to discover and reap the profit in the trade of ivory
- The second was to suppress the savage customs and spread European civilization.
But the greed for wealth and ivory corrupted Kurtz. So that, to establish his authority and control the natives he resorted to murderers and even criminal cannibalism. The horror of human skeletons heads decorating the window of his house cannot be amusing. It shows the savagery of a monster with dead human sensibilities.
But he is highly respected and honored in England. It is said he could have been a successful politician. He is so eloquent that he draws a crowd. Marlowe, the narrator has a message for Kurtz from the company. But he finds Kurtz only in stories and anecdotes from his acquaintances. So the search for Kurtz is like searching for a needle in a haystack.
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References
Agamben, Giorgio. “Studies in poetics- on the topic – An Enigma of the Basque Woman”,
Conrad, Joseph: The Heart of Darkness
Eliot, T.S.“The Love Sung of J. Alfred Pruffrock”,
Barthes Rowland.“The Pleasure of the Text”,
Fish,Stanley.“Is There a Text in this Class”,
Works Cited
Agamben Giorgio. Studies in poetics- on the topic – An Enigma of the Basque Woman.
Stanford: Stanford University Press, 1999.
Barthes Rowland: The Pleasure of the Text.
N.Y. Hill and Wang. Division of Farrar Straws Groux, 1997.
Conrad Joseph: The Heart of Darkness.
U.K. Wordsworth Editions, 1995.
Eliot T.S. Collected Poems. 1909-1962. In the poem: The Love Sung of
J. Alfred Pruffrock. Faber London Faber Limited 1936.
Stanley Fish: Is There a Text in this Class.
Cambridge Mass: Harvard University Press, 1972.
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