![]() While it is easy to dismiss his state of mind as the effect of greed and arrogance-his ability to accumulate massive amounts of ivory has rendered him a god-like entity in the eyes of both the British (19), and the natives within the Congo (51)-there is decidedly more to Kurtz’s madness than monetary lust. Additionally, the narrative is quick to establish that Kurtz has fully descended into the “farthest” state of madness, but is decidedly less clear as to why. ![]() While this nautical reference is used in a literal sense-Marlow is telling the tale of his journey up the Congo-it clearly encapsulates the state of Kurtz’s mind. The protagonist and narrator, Marlow, draws the reader’s attention to Kurtz’s plight early on, describing Kurtz as a “poor chap” who existed at the “farthest point of navigation” (5). While the narrative is arguably more concerned with Marlow and his struggle between these two realms, it is Kurtz who is of most interest, his madness and its effects dominating the narrative from nearly the beginning. This struggle between awareness and madness is evidenced in both Marlow and Kurtz. ![]() It is as concerned with man’s ability to descend into madness as it is with his ability to break away from it and triumph over the dark, consuming impulses that threaten to consume his heart and mind. ![]() ![]() Joseph Conrad’s Heart of Darkness is a novel about the human psyche. ![]()
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