Heart of Darkness Group

Question:

judythatsme
judythatsme
Student
College - Junior

In "Heart of Darkness," when Marlow meets with Kurtz's Intended, what role does he assign her?

What does his view suggest about his ability to the face journey he made?

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Posted by judythatsme on Saturday November 8, 2008 at 9:03 AM and tagged with characters, heart of darkness, kurtz, kurtz intended, marlow, plot.

Answers:


  1. cybil Teacher
    High School - 12th Grade

    eNotes Editor

    Marlow parallels the Intended with Kurtz's African mistress. While the Intended has "fair hair," a "pale visage," and a "pure brow," and she is dressed simply in black, the stunning African mistress is "draped in striped and fringed cloths" and "bedecked with ... charms." Both women loved Kurtz. Marlow wants to protect the Intended, for women like her, civilized women, in his view "are out of touch with truth."

    He cannot tell her Kurtz's last words were "The horror! The horror!" because "it would have been too dark--too dark altogether." Marlow recognizes the truth of his journey; he has shared the details with his friends on board the Nellie, apparently sparing nothing. Furthermore, he knows no good would be served by telling the Intended what Kurtz had become. She needs some memories to cherish as she mourns the man she loved, a man who changed drastically because he succumbed to the lure of ivory.

    Sources:
    http://www.enotes.com/darkness/section-iii-summary-analysis

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    Posted by cybil on Saturday November 8, 2008 at 5:41 PM