İNGİLİZ/AMERİKAN EDEBİYATI II

Marlow gives description of the jungle as a “thing monstrous and free”.

Marlow overhears that Kurtz asked the Company administration to be sent into the deep of the jungle to prove what he could accomplish and how much ivory he can acquire.

Marlow begins his voyage to the Inner Station and the Manager, Pilgrims and about twenty natives, actually they are cannibals, accompany Marlow during this voyage.

The Harlequin then reveals a secret that it was actually Kurtz who had ordered the natives to attack the steamboat because Kurtz “hated the idea of being taken away.”

Marlow continues and says that they finally arrive at Kurtz’s Inner Station and the men on the boat are amazed to see the Station in perfect shape and order. He says there is no fence surrounding the station but thinks that there must have been one once since near the main building he notices a series of poles, topped by carved wooden balls. Later Marlow discovers that the wooden balls are the human heads and they surround Kurtz’s building.

The journey to Kurtz’s Inner Station up to the river is a symbol of travelling backwards in time since the more they go into deeper sides of the river the more they become away from the civilization.

The way the Russian at the Inner Station dresses is quite symbolic symbol. He has multicolored patches and he resembles to the map of Africa that Marlow has seen at the headquarters in Europe. The Russian mentions that he has worked for several colonial powers and he is able to survive in the jungle all alone until he met Kurtz. This can be taken as a signal that he belongs to the place, to the colonial Africa. In other words, he is the map of colonial Africa.

Soon after Marlow falls ill, and he describes as his struggle with death as, “the most unexciting contest you can imagine”.

Kurtz dies on the steamer. The steamboat breaks down and Marlow stops the engine and repairs it. He remarks that this delay is bad for Kurtz’s confidence. One morning Kurtz gives Marlow pack of papers and a photograph and asks him to keep them away from the Manager’s eyes. After repairing the engine, one evening Marlow comes to Kurtz’s room and hears the final words of he whispers.
“The Horror! The Horror!” Marlow distinguishes the candle and exits the cabin then joins the other men for dinner. Sometime later Manager’s personal attendant comes and announces that Kurtz is dead.

Considering the pilgrims the representation of civilization, the civilization
continuously blinds itself.