Heart of Darkness #6

In the final section of Heart of Darkness, Kurtz is carried out to the steamer because he is sick. The natives are very distraught and upset he is being taken back to Europe because he is their sole voice. It is very clear too, that Kurtz is going to die.

When he had a candle in front of him, he could not even see the light. It was unable to penetrate his darkness and now, he is lying in the dark waiting for death.

We come across the mistress who is the complete opposite of Kurtz’s intended. She has seen all of the horrible things occur and represents someone that has been affected. The mistress is completely savage and wild. Kurtz’s intended on the other hand, represents European thinking – she doesn’t understand the darkness. The intended is very naïve too, as she thinks she knows Kurtz but she really doesn’t.

I think Conrad did something very interesting in this passage, and that is while Kurtz is being taken there are shadows covering her. It is like the darkness is growing on her and she is being painted.