What did Kurtz mean by the horror the horror?

And now for those famous final words: “The horror! The horror!” (3.43). Marlow interprets this for us, saying that these words are the moment Kurtz realizes exactly how depraved human nature is—that his inability to exert even a shred of self-control is the same darkness in every human heart.

Is Heart of Darkness a horror story?

Along with its various other generic affiliations — imperial romance, psychological novel, impressionist tour de force — Heart of Darkness is a horror story. Conrad’s Kurtz also channels turn-of-the-century anxieties about mass media and mass politics.

What does Conrad mean by the horror the horror?

“The horror” indicates what the West did under colonization in the name of progress and under the falsehood of civilizing the natives. Darkness prevails, when he dies. It symbolizes his actions were evil. Thus, it is Kurtz’s realization about bitter and absolute truth of his life.

What is the horror what is the significance of these being Kurtz’s final words his conclusion or Judgement?

He uttered the words “The horror! The horror!”. These words signify the evil in Mr. Kurtz, and show his horror at what might happen to him after death when he goes to hell.

What does Kurtz symbolize?

Kurtz, one of the leading characters, the other being Marlow, the narrator of the soty, represents many symbols in the novel. Firstly, he symbolizes the greed and the commercial mentality of the white people of the western countries. Secondly, he symbolizes the white man’s love of power.

What did Kurtz do in Heart of Darkness?

Kurtz is a central fictional character in Joseph Conrad’s 1899 novella Heart of Darkness. A trader of ivory in Africa and commander of a trading post, he monopolises his position as a demigod among native Africans.

What is the main idea of Heart of Darkness?

Heart of Darkness explores the issues surrounding imperialism in complicated ways. As Marlow travels from the Outer Station to the Central Station and finally up the river to the Inner Station, he encounters scenes of torture, cruelty, and near-slavery.

What is the main theme of Heart of Darkness?

One of the major themes of Heart of Darkness is imperialism. Imperialism is actually European colonization of countries from Asian and African continents for resources. However, it was hidden in the slogan of spreading civilization. Marlow accepts taking African’s land from the people is not right.

What is the significance of the quote the horror the horror?

Meaning of The horror! The horror! Many critics have raised questions about the interpretation of this phrase. Generally, it implies the horror Kurtz witnesses in Africa, though the horror could be the exploitation of Africa, evil practices of humans, his crumbling sanity, or an illusion of understanding and hope.

What does Kurtz symbolize in Heart of Darkness?

How does the heart of darkness end?

Kurtz dies on the journey back up the river but not before revealing to Marlow the terrifying glimpse of human evil he’d been exposed to. “The horror! The horror!” he tells Marlow before dying. Marlow almost dies as well, but he makes it back to the sepulchral city to recuperate.

How is Kurtz evil in Heart of Darkness?

The primary antagonist in Heart of Darkness is Kurtz, whose descent into madness makes him the clearest embodiment of corruption and evil in the novella, and ultimately the character that fully disillusions Marlow in regard to European conquests. Marlow learns more about Kurtz the further he travels.

What is the summary of heart of Darkness?

Heart of Darkness Summary. The Narrator describes a night spent on a ship in the mouth of the Thames River in England. Marlow, one of the men on board, tells of his time spent as a riverboat pilot in the Belgian Congo. With the help of his well-connected aunt, Marlow gets a job as pilot on a steamship on the Congo River in Africa…

What does the last line of heart of Darkness mean?

In Joseph Conrad’s 1899 masterpiece, Heart of Darkness, the rebel station manager, Kurtz, utters some of the most famous last words in English literature: ”The horror!…The horror!” The horror represents the monstrosity of imperialism, in which a distant, foreign nation controls the lands, resources, and peoples of another nation.

Can you stop reading heart of Darkness?

This story, literally, is a story of horror. But you just can’t stop reading. Heart of Darkness tells the story of Marlow, a young sailor hired by a fabulously wealthy Belgian trading company to travel to its territories in the African Congo, an area of dense jungle and abundant resources in the heart of Central Africa. His mission?

Who is Kurtz in heart of Darkness?

While at the Company’s Outer Station, Marlow meets the Company’s Chief Accountant. He mentions a remarkable man named Kurtz, who runs the Company’s Inner Station deep in the jungle. Get the entire Heart of Darkness LitChart as a printable PDF.