“I remember his abject pleading, his abject threats, the colossal scale of his vile desires, the meanness, the torment, tempestuous anguish of his soul. And later on I seemed to see his collected languid manner, when he said one day, ‘This lot of ivory now is really mine. The Company did not pay for it. I collected it myself at a very great personal risk. I am afraid that they will try to claim it as theirs though. H’m. It is a difficult case. What do you think I ought to do – resist? Eh? I want no more than justice.’ … He wanted no more than justice—no more than justice.“ (Conrad, 91-92)
This selection begins by displaying Marlow’s disgust with Kurtz – his recognition of wrongdoing and disregard for the lives of the natives (enemies). It is this dissociation from justice which the book embodies. The reuse of the word abject shows his deep disgust with Kurtz’s mindset, and furthers that with the rest of his description.
Kurtz quote is a strong use of Conrad’s sarcasm, which as was spoke of in lecture is a very prominent element in the text. His calmness of the situation is glorified, as he develops little anger for the fortune which may be taken away from him upon his (possible) return. This gentleman-like quality shows that he is an icon of the Imperialist movement, as can be seen in Marlow’s statement “Your success in Europe is assured in any case.” (Conrad, 83) The heartless blindness to the true injustice which has been done is Conrad’s depiction of the “White Man’s Burden,” and the atrocities which it caused.
Questions to ponder upon –
1. What does Marlow’s loyalty to Kurtz represent, given the contrasting loathing he holds toward him?
2. What does Kurtz’s concern with his ivory stock parallel in real-world events? Furthermore, does his death represent the end of Imperialism or the bloodshed caused during the Imperialist movement? Why?
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