Heart of Darkness 4

“I seemed at one bound to have been transported into some lightless region of subtle horrors, where pure, uncomplicated savagery was a positive lief, being something that had a right to exist – obviously – in the sunshine” (133-4).

                In the narration Marlow has finally reached the station, the home of the mysterious Kurtz. However, what he is encountering has left him dumbfounded. Kurtz is a dark character, a character instilling fear on all those around him, and Marlow has realized that this is a place where he may not necessarily want to be. As he states, he has been “transported into some lightless region of subtle horrors.”  However, these things have not been kept lightless under Kurtz. These things normally kept out of view are being paraded. They are being kept “in the sunshine.” The natives follow Kurtz’s command and attack viciously under him. There are heads propped up on stakes being displayed. What most view as dark horrible actions are being celebrated. Marlow is becoming gruesomely aware that this is not simply a station for collecting ivory. Kurtz has created an alternate society here where he is allowed to do as he pleases, and all those around him worship his every action, whether out of fear or not.  Conrad perfectly depicts it as “pure, uncomplicated savagery.” Throughout the story the native people had been looked at as savages, but for the first time a white man is being associated with this savagery. That is what is so astounding to Marlow. He does not want to have anything to do with a man who is supposed to be civilized yet that can instill this kind of environment. Savagery can no longer be something solely associated with the natives. The African people cannot be the only ones associated with the darkness anymore, and Marlow is taken aback by this realization.