Critically examine the character of Marlow in ‘Heart of Darkness’. Sourav Omnibus. Heart of Darkness by Joseph Conrad.

 Heart of Darkness: Conrad

 Q.) Critically examine the character of Marlow in ‘Heart of Darkness’.

 Ans.) ‘Heart of Darkness’ is primarily a record of Conrad’s own visit to the Congo region. In this

novel Joseph Conrad has guised himself behind Marlow and through the character Marlow he speaks

to the reader. though there are certain marked difference between both of them yet they are identical

to a great extent. Conrad himself was a philosopher, psychologist, moralist, interpreter, man of action

and had an exceptional command over language. These characteristics are projected in the central

figure Marlow.

 Like Joseph Conrad, Marlow also is in love of adventure and exploration. He is fearless, dynamic

and undaunted personality who faces all the dangers and perils of adventure. Marlow and Conrad

both got fascinated by the Congo river on the map in their childhood and later on got the opportunity

to realize it through an aunt’s help.

 Joseph Conrad is often condemned for his clumsy device of using two narrators. First narrator is

introduced in the beginning of the story who talks about the past life, career and characteristics of

Marlow; after that Marlow starts narrating and the previous one becomes a listener. Marlow is used

as a device, a figure created by Conrad to carry on the narration, to report on events and to examine

and observe individuals and events partially. “Marlow’s existence”, according to Richard Curle,

“permits Conrad to be in the right place at the right move”.

 Marlow probes deep into the secret motives of people he comes across. He explores the sub-

conscious of his mind also and expresses it effectively. He talks to Russian for not more than a couple

of hours yet becomes able to declare an accurate judgement that the Russian is the man of adventure,

pure and simple. Ha very precisely and exactly portrays the Manager of the Central Station as “nothing

within this man”; for Mr. Kurtz he says that he is “hollow at the core”. These are the partial judgement

given by Marlow; likewise, he also talks about himself. He discusses about the value of inner strength

also. Thus, as a philosopher and psychologist he probes into his own mind as well as into the mind of

other characters also.

 Marlow seems to be gifted with the skill of observing minutely and depicting them faithfully and

accurately. He has described vividly and elaborately the natural scenery, the climate, the complexion

and traits of Congo men as well as of white-men. He observes some pieces of decaying machinery and

a heap of rusty rails; purposeless firing of guns and useless blasting of rocks, the pathetic sight of six

men chained together, dying men etc. He narrates them so effectively that they seem live to us, as we

ourselves have seen them. He has described nature very elaborately in the novel, its darkness, blows

of climate and immense heat clearly get reflected in his words.

 Marlow listens a great deal about Mr. Kurtz before he meets him in the conversation with an

accountant, Manager of the Central Station, Brick-Maker and foremost the Russian. They inform him

(Marlow) about Mr. Kurtz’s past life, his reputation in Congo, his passion for ivory, his love for his

“intended” (=desired things), lust for power and his influence over the natives. He also learns about

Mr. Kurtz’s identification with wild barbarians and his regular participation in their midnight dances,

ending always with “unspeakable rites”. He also comes to know about Mr. Kurtz’s sense of self-

possession.

 On the basis of all these information forms an opinion about Mr. Kurtz that he is a man of diabolical

(=hellish) nature and has taken “a high seat amongst the devils of the land”. After all Marlow

appreciates Mr. Kurtz for his eloquence (=oratory). He serves him a lot during his illness and has a nice talk with him. During that period of going to Europe with Mr. Kurtz for his immediate medical

treatment he comes to know about Mr. Kurtz’s “intended” (in both sense). At the time of death

Marlow hears Mr. Kurtz, exclaiming in terror: “The horror! The horror!” He interprets it as a

confirmation of Kurtz’s moral victory over the evil forces.

 He feels himself so akin to Mr. Kurtz that after his death when he meets Mr. Kurtz’s fiancée, he

tells her a lie on asking for Kurtz’s last words; he says it was her name. he tells this lie just with the

purpose of not making her disillusioned, more sad; and moreover due to his loyalty. He remains loyal

even after Mr. Kurtz’s death.

 Marlow, the narrator, is highly symbolical. He represents the spirit of adventure and the love of

exploration. Marlow symbolises the writer’s skill of probing the human mind. He also reflects the self-

exploration. Thus, ‘Heart od Darkness’ may not be seen as a physical journey into an unexplored dark

country but also as a mystical and psychological journey.

 It is Marlow, the narrator, who portrays all the characters and events, minor or major, in the novel.

He is of great importance because in spite of being a narrator, interpreter, observer, philosopher and

psychologist, he projects the novelist Joseph Conrad himself.