Heart of Darkness Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

Heart of Darkness - Essay ExampleKurtz is repeatedly described as mad and this madness had its sources in two important things a) intellect/genius and b) unbridle power. Perhaps Marlow gave one of the best explanations for madness indoors Kurtz when he tries to understand the sources of depths of madness that he spy in Kurtz. It is where he overcomes with this deep urge to kill Kurtz because the man looked just so extraordinarily uncouthSoul If anybody has ever struggled with a soul, I am the man. And I wasnt arguing with a lunatic either. call back me or not, his intelligence was perfectly clear-concentrated, it is true, upon himself with horrible intensity, yet clear and thitherin was my only chance-barring of course, the killing him there and then, which wasnt so good, on account of the unavoidable noise. But his soul was mad. Being alone in the wilderness, it had looked within itself, and, by heavens I tell you, it had gone mad. He struggled with himself, too. I saw it,-I he ard it. I saw the inconceivable mystery of a soul that knew no restraint, no faith, and no fear, yet seek blindly with itself. (144-145)This passage makes one thing clear. Kurtz was not a lunatic. His soul was the center of his corruption and his asinine antics. The man had lost faith, fear and anything else that could keep a watchful eye on his soul. Marlow testifies in privilege of Kurtzs clear thinking.