Heart of Darkness by Joseph Conrad is a dark and mysterious tale, with complex themes and characters. One of the main characters in this tale, Kurtz, does not appear until the end of the story. Yet it has a significant presence and manages to remain in the reader's mind. He influences the development of the characters and seems to have many personalities, which confuses the reader about Kurtz's true identity and another meaning is that he is also involved in a minor conflict hidden in the story. Say no to plagiarism. Get a tailor-made essay on "Why Violent Video Games Shouldn't Be Banned"? Get an original essay Marlow, the protagonist of Heart of Darkness, becomes influenced more by Kurtz through the various stories he hears about him, which ultimately leads Marlow to be affiliated with him. Marlow first hears about Kurtz when he talks to the chief accountant, who refers to Kurtz as a truly extraordinary man. During this time, Marlow's interest in Kurtz grows and from this moment he continues to have conversations about him with different people: the general manager and the brickmaker. The general manager sees Kurtz as an exceptional man, of the utmost importance for the company. Marlow soon becomes obsessed with Kurtz, but denies it: “I would think of Kurtz from time to time. I wasn't very interested in him. No. However, I was curious to see if this man…would eventually rise to the top and how dedicated he would be to his work.”(Conrad 69) Unfortunately for Marlow, allying himself with Kurtz makes him unlikable in the eyes of the company. representatives. When Marlow calls Kurtz an extraordinary man, the general manager returns to what he was and turns his back on Marlow. Furthermore, intrigued by Kurtz; he focuses his hopes on a man who may not resemble the great legends that surround him Marlow finally meets Kurtz, she realizes that the wilderness has had an effect on Kurtz and that, as a consequence of her following Kurtz, it has affected him too: "I had to - for my sins, I suppose - go through the ordeal of examining it myself." eloquence could have been as compelling to faith in humanity as his last burst of sincerity. He wrestled with himself too, - I felt it.” (Conrad 112) Even after Kurtz's death, Marlow is still haunted by him. Furthermore, the mystery of Kurtz is his identity. Even though he only appears for a brief moment in the story, we don't really know who the real Kurtz is. Each person Marlow approaches has a different perception of him. For most of the company's employees it is extraordinary, especially for the Russian trader. Through his swords, it is obvious that he is like a disciple of Kurtz. Although Kurtz once attempted to shoot the Russian, the Russian did not leave him and remained by his side. “I gave him the ivory. What did I care? But I didn't clear the field. Ninth. I couldn't leave him!”(Conrad 101) Even when Marlow accuses Kurtz of being crazy, the Russian denies it, which shows his dedication. But, when Marlow returns to Brussels after Kurtz's death, every person he talks to has a completely conflicting view of Kurtz. His cousin calls him a musician and the journalist says: "He could have been a splendid leader of an extreme party." (Conrad 119). Even Marlow himself does not know the real Kurtz. The only side Marlow observes is the dark side, the side that has become evil, selfish, and, above all, mad. Please note: this is just an example. Get a custom paper from our expert writers now. Get Custom Essay Furthermore, Kurtz Power is very influential and most of the company is afraid of him. The power Kurtz has in the company is envied.