The pursuit of power is common in those seeking control over their lives. It can quickly become all consuming and intoxicate the person in pursuit, clouding their goals and over turning their morals. In Joseph Conrad's The Heart of Darkness, Kurtz' dying words "the horror! The horror!" describe how, through the pursuit of power and wealth, one will ultimately sacrifice themselves. Kurtz was drawn to the jungle for the ivory, but once there was given a taste of power and craved it in excess. This led to power being derived from the brute force he extends upon the Congolese, which in turn instills fear giving him ultimate control. Finally, Kurtz' physical deterioration is a direct result of his attempt to posses an unattainable amount of control and power of those around him.
Kurtz began his quest for power almost immediately after arriving in the jungle. He was given a glimpse of the value and business of collecting ivory, which created a crave for a monopoly. He was aggressive in his pursuit of power; " well he wanted it, and wouldn't hear reason. He declared he would shoot me unless I gave him the ivory and then cleared out of the country nothing on earth would have prevented him killing who he jolly well pleased"(Conrad 129). Kurtz does not want any ivory leaving the Congolese jungle that is not coming from his business, therefore he forcefully takes any and all amounts from those not working with him. He will not hesitate to kill or harm anyone who stands in the way of his overall goal, which is to control the ivory exportation from the African wilderness. In more ways than one, Kurtz struggle for power affects his treatment of others and the condition of his own mental sanity; which are both in turn reflected in a negative light. In addition, Kurtz' intelligence is wielded over the Congolese people in a fashion that presents itself as a form of mental abuse, which can also be viewed as mental power.