Marlow tells of his first encounters with Kurtz and the contradicting perceptions people had of him. Conrad uses symbolism, irony, and imagery to convey the ambiance of madness and an ominous atmosphere. Marlow tells his comrades of Kurtz's more than eccentric behavior when interacting with the people around him.
Marlow spends nights awake soaking up every thing Kurtz has to say about economics, love, and life in general. The Russian trader and Marlow are unsure of Kurtz's mental state, hearing from others that he is both genius and mad man but always utterly intriguing. Kurtz tells about how he delegates the responsibilities of his ivory hunting and his ruthless discipline of those who do not measure up. Marlow sees heads lined up in the window sill of Kurtz's home. These heads show that nothing is more important to Kurtz than his business. Some would think that Kurtz's journey so far into the jungle would separate him even more from the imperialist ideas of Western culture but it is ironically not so. Kurtz's only weakness is shown when he is sick with various illnesses which the natives help him overcome. He shows the true lack of humanity when money and success is the only concern by stripping away every thing, but the business itself by living such a simple life.
The jungle is a terrible place full of cruelty and almost animalistic humans ready to take on the demands put upon them by Kurtz because he has proclaimed himself the leader. Natives are hiding in shrubbery and almost blend in with nature, making them even less human, or what human is perceived to be Western society.
Kurtz is not the man he once was, but a true product of his environment, becoming a native in lifestyle yet holding onto ideals of a previous life thus creating a paradox of a man who few can discern completely.
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