Marlow's Identification with Kurtz and his Illness.
In Heart of Darkness by Joseph Conrad, Kurtz's character has a very strong influence on the story. He is not the protagonist however. This man is Marlow. Now, the dynamic between Marlow and Kurtz is a very important relationship. Kurtz was insane, however, Marlow still was strangely attracted to him and all surrounding him. Throughout the story, Marlow could identify with Kurtz and his illness; they were two very alike people, even if on opposite ends of the spectrum. .
From the beginning, Kurtz is Marlow's "choice of nightmares". As soon as his name is mentioned, Marlow is bent on finding this man. Idealistic thoughts frolic in the seaman's head as he gladly takes the position of captain down the river. No one else seems as enthusiastic however, which is the first clue that Marlow and Kurtz share something special. The manager in fact, wants nothing more than to eliminate Kurtz all together. "We will not be free from unfair competition until one of these fellows is hanged as an example" (76). In this same scene, a bit more is learned concerning Kurtz's illness. Apparently, Kurtz has gone from the emissary of light who wanted "each station [to be] a beacon on the road towards better things, a centre for trade of course, but also for humanizing, improving, [and] instructing" (76) to a man who shuns all humanity and keeps to himself "Clear this poor devil out of the country I had rather be alone than have the kind of men you can dispose!.
of with me" (75). This is all the more appealing to Marlow who shares some of Kurtz's ideals.
Marlow respects the savages, even identifying with them. He describes to the company on board the Thymes cruise that " they were not inhuman what thrilled you was just the thought of their humanity the thought of your remote kinship with this uproar if you were man enough you would admit that there was in you just the faintest trace of a response of there being a meaning which you could comprehend" (80).