Conrad's frame narrator learns that his ideas about imperialism are founded on a number of lies about European imperialism that he wholeheartedly believed. At the end of the story, however, Marlow's tale significantly changes the narrator's attitude toward the men of the past.
The narrator's description of the sky parallels the atmosphere aboard the Nellie, they also reflect the moral haze in which Marlow finds himself as he journeys closer and closer to Kurtz. The afternoon is like the tale that Marlow will tell, ambiguous, brooding, and dark.
The narrator remarks that for Marlow, "the meaning of an episode was not inside like a kernel but outside, enveloping the talk which brought it out only as a glow brings out a haze."" The way that Marlow tells his tale is as much of the novel as the tale itself. .
Before Marlow starts telling his tale, the narrator's values and assumptions are shown. He speaks of the Thames as a "venerable stream- that exists to perform "unceasing service- to those who have tamed it. To the narrator, nature is there only to serve mankind, especially commerce and trade (profit). This is exactly how Marlow feels in the beginning of his tale. This is shown by the conversation he had with his aunt before he left on his voyage when his aunt said "the labourer is worthy of his hire,"" and he says "it's queer how out of touch with truth women are if they were to set it [the world] up it would go to pieces before the first sunset."" Marlow feels that the world is run for profit. However, in the end of the story, Marlow lies to Kurtz' fiancé, telling her that his last words were her name. This was a boldface lie, and Marlow hated lies. Therefore, this shows his attitude towards women has changed.
In the end, Marlow's tale has significantly changed the narrator's attitude toward European imperialism. The narrator compares him to "a meditating Buddha- "clearly he has been touched by Marlow's teachings.
