Who are the main characters in Heart of Darkness?
- Marlow. The protagonist and main narrator of the story, he stumbles into Africa looking to sail a steamboat and finds much more.
- Kurtz. He is in charge of the most productive ivory station in the Congo.
- Manager.
- Brickmaker.
- Russian.
- Natives.
- Chief Accountant.
- Marlow's aunt.
- Marlow. The protagonist of Heart of Darkness. ...
- Kurtz. The chief of the Inner Station and the object of Marlow's quest. ...
- General manager. The chief agent of the Company in its African territory, who runs the Central Station. ...
- Brickmaker. ...
- Chief accountant. ...
- Pilgrims. ...
- Cannibals. ...
- Russian trader.
Why there are two narrators in heart of Darkness?
The two narrators go on describing the events one after another, interweaving all the incidents. In frame narrative, one narrator makes frame by introducing and explaining the events at the beginning, then handing over the narrative to another narrator and at last again resuming the narrative himself.
Who is the protagonist in heart of Darkness?
Marlow serves as the protagonist of Heart of Darkness, and most of the novella features him telling his own story from his own perspective. Marlow’s experience involves him traveling deep into the heart of colonial Africa and witnessing horrors that force him to reevaluate his faith in European imperialism and its civilizing mission.
Who is Kurtz in heart of Darkness?
Kurtz is a central fictional character in Joseph Conrad's novella Heart of Darkness. A trader of ivory in Africa and commander of a trading post, he monopolises his position as a demigod among native Africans. Consequently, what is Kurtz a symbol of in Heart of Darkness? Kurtz symbolizes the far end of where greed can take you.
Who is Marlow in heart of Darkness?
Who Is Marlow In Heart Of Darkness?Marlow is a thirty-two-year-old sailor who has always lived at sea. The novel's narrator presents Marlow as
Who are the characters in the story Heart of Darkness?
Main Characters in Heart of Darkness are: The Narrator, Charlie Marlow, Mr. Kurtz, General Manager' The Accountant, The Brick-maker, The Harlequin (Russian Trader), Marlow's Aunt, The Doctor, The Pilgrims, The Helmsman, Kurtz's Native Mistress, and Kurtz's Intended.
Who is the main narrator in Heart of Darkness?
MarlowMarlow narrates his story in the first person, describing only what he witnessed and experienced, and providing his own commentary on the story.
Why are Marlow and Kurtz the only characters with names?
Marlow and Kurtz are the only ones named because they do not hide who they are, everybody else does not see the truth, and they are the only ones who achieve enlightenment. ...read more. The two men are not afraid to openly show themselves.
Is Marlow a boy in Heart of Darkness?
Heart of Darkness As a young man, Marlow wished to explore the "blank places" on the map because he longed for adventure; his journey up the Congo, however, proves to be much more than a thrilling episode.
What is the main conflict in Heart of Darkness?
Arguments and disagreements between characters do make up some of the conflict in Heart of Darkness. This can be seen during Marlow's (the main character) trek between the first station and Central Station. He has to mediate conflict between the natives who carry their supplies and his white companion.
What is the main setting in Heart of Darkness?
Most of the action happens in Africa, but Heart of Darkness begins and ends in a boat on the River Thames, just outside of London.
Who is the antagonist in Heart of Darkness?
KurtzThe primary antagonist in Heart of Darkness is Kurtz, whose descent into madness makes him the clearest embodiment of corruption and evil in the novella, and ultimately the character that fully disillusions Marlow in regard to European conquests.
Why are the characters nameless in Heart of Darkness?
In The Horror and the Human). As stated this “hollowness” is an important reason Conrad does not name his characters, but allows the inhumaneness consume the character showing their true intentions and inherent …show more content…
How are the female characters represented in Heart of Darkness?
In the world of Heart of Darkness, women are second-class citizens at best. They don't know what goes on out on the water or in the jungle, and for the narrator Marlow and most of the other men of the novel, they don't need to know - telling women the truth would wreck their innocence and politeness.
Why is it called Heart of Darkness?
The phrase 'Heart of Darkness' refers to the inmost region of Africa (which was in those times still in the process of being explored) and the black people who still led primitive lives. The title is appropriate for the novel because Marlow has described his experiences of the Congo and people of Congo.
Who are the cannibals in Heart of Darkness?
In Heart of Darkness, the cannibals were indigenous Africans hired to work on the steamboat during its journey up the Congo River.
Is Heart of Darkness a true story?
Conrad's famous novella is based on a real journey the author took up the Congo in 1890, during King Leopold II of Belgium's horrific rule. It is a fantastic, imaginative journey to find a man named Kurtz who has lost his mind in the African jungle.
What do Marlow and Kurtz have in common How are they different?
In Joseph Conrad's Heart of Darkness, Marlow and Kurtz are tremendously similar, but their slight differences set them apart. Both Marlow and Kurtz traveled far into the Congo, leading them closer to darkness. But, where Marlow chooses restraint, Kurtz chooses to the temptation of the wilderness.
How are Marlow and Kurtz the same?
In Heart of Darkness by Joseph Conrad, Marlow and Kurtz represent foils driven by the wilderness. In Heart of Darkness, Marlow and Kurtz have many similarities. Perhaps the most apparent and literal similarity is the likeness of their journeys. Both men journey farther and farther into the African jungle.
What does Kurtz symbolize in Heart of Darkness?
Kurtz, one of the leading characters, the other being Marlow, the narrator of the soty, represents many symbols in the novel. Firstly, he symbolizes the greed and the commercial mentality of the white people of the western countries. Secondly, he symbolizes the white man's love of power.
How should we interpret the character of Mr Kurtz and why?
One of the most enigmatic characters in twentieth-century literature, Kurtz is a petty tyrant, a dying god, an embodiment of Europe, and an assault on European values. These contradictory elements combine to make Kurtz so fascinating to Marlow — and so threatening to the Company.
What is meant by “the fascination with abomination”?
The fascination of abomination means that people are interested in the dark and twisted side of human nature.
How? What kind of man is Kurtz, so far?
The Russian says that you simply can't judge Kurtz like an ordinary man. Kurtz seems larger than life. One can take him at many levels. At once he...
What happens and what do the natives attack?
The natives attack the steamship. The cannibals seem to have anticipated this and dive into the river. The natives resent the European "pilgrims" t...
The Narrator
The Narrator is an unnamed man who relates Marlow’s story to the reader.
Charlie Marlow
Charlie Marlow is man who is the protagonist of the novel Heart of Darkness. He is a master storyteller and able to catch attention of his listeners into his tale. His expedition of voyage towards Congo River reveals the core of Conrad’s novel. Marlow pilots a steamboat to relieve Mr. Kurtz and on his journey observes things minutely.
Mr. Kurtz
Kurtz is the character in heart of Darkness that creates curiosity among readers. He is the man who is chief of the Inner Station for a British trading company. Mr. Kurtz is the major quest of Marlow. He has a God-gifted talent as he is a painter, musician and a persuasive man at a same time.
General Manager
The Manager is chief agent of company at Central Station and oversees the Company’s activities in the Congo. The character of the Manager is based on a real person, Camille Delcommune. The Manager is average in appearance and possesses a strange capacity to cause uneasiness in people around him.
The Accountant
The Accountant is also working at Outer Station. He an efficient worker and a well dressed man who has a trained native woman to care for his wardrobes. When Marlow meets him, he complains about the groans of a man who is dying and brought to his office for fear of being distracted and making clerical errors in the Company’s books.
The Brick-maker
Brick-maker is the man who has a task to make bricks but he does not make any bricks because of a shortage of materials. He is one of the favorite man of the Manager. When Marlow meets him at the Central Station, Marlow suspects that he is “pumping” him for information about the Company’s plans.
The Harlequin (Russian Trader)
The Harlequin is a Russian freelance trader who has gone into the African interior as a trading representative of a Dutch company. He is devoted disciple of Kurtz and admires him immensely. His remarks about Mr. Kurtz are, “This man has enlarged my mind.”
Who is Kurtz's companion?
Kurtz's devoted companion, he is an idealistic explorer who has wandered to the Congo on a Dutch ship and has been caught in the web of Kurtz's obsessive ivory hunt. He is so young that it is uncertain whether or not he fully understands what he is doing in Africa. He is more or less attracted to the glamor of adventure. His unwavering support of Kurtz makes him humble and admirable .
What is Kurtz's role in Marlow's journey?
He is in charge of the most productive ivory station in the Congo. Hailed universally for his genius and eloquence, Kurtz becomes the focus of Marlow's journey into Africa. He is the unique victim of colonization; the wilderness captures him and he turns his back on the people and customs that were once a part of him.
Who are the grunt crew of Marlow's ship?
They are the grunt crew of Marlow's ship, and they are the only group of natives who ever voice any kind of statement or opinion to the whites. Marlow is surprised at their tranquil manner, and he seems to respect them.
Who is the main narrator of the story?
Marlow. The protagonist and main narrator of the story, he stumbles into Africa looking to sail a steamboat and finds much more. He possesses a strong interest in the past. He also has a good work ethic; he views working hard as a means of achieving sanity.
What are the pilgrims in the story?
Pilgrims. The collective white presence in the story, they accompany Marlow and the Manager on the voyage to Kurtz's station. They exist in opposition to the natives and the cannibals, and their fear makes it apparent that they are unwilling to relinquish preconceived notions about the natives.
Who is Marlow in Heart of Darkness?
Marlow. One of the five men on the ship in the Thames. Heart of Darkness is mostly made up of his story about his journey into the Belgian Congo. Marlow is a seaman through and through… read analysis of Marlow.
Who is Kurtz in the Congo?
Kurtz. The fiancé of his Intended, and a man of great intellect, talent, and ambition who is warped by his time in the Congo. Kurtz is the embodiment of all that's noble about European civilization… read analysis of Kurtz.
Who is the one who relays to the reader Marlow's story about Kurtz and the Congo?
One of the five men on the ship in the Thames, he is the one who relays to the reader Marlow's story about Kurtz and the Congo. He is insightful, and seems to understand Marlow… read analysis of Narrator
Who is the General Manager's uncle?
The General Manager's Uncle. The uncle of the General Manager , and the head of the Eldorado Exploring Expedition. Like his nephew, the uncle has come to Africa to make his fortune. He is generally untalented, and his expedition disappears in the jungle.
Who is the protagonist in Heart of Darkness?
Marlow is the protagonist in Heart of Darkness and is an adventurer who learns more of society and himself than he does of Africa in his adventures. The manager is the antagonist. He tries to keep Marlow from getting to Kurtz and learning about the true nature of the company and civilization.
Who is Marlow in Heart of Darkness?
Marlow is the protagonist in Heart of Darkness. He is the 'all-around good guy'. This is the character we feel like we can relate to. Life is hard, and despite his flaws, he tries to do what is right and remain true to himself. Marlow heads off into Africa with dreams of adventure.
What does Marlow want to do with Kurtz?
Marlow hears him speaking of the desire to get rid of Kurtz. The manager only cares about becoming more powerful. He wants to climb the ladder to success as well as make the company a stronger one .
Who is Marlow's foil character?
Marlow's Foil Character. Kurtz acts as Marlow's foil. Marlow admired Kurtz because 'he had made that last stride, he had stepped over the edge, while I had been permitted to draw back my hesitating foot.'. In our society, we may see Marlow as a hero because he remained true to society, while Kurtz is not a hero.
Is Marlow a good man?
Marlow remains a good man at the end of the book, yet he has been changed. He has seen the darkness in the world and can no longer look at the world with his rose tinted glasses. He realizes that civilization may be more of a lie than we like to think.
Heart of Darkness Main Characters
Charlie Marlow is the protagonist of the story. The bulk of the narrative follows his adventures down the Congo River. As a boy, he was fascinated by the blank places on maps and became a sailor so that he could explore those places. After traveling in Asia, he finally gets the opportunity to travel to Africa.
Heart of Darkness Character List - Minor Characters
The brickmaker is suspected to be the general manager’s spy at Central Station. Though as his title suggests, he is supposed to make bricks, he is unable to because there is a shortage of supplies. He spends most of his day lazing around.
To Sum Up
The main characters in Heart of Darkness each represent something specific. Kurtz represents Europe by thinking he is better than the locals yet showing that he is motivated by the same base desires that he considers savage. The general manager represents the company, caring only about his position and money at the expense of others.
What is Marlow's story about?
Marlow's story of his voyage up the Congo River constitutes almost all of Conrad 's novel. He pilots the steamboat sent to relieve Kurtz and is shocked by what he sees the European traders have done to the natives. Kurtz an ivory trader for the Company. Kurtz works out of the Inner Station and is remarkably effective at acquiring ivory.
What is Marlow's aunt's job?
Marlow's Aunt Using her influence with the wife of a high Company official, she helps Marlow get his post as a steamboat pilot for the Company. Kurtz's Intended a demure and mourning young woman; Marlow visits her after he returns to Europe and lies to her about her fiancée's last words. She is dressed in black.
Is Marlow based on a real person?
The Manager Working out of the Central Station, the Manager oversees the Company's activities in the Congo. (He is based on a real person, Camille Delcommune.)
Who is Kurtz in the book?
Kurtz is a mysterious figure throughout much of the novel. Marlow first hears about him from the Chief Accountant, who describes him as a first-class agent in charge of a very important trading post. Kurtz contributes more ivory than the all other posts combined. (Read extended character analysis of Kurtz.)
What is Charles Marlow's character?
Charles Marlow is thin and weathered, He resembles a religious or spiritual figure, being initially described as an “idol.” By the conclusion of his tale, he resembles a meditating Buddha, sitting cross-legged. Marlow is unusual for a sailor because he is motivated by his desire to explore different lands, whereas other seamen are content with life on the open sea. (Read extended character analysis of Marlow.)
Who is the narrator of the Nellie?
The narrator is an unnamed man aboard the Nellie. His profession is undisclosed. He knows Marlow fairly well, since he is unsurprised by Marlow’s philosophizing and recounting of a characteristically “inconclusive” story. He is captivated by Marlow’s tale, listening to the very end.
Who was the helmsman in the ship?
The helmsman is an African man who had been taught how to steer the steamboat by Fresleven. He is killed by a thrown spear when the ship is attacked by Kurtz’s African followers.
Who was Marlow's predecessor?
Fresleven was Marlow’s predecessor in the Congo. He was killed over a dispute about chickens. Described as quiet and gentle, he decided to beat up the chief of the local village, prompting the chief’s son to run a spear through Fresleven. The villagers scattered and the steamer abandoned the site.
Who is the protagonist in Heart of Darkness?
Marlow serves as the protagonist of Heart of Darkness, and most of the novella features him telling his own story from his own perspective. Marlow ’s experience involves him traveling deep into the heart of colonial Africa and witnessing horrors that force him to reevaluate his faith in European imperialism and its civilizing mission.
What does Marlow do after Kurtz's death?
Following Kurtz’s death, Marlow experiences the full effects of his crisis of faith when he must choose what to reveal and what to conceal about Kurtz to Kurtz’s fiancée. With this choice, Marlow wrestles with the proper response to immorality, and ultimately chooses to protect her from the darkness that has consumed his own mind.