When a man's life is the sea he has much time to think about that life and who he really is or might be. In Heart of Darkness Joseph Conrad introduces readers to two such men who are at different stages of their quest to find out who they are. The two men, Marlow and Kurtz, possess traits that are a little common to every man's life, and seem to be heading in a similar direction. The career Kurtz has made for himself is not one of admiration. Kurtz had been considered in the past to be an honorable man, but his exposure to the jungle and the evil within that jungle has turned him into a sick and evil man. Despite all of this Marlow maintains that "Kurtz was a remarkable man" (1480) and remains "loyal to Kurtz at the last" (1481). Marlow says this of Kurtz because he, like Kurtz, entered the Congo with what he believed to be good intentions, and even though he may see that Kurtz is doing the wrong thing he admirers him because in the end Kurtz has a revelation before his death in which he discovers himself and how horrible the duplicity of man can be.

Upon Marlow's arrival at Kurtz's ivory death compound he is introduced to another admirer of Kurtz. The man is a twenty-five-year-old Russian seaman and has been taking care of the now ill Kurtz at the Inner Station. Not too long after meeting the Russian, Marlow refers to him as Kurtz's "last disciple" (1471). Marlow makes it clear that Kurtz is no "idol" of his to the Russian but later becomes the "disciple" himself (1471). Marlow becomes this "disciple" not because of what Kurtz has done, but rather what Kurtz has taught him. The "Heart of Darkness" is the evil within man. Marlow was slowly slipping into his "heart of darkness" before Kurtz had his deathbed realization.

he river all he can think about is Kurtz. In this mission to find Kurtz, Marlow compares everyone he meets to him. As well as trying to find Kurtz, Marlow is in fact trying to find himself. As Kurtz continues he finds himself "getting savage" which implies that he was becoming more like Kurtz. Kurtz is a murderer, thief, persecutor, and worst of all he allows himself to be worshiped as a God. Marlow is not like this at all. Marlow cannot even "bear a lie" (1446) let

Some common words found in the essay are:
Marlow Kurtz, Kurtz Kurtz, Conrad Kurtz, Heart Darkness, Kurtz Marlow, Russian Marlow, Kurtz Regardless, Despite Marlow, Joseph Conrad, Marlow Marlow, heart darkness, kurtz marlow, marlow kurtz, kurtz remarkable, kurtz kurtz, marlow kurtz remarkable, kurtz 1481, evil marlow, trying kurtz, darkness evil, loyal kurtz, disciple 1471 marlow, loyal kurtz 1481, heart darkness evil, remains loyal kurtz,
Approximate Word count = 778
Approximate Pages = 3 (250 words per page double spaced)