Heart of Darkness: Entry 5

Marlow begins to discuss Kurtz, mentioning that he had a fiancee back in England, whom he called his Intended.  He speaks on the fact that Kurtz seems to talk as if he possessed everything--ivory, women, land, etc.  Although this somewhat troubles Marlow, he digresses on the subject, remarking that it is his fault that Kurtz's memory exists whatsoever.  It is apparent that Marlow's curiosity in Kurtz is rather unusual.  He recalls a report that Kurtz submitted to the International Society for the Suppression of Savage Customs, in which he writes, "Exterminate all the brutes!"  But Marlow suggests that Kurtz had undoubtedly assimilated into Native customs and rites, and that his words had a sacrificial basis. 

As Marlow struggles over the justification of the killings committed by Kurtz, he drops the thought altogether to return to his sailing, the dead helmsman at his feet.  He blames his helmsman's death on the fact that he decided to shoot at the natives on the shore without restraint, which is ironic considering that the whole crew's motives are unrestrained and imperialistic.  Marlow throws his dead body overboard, to the cannibals' disappointment.  As he and the crew discuss what blows must have been dealt to the attacking natives earlier in their passage, the Inner Station where Kurtz is supposedly stationed comes into sight.

A Russian trader on the shore steps onboard to speak with Marlow as the rest of the crew go to retrieve Kurtz.  He agrees that the ship's wistle works best at scaring off the natives, but says that they probably mean no harm, they simply just want Kurtz to stay (which seems contradictory, considering the supposed mass murders of natives on Kurtz's behalf).  The trader's portrayal Kurtz is odd altogether, as he says that one can only listen to Kurtz, not converse with him. 

"Restraint! What possible restraint? Was it superstition, disgust, patience, fear--or some kind of primitive honour? No fear can stand up to hunger, no patience can wear it out, disgust simply does not exist where hunger is; and as to superstition, beliefs, and what you may call principles, they are less than chaff in a breeze." (Conrad 83)

This quote by Marlow seems to justify the motives of the very groups of people they acknowledge as "savages."

"[We whites] must necessarily appear to them [savages] in the nature of supernatural beings--we approach them with the might as of a deity. By the simple exercise of our will we can exert a power for good practically unbounded...Exterminate all the brutes!" (Conrad 92) -Mr. Kurtz in his report

This quote seems to portray the Hitleresque world view that the extermination of "primitive" peoples is an endeavor for good and the betterment of humanity as a whole.

M. Gandhi was outspoken in his oppositions to imperialistic racism and debasement of oppressed peoples. He advocated purification, altruism, patience, and civil resistance towards oppressors and unjust authorities. It is unfortunate that the natives of the African Congo did not have such a strong political and spiritual leader to organize civilized revolts against the powers that plundered them of their pride and resources.