Kurtz’s Downfall in Heart of Darkness

Sophocles once said, gold Theres nonhing in the world so demoralize as m whizy. Since the beginning of time, humans have associated capital with tearing outside(a) peoples goodness or, for a more be intimaten face, the verbalise that property is the root of all evil. In Joseph Conrads Heart of Darkness, Kurtz exemplifies this demand situation of becoming middling addicted to gaining riches and lets his darker side crawfish out control. This tragic obsession eventually leads to his constitutions downfall.Kurtz is a point of reference who takes his supremacy in his job and his power over the savages very staidly and accepts unfairness into his life because of the hunger for money. Making money is like a religion to him. He uses this power in the business as an disincentive tool. Marlow recalls a conversation with a chap on the boat in which the man states, He decl atomic number 18d he would shoot me unless I gave him the bead and then cleared out of the country, bec ause he could do so, and had a partisanship for it, and then there was nothing on earth to prevent him putting to ending whom he jolly well pleased (Conrad, 315). The people underneath Kurtz are complaisant because he had been put up so high on a pedestal and was so incredibly intimidating. by his job, Kurtz is put into a position of power and was able to choose the path he cherished to take. Obviously, he chooses to respond to that inner shadower deep inside of him.Kurtz is not afraid to hurt anyone who stands in his way. He abuses the savages with his lack of morality and takes outside their native riches. His family life, with his intended, slopes downhill as he has another mistress amongst the tribe. She neer knows this, but the idea and regret of it is one of the things that eventually drives Kurtz to be somewhat insane.Marlow is extremely perplexed by Kurtz and wishes to understand him, although he does not know why. He sees what Kurtz is doing is wrong and, in a sense, I think Marlow wants to except him from himself. Marlow recognizes that Kurtzs biggest problem is what lies within him. However, towards the end of Kurtzs life, Marlow seems to have presumptuousness up hope for him ever finding the goodness. Conrad writesBut his soul was mad. beingness alone in the wilderness, it had looked within itself and, by heavens I classify you, it had gone mad I had- for my sins, I suppose- to go through the ordeal of looking into it myself. No eloquence could have been so withering to ones belief in mankind as his final give way of sincerity. He struggled with himself, too. I saying it- I heard it. I saw the inconceivable mystery of a soul that knew no restraint, no faith, and no fear, yet struggling blindly with itself. (325)Marlow clearly recognizes the fact that the love of money has taken over Kurtz and his demons all come from within. Realizing this, he sees the need to do a little soul searching. He looks within himself to assure that he has no t become a victim to the darkness as well.Through a story about a search for the riches of drop from Africa, Conrad is able to teach the reader many very important life lessons. In a way, he gives the reader an ultimatum. A person dismiss either choose a life like Kurtzs, a money hungry and selfish one taken over by the darkness of ones soul, or a life of light such as Marlows. Hopefully after reading of Kurtzs death during which he spoke his last words, the horror, the reader will see which lifestyle Conrad is encouraging.Kurtz dies in regret for all of the horrible things he had done. Marlow sees this and knows that he cannot submit to his darkness within for fear of having the same fate. Marlow was able to learn by example of how not to end up with a life that is hollow at the core. I find it very ironic that even though Kurtz was in search of something so beautiful and appealing, he ends up finding death and darkness instead.In conclusion, it is apparent what caused Kurtzs tr agic downfall. His love for money, power, and success drives him to a point of madness and, ironically, failure in life as a whole. He affects those around him, such as Marlow and the savages, by demonstrative his darker side. This submission to the darkness of his soul, caused by the love and hunger for money, demoralizes Kurtzs character until his life is no longer anything of importance.