Heart of Darkness - Joseph Conrad (1899) - Cruelty

Extract

[...] Heart of Darkness - Joseph Conrad (1899) - Cruelty Within the text of Heart of Darkness, cruelty is a prominent concept. The corruption exhibited is essential to the book, shaping not only the story but the characters such as Kurtz. Cruelty is an important factor for the victims because it serves as a crucial motivation to live and as a major social factor. The acts of cruelty displayed in the novel were presented by the perpetrators, or the Europeans and Kurtz, toward the victims, or the Natives. [...]

[...] It might have been connected with the philanthropic desire of giving the criminals something to do." All over the country were holes, rusted machinery, and explosions. This is an example of cruelty because it did more harm than the good it was supposed to bring. The forced actions caused the destruction of land pointlessly and the abuse of the native people. Kurtz, Another Source of Cruelty Kurtz who branches off from the Europeans is another source of cruelty. Kurtz is seen as the main character, though he is seen very little in the novel. [...]

[...] "At least it must have been that, for she talked like a fury to Kurtz for an hour, pointing off me now and then." The Russian says this to Marlow when the African woman is first seen, and it can be assumed that Kurtz and the woman are so close because they have spent intimate time together. After a thorough analysis of Heart of Darkness, it can be concluded that the novel's essence is cruelty. Without cruelty, characters such as Kurtz would not be able to develop, altering the story completely. Though cruelty harms the Natives and essentially ruins their lives, it allows the reader and other characters to see Kurtz's true self: a heinous and mercenary man. [...]

[...] Although he was supposed to bring these riches back to Europe, Kurtz was a stingy man and kept all of it to himself. He ordered the Natives to attack Marlow's boat so that they could not take him back home. Outside of Kurtz's residence in the native land, he kept fear alive by placing the heads of the Natives on poles. This symbolized not only Kurtz's authority, but cruelty. The destructive behavior Kurtz shows exposes him as a selfish man who cared for nothing but his wealth and prestige. [...]