Charlie Marlow, as the main character, is very complicated. Because of the structure of the story Marlow plays two roles; one as a narrator and the other as the messenger on the voyage. The book is set up in a cylindrical style so that when the reader is first introduced to Marlow he seems tainted with wisdom, for he appears to know the meaning to life which would essentially make it not worth living. Marlow feels obliged to convey his story to his mates as they wait for the night to pass and the tide to turn. As the narration begins the reader is then introduced to the old, na?ve Marlow who once walked the earth. It is through the eyes of this Marlow that we see the world change and develop as he transforms from innocence or light, to understand evil or darkness. As an European Marlow had never really encountered anyone of significant difference until along the shore of the African Coast. Here Marlow meets the first grouping of natives which he feels apathy for, but nevertheless he doesn?t take too much notice of them. Marlow doesn?t think of them as humans but merely as something which grew out of the African soil. They are just assets to the African surroundings which represent death and suffering. As Marlow is travelling through the African Congo, he is going through a journey in his soul. As the darkness appears in the jungle it appears within Charlie?s heart. Marlow is on the quest to find Kurtz at the inner station. One may interpret this in such a manner, that Kurtz does not even exist as a real character but merely as a representation of Marlow?s evil and darkness. Once at the inner station and confronted with Kurtz, Marlow kills him, therefore killing the darkness in his heart and being able to escape the grasp of the river.
In another light, Kurtz can be viewed as another aspect of Marlow. Kurtz traveled down the same path in life as Marlow now is. Once confronted with the darkness in his soul, Kurtz was overwhelmed and consumed by it. Marlow, by seeing Kurtz?s fate, and realizing that that could be him, chose not to travel as far down that river as Kurtz. Because of Kurtz?s warning Marlow was able to escape being engulfed by his darkness.
If Kurtz and Marlow are one then the differences in where they are according to the darkness should be taken into consideration. Marlow is merely on the journey towards his darkness while Kurtz is being suffocated by his own. It was the greed for the ivory which drove Kurtz to this stage of insanity. Once Kurtz isolated himself from the civilized world he developed characteristics similar to that of a cult leader. He was able to manipulate minds of certain native tribal members to follow him and his ways. He gave himself god-like qualities such as divine wisdom and inner strength while in reality his inner self was in complete turmoil. The love and the hate within his soul were in a struggle to conquer the heart. As one critic said, ?To call Kurtz an egoist is surely one of the great understatements of our time? (Johnson 70). As the relationship between Kurtz and Marlow develops they gain a certain respect for each other in that they understand each other. They are like one. When Marlow sees Kurtz?s death he knows that if he went into his darkness any farther he too would meet his death. Kurtz?s last words were ?The horror! The horror!? (Conrad 138). At this point the reader is able to make the assumption that the hate won over the love in Kurtz?s heart.
The natives, which appear in three different stages of the novel have a role which is second to only Kurtz and Marlow. The natives embody the sum and substance of darkness within the Congo. The natives serve not only as characters but also as symbols which transform as Marlow gets closer to Kurtz. This transformation takes place in three different stages; the natives at the company, the cannibals who serve as guides on the quest to Kurtz, and those who are the protectors of Kurtz and are completely lost in their obsession for Kurtz. Each of these groups represent not only the darkness of the uncivilized world of the Congo but they also are symbolic of Marlow?s maturing process as he gets closer to Kurtz and closer to the darkness in his heart.
The first groups of natives are located at the company station which is on the outside of the dense jungle. As Marlow is forced to stay here for a few months with the steamer is being repaired, he sees many uncivilized things. These natives are slaves whose lives amount to nothing except for hard work in extreme conditions. Marlow is disgusted by the way that they are treated. This is the first time in his life that he is exposed to the evilness of civilization. These natives are na?ve and prone to death like Marlow is at the beginning of his journey.
Once the steamer is repaired, a group of cannibals is sent with Marlow to guide him to the inner station. These savages are slightly more advanced then the previous. The one thing which amazes Marlow is their will power. They are able to sustain tremendous amounts of time without food while not killing anyone to eat onboard the boat. A white man probably would not be able to sustain circumstances like this. The cannibals protect Marlow and take him to the inner station.
Once at the inner station the reader is introduced to a new kind of native. The natives which appear here are the followers of Kurtz. They are corrupted by his manipulations, and out of fear, are willing to obey his every command.
All of the natives are hollow men. The civilized man is equipped with the lusts and desires for a rich and fulfilled life style while these men are happy in being one with themselves and nature. The reason why these men do not get lost in their own darkness like Marlow and Kurtz is because Marlow and Kurtz and, ?outsiders, unable to ?read? nature and, at least in the case of Marlow, constantly and uselessly pondering its ?inscrutable? intention, the native is one with it, embraced by it, fairly breathed by it?? (Johnson 71). This paragraph explains clearly why the white men go insane when in isolation and why the natives are defined as hallow men who are easily manipulated and abused by the white men. Here, within explanation of characters, the reader is able to decipher the secret as to why light and darkness can not intertwine with one another.
By reading the novel and comprehending all of the different aspects, one will be able to go through both interior and exterior journeys of Marlow. While reading Heart of Darkness one must take George Moore?s advice in that you must study ?the paragraph, and afterwards the page, and after the page the chapter. And the chapter (should be)sought in relation to the book: the book was always in mind?? (Moore 167). This quote represents the cylindrical cycle which the novel is set in. Once Marlow is finished with his story the untold story of the narrator will begin, and all through his adventure he will surely keep in mind the story of Marlow and the light and darkness in us all.