Heart+of+Darkness+-+the+plot+part+III


 * Starts with him describing Kurtz
 * Conrad talks about the relationship between Kurtz and the Russian.
 * Russian was a companion of Kurtz, he listened to him and devoted himself
 * Kurtz raided the land of ivory and got a tribe to follow him
 * Kurtz does not like the jungle – he had fallen sick twice yet he did not leave him
 * Kurtz wanted to shoot Russian beacuse he had ivory and declined to give it to him. in the end the russian gives it to him
 * Kurtz hated all of this but couldnt get away.
 * the russian offers to leave with him, Kurtz agrees but them goes on another ivory hunt and forgets himself around the tribe
 * Heads on poles surrounding a house on the bank
 * Marlow recognizes the heads as a sign of Kurtz’s wanting of something
 * He makes it clear that he is not an admirer of Kurtz, the man breaks down stating that they were short on medicine and food, and that Kurtz was merely just alive because of this
 * Marlow sees Kurtz lying on a stretcher – still alive
 * The Russian talks to Marlow showing him the ceremonies used when approaching Kurtz, but Marlow says he doesn’t want to hear it.
 * Description of Kurtz (7 feet tall, covering had fallen off, etc)
 * Kurtz tells Marlow he is glad he is there, as someone has sent him letters about his arrival.
 * The Manager and Marlow talk about Kurtz and how he has done more harm than good to the company, and how great of a man he had been.
 * Marlow finds out that it was Kurtz that ordered the attack on the steamer.
 * Marlow was baffled by the fact that he had ever met a phenomenon that was Kurtz!!
 * The habitants are holding a religious service for Kurtz
 * Marlow tries to pull Kurtz away from this mysterious fire dance and succeeds
 * Marlow follows the managers doers and they manage to get Kurtz on to the boat to bring him back to civilisation
 * On the way down the river hundreds of natives follow them as if they're looking for Kurtz but they eventually drive them off by frightening them with the boat horn and shooting at them.
 * Kurtz's life was swiftly dimming but he had somehow managed to save some energy for his last moment. Kurtzs struggled to speak.
 * He acted like a child. He wanted to be admired as he went with Kings wanting to meet him on his return. Kurtz tells Marlow to close the shutters and there was silence.
 * Kurtz mumbles to himself, 'live rightly, die, die...' and Marlow just listens.
 * Kurtz utters his famous words "the horror, the horror"
 * As Marlow looks up at the station through binoulars he realises the top of the fence posts are actually human heads. He thinks the wilderness has overtaken Kurtz, and implies that Kurtz himself has become a savage
 * The manager and the other men come to the steamer carrying Kurtz who is extremely sick
 * The Manager reveals to Marlow that Kurtz has done the company more bad than good because his method was so unsound. This is followed by the Russian requesting Marlow not to talk about anything that will damage Kurtz's reputation when they go back
 * At noon the next day they leave with Kurtz and the people of the tribe gather on the river bank and shout mournfully at Kurtz's departure
 * Kurtz grows weaker and weaker as they head back down the river towards the sea, one night Marlow enters his room when Kurtz tells him he is waiting to die. While Marlow watches him a change comes over Kurtzs face as if he were seeing something. His last words are " The horror, the horror"
 * The pilgrims bury Mr. Kurtz the next day.
 * Marlow becomes ill, and he suffers a lot and barely survives
 * Marlow's near death experience allows him to reflect on everything, and realize that in the end, he has nothing to say... and that Mr. Kurtz was a remarkable man because he had "something to say"
 * After Marlow recovers, he returns to the "sepulchral city" of Brussels. And he does not account for much of his time when ill.
 * In Brussels, his aunt nurses him back to health, and the Company's men come to retrieve the document that Mr. Kurtz had entrusted to Marlow. But Marlow only gives them a part of the document.
 * Several people including a journalist and a man with an 'official manner' come to Marlow looking for details about Kurtz found in the files in Marlow's possession

Part 3 starts with a conversation with the Russian and Marlow where the Russian explains how he talked about life and love with Kurtz on many occasions and how he nursed Kurtz through two illnesses. The Russian also explained how Kurtz would leave for months at a time to collect ivory and at one point threatened to shoot the Russian if he didn’t hand over the ivory in his possession. Kurtz’s cabin also has heads of natives on poles surrounding it. The Russian explained his distress on how Kurtz is neglected by the Company and no one seems to be helping him in his sickness.

Marlow then sights Kurtz who arrives on a stretcher looking ill and is surrounded by natives. Marlow notices the way Kurtz commanded the natives. Many of the natives disappeared but a handful of them helped Kurtz return to his cabin and some natives carried his weapons. Marlow meets Kurtz and gives him letters. Kurtz replies saying “I am glad” and Marlow realizes someone has told Kurtz about Marlow and he is delighted with Kurtz’s words. The woman then appears and is described very closely and disappears. The manager then talks to Marlow on how Kurtz was the one who caused the attack on the steamboat because he doesn’t want to be taken away. Marlow then gives the manager cartridges, tobacco and shoes. Marlow later wakes up around midnight and sees the natives camping in the nearby forest. He heard a cry and realizes Kurtz isn’t in his cabin so when he wanders about he finds Kurtz by the bank of the river crawling. Marlow remembers the old woman with her cat back in England. Kurtz is depressed that his plans won’t come through. Marlow is scared that Kurtz might shout causing the natives to come out and attack Marlow so he threatens Kurtz that he will throttle him if he shouts. Marlow sees that Kurtz has a sinful soul.

Next day at noon, Marlow and the crew leave with Kurtz on the steamboat. All the natives gathered and surrounded the steamboat. The woman is present there too. Enraged, Marlow pulls the whistle to scare the natives so they all scatter. Kurtz’s health continues to worsen and he talks of random things like his ivory and his station. Soon the steamer broke down, and at this point Kurtz gives Marlow a packet of papers and a photograph of his fiancée. Marlow tries hard to fix the steamboat and eventually it does get fixed. As Kurtz’s health degrades he cries out in pain and his last words were “The horror, the horror.” After Kurtz dies he is buried and when Marlow returns to England he is questioned by many people for Kurtz’s papers but he refuses to give them. Marlow also realizes he never new Kurtz’s real profession. Finally Marlow meets with Kurtz’s fiancée. She still mourns him even after a year of his death. She claims that she knew him the best and no one loved Kurtz as much as her. She also is saddened by the fact that she wasn’t there when he died. Marlow lies about Kurtz’s last words, saying the last thing Kurtz said was her name. He couldn’t tell her what he actually said since he felt it was too dark. The novel ends with a final reference to the title, “lead into the heart of an immense darkness.” Madihah Mujeeb 1B-1