Heart of Darkness, Part III
1. Why does Marlow consider the Russian "bewildering," "an insoluble problem" (133)?
2. What is the function of the Russian in the novel? What motivates him? What do we and Marlow learn about Kurtz from the Russian? What is his relationship to Kurtz (134ff.)? What was Kurtz doing in the "heart of darkness"?
3. Why does the Russian think that “you can’t judge Mr. Kurtz as you would an ordinary man”? (135)
4. Why did Kurtz want the Russian’s ivory and for him to clear out of the country? (136)
5. What does the Russian mean when he says that Kurtz would “go off on another ivory hunt; forget himself amongst these people—forget himself—you know”? (136)
6. What do the "heads on the stakes" reveal about Kurtz (137)? When Marlow first makes out what he had taken for "attempts at ornamentation," "its first result was to make me throw my head back as if before a blow" (137). But then he explains that he "was not so shocked as you might think" (137). How do you interpret Marlow's response that this "was only a savage sight"----"being something that had a right to exist--obviously--in the sunshine"--that "pure, uncomplicated savagery was a positive relief"--but from what? (138-9)?
7. What significance do you gather from the skulls being turned toward Kurtz’s hut and not outward toward those approaching? (137)
8. The heads, Marlow decides, "only showed that Mr. Kurtz lacked restraint...," and his "magnificent eloquence" could not help him (138). What is the "deficiency" that Marlow perceives in Kurtz--the lack of "restraint" that left Kurtz vulnerable to "the wilderness [which] had found him out early, and had taken on him a terrible vengeance for the fantastic invasion" (138)?
9. Why does Marlow scoff at the description of the heads belonging to "Rebels!" (139)? Compare this to his Part I reaction to Africans being labeled "enemies."
10. When Kurtz finally appears in the story (140ff.), does he confirm the advance accounts that we have had of him?
11. Marlow says, “This shadow looked satiated and calm, as though for the moment it had had its fill of emotions” (141). Why is he a shadow and why do you think he looks satiated and calm?
12. Marlow describes Kurtz repeatedly as "a voice"--again (141). What is the significance of this description? What other terms used to describe Kurtz seem to you particularly important?