The More Honest of Two Evils
... forced to lie to Kurtz’s Intended. He tells her that Kurtz last word was her name. Marlow had told the Russian that “Mr. Kurtz’s reputation [was] safe with [him],” (106) and ultimately it was. When he did this he not only became the embodiment of that which he “detested” he also let Kurtz escape, “that justice which was his due,” (131) thereby staying “loyal to the nightmare of [his] choice.”(109) Marlow himself is a tool of the Imperialist machine that is the Company. He follows the orders of the Manager by making his way to Kurtz. Both the Company and Kurtz are referred to as “nightmares” by Marlow. Between these two evils, he must choose the lesser one. Marlow states that, “it is strange how I accepted this unforeseen partnership, this choice of nightmares forced upon me in the tenebrous land invaded by these mean and greedy phantoms.” He himself admits that he “accepted” one of two forms of Imperialism, (hypocritical and open.) Marlow is also sickened by the suppression, greed and corruption that result from Imperialism. He dislikes the brutal control of the native inhabitants by the Europeans, whom he describes as “strong, lusty, red-eyed devils, that swayed and drove men…” (25) Also, the greed of the Europeans is looked upon with disdain by Marlow, and he sees this most in Kurtz, when he describes him as, “this Kurtz grubbing for ivory in the wretched bush.”(7...