“In the jungle, the mighty jungle, the lion sleeps tonight.” (CITE) Heart of Darkness by Joseph Conrad shows the struggle between the superego and the id, the human and inhuman parts of a person, in taxing situations through its main character, Charlie Marlow, and the trials and tribulations he faces in the Congo jungle. Conrad shows using vivid imagery and description to explain the Congo jungle, how the jungle begins to change Marlow and make him rely more on his instincts, and it contrasts Marlow’s happy ending through the character of Kurtz. The setting of the novella, the Congo jungle, is the main factor in the novella that causes the battle between the id and the superego. Throughout the novella, Marlow faces extremely harsh and desperate …show more content…
Before Kurtz entered the jungle, he appears to have been a normal man. As The Intended tells Marlow, “It was impossible to know him and not to admire him. Was it?” (Conrad 322) This quote shows how Kurtz used to be a great man and someone who you could look up to. He used to be an artist and a politician. Unfortunately, the harsh conditions of the jungle changed him, and turned him into a cruel man who treated the natives horribly and viewed himself as a god. As the Russian tells Marlow, “I tell you, this man has enlarged my mind.” (Conrad 305) This quote shows just how much Kurtz is able to influence those around them. Not only does he act like a god towards the natives, but he also acts like one to his fellow workers. Kurtz is so delusional, he sends natives to attack Marlow on his steamer to prevent him from coming. As the manager tells Marlow, “he hated sometimes the idea of being taken away- and then again… But I don’t understand these matters. I am a simple man. He thought it would scare you away- that you would give up, thinking he was dead.” (Conrad 312) This quote shows just how far Kurtz was willing to go to stay in his position, that he even risked Marlow getting injured. These terrible acts that Kurtz commits show just how much his id has taken over. He has so little consideration for his fellow man and now only lives for himself. While Marlow was able to leave the jungle with a new look on life, Kurtz was driven to delusion by the circumstances and took advantage of his place in society. His final words, “the horror! The horror!” (Conrad 318) shows his last minute regret for what has he done. Unfortunately however, this regret came too