Resistance In Joseph Conrad's Darkness

the company's request that Marlow should prove his honesty and loyalty by signing some papers which secures that he will not tell anyone about the company's secrets. The resistance portrayed here has three dimensions. The first one is inner resistance. Every human being has two sides: the dark side that includes man's natural lust for power, sex, greed, and immorality while the other side is based mainly on resisting these notions or at least employing some of them in a proper way. Kurtz embodies a kind of person who has given up resistance to his dark side. He seems to be totally surrendering to it. Kurtz was so aspiring.; he used to have bright plans for the developing of Africa. However, when he begins to turn these vivid dreams to

'My Intended, my ivory, my station, my river, my - ' everything belonged to him" (Conrad 13). Kurtz shows his cleverness as he forces the natives to his orders. He uses various methods to achieve his aims. Kurtz uses his intelligence to brainwash them and to gain their loyalty and devotion. This method is embodied by Harlequin as he says about him " You can't judge Kurtz as an you would an ordinary man" (Conrad 132). Another method is the use of exaggerated power to maintain his position among the natives "He comes to them with thunder and lightning" (Conrad 51). This method is symbolized by "round curved balls" which turns out to be human heads. Kurtz punishes severely whoever disobeys him. By keeping these heads around the building, it serves as a remainder for those who might think of disobeying his orders. Kurtz seems to surrender to his dark side. According to Albert guerard: Heart of Darkness isn’t really about Africa, it’s a metaphor for a psychological exploration to the heart of human nature and the animal selves that lurk beneath our civilized veneers. The true darkness is the beast within, and the ease with which we may backslide when external constrictions are removed. (qtd in