I think that Marlow came a little too late to see the real Kurtz, the one who was showered with praise coming from other agents such as the chief accountant, the Russian trader who worked with him and was close to him. At the same time, Marlow was maybe expecting too much out of Kurtz after what he had heard; he thought he was going to meet a God-like figure. Since his hopes were very high, he was disappointed after seeing Kurtz but also showed some admiration towards him. Marlow also stated the “incredible degradation” of Kurtz, who had been sick and was dying. The latter was “not much heavier than a child” something Marlow stated as he was carrying him at a point in Part III. Kurtz was not the same as before; the wildlife clearly had taken over him as it had done with many other pilgrims. He was mad but still his conscience and intelligence. Maybe Kurtz was overrated and did not actually deserve all of this praise but I mostly think that he was a great man but had been transformed and became “scientifically interesting” after years passed in Congo. Other pilgrims who had seen Marlow with Kurtz were not impressed as they would have been had this been some time before. Marlow states that the “pilgrims looked upon me with disfavor”, something they firstly felt about Kurtz and now about Marlow because he was with Kurtz.
Kurtz was leading a double life at this point in my opinion as he was liked by some natives who did not want him to leave. They obeyed him; like for example when he ordered some to attack the steamship Marlow and the manager were on. He himself did not want to leave. His mistress was a native as well. On the other hand, Kurtz was still performing his duty towards the Company as the amount of ivory he had collected was still good.
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