HOD: section 5

This section of the reading is intriguing. We witness shifting in Marlow’s approval and feelings about Kurtz. Also, Kurtz has weakened even more and his days are limited. His time with the natives is coming to a close.

The Russian trader lets Marlow know that Kurtz is the one who ordered the attack on his steamer. Kurtz had hoped that the crew would be too scared to enter the shore, and the manager would think that Kurtz was dead or had died in the attack. Marlow feels indifferent about Kurtz’s decision. He sees it as an attack on him personally, but Marlow keeps his promise to the trader that he will keep Kurtz’s reputation the same as the trader leaves with a small group of natives to avoid the manager. Kurtz is moved so that he can be treated medically, but late in the night he vanishes and Marlow goes to search for him. This is where our section ends.

Marlow alienates himself in this section from the whites. It changes from a black v. white to a white v. black v. Marlow. The backing that Marlow gives Kurtz turns himself against the manager. For some reason Marlow overlooks the issues that lie with Kurtz think of him still as a magical creature. I think farther in the story we are going to see Marlow have face a choice of whether side with his kind or the natives and Kurtz. This will be prove trivial for him in my mind.