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What Does Kurtz Symbolize

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Society’s first principles were established around conceited desires, causing people to have excessive lusts for power, wealth, and fame. People have since grown, forming a more sophisticated culture; yet, have not recreated their natural instincts. Conrad’s Heart of Darkness showcases this idea that humanity's natural instincts are based off of primitive and savage characteristics of early civilization. Most people that are traveling the Congos shows some characteristic of their fiendish past. However, Kurtz is the epitome of this idea because of his impulsive desire for power, wealth, and fame. Throughout the story Conrad uses Kurtz’s return to archaic logic as a symbol to drive the central idea of the novel.

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