The Powerful Voice of Kurtz in Conrad’s Heart of Darkness Essay

The Powerful Voice of Kurtz in Conrads oculus of Darkness Many times, quarrel by themselves do non convey an idea wholly or conceal it altogether. Instead, the vocalisation carrying the words conveys the idea, lending shape and new meaning to the familiar syllables. Words discover with prescribed meanings, whereas voice creates its give meaning and identity. In Conrads Heart of Darkness, voice comprises the primitive component of language, with words existing only as a secondary function of voice. Glimpsing a primitive truth, Kurtzs voice and soul unite so that his knowledge speaks with his voice, rather than through his words. Alternately run offing words of their meaning and filling them with new meaning, Kurtzs voice contains the power to define his own words. Strip Kurtz of his common syllables, and what cadaver is a terse none in a margin of 17 eloquent pages, a frightening voice shaped by unacquainted with(predicate) words. Marlow first hears of Kurtz as a word repe atedly spoken by others. As Marlow navigates rout the river, traveling farther from civilization, Kurtzs voice amplifies, last consuming the name and the man himself.The voice of Kurtz is heard and realized not in the familiar words of others, besides in the journey down the river into the unknown. Peoples inability to pronounce Kurtzs name suggests the legitimacy of Kurtzs own voice and the weakness of the words used to disembowel him. When describing Kurtz, familiar vocabulary fails altogether Kurtz remains a word with smaller meaning. Marlow first hears of Kurtz from the Companys chief restrainer at outside Station. When asked who Kurtz is, the accountant responds, He is a very remarkable person (37).* The accountant does not mention his name without adding t... ...r. The structure of words and the report atomic number 18 unable to contain his voice. Like Kurtzs last words, these simultaneously drain all meaning from words and add their own new meaning, bring out only lies.In German kurtz means short. What Kurtz actually says is plain and terse, but appalling. It is not hidden behind words, but revealed within Kurtzs own voice and scribbled in margins. However, it is the voiceless words, the written words, the lies, and not the note scribbled by his own voice that Kurtz asks Marlow to preserve. By wanting to preserve his report, Kurtz acknowledges the power of written words. He knows that besides Marlows memory, writing is the only thing that bath begin to immortalize him. But, perhaps, Kurtzs knowledge is meant to die along with his voice. whole kit and caboodle Cited* Joseph Conrad, Heart of Darkness (London Penguin Books, 1995).