Heart of Darkness: Characters

Marlow — One of the five men on the ship in the Thames. Heart of Darkness is mostly made up of his story about his journey into the Belgian Congo. Marlow is a seaman through and through, and has seen the world many times over. Perhaps because of his journeys, perhaps because of the temperament he was born with, he is philosophical, passionate, and insightful. But Marlow is also extremely skeptical of both mankind and civilization, and, to him, nothing is simple. As the Narrator describes him: “to him the meaning of an episode was not inside like a kernel but outside, enveloping the tale which brought it out only as a glow brings out a haze.” The one thing Marlow does seem to believe in as a source of simple moral worth is hard work.

Kurtz — The fiancé of his Intended, and a man of great intellect, talent, and ambition who is warped by his time in the Congo. Kurtz is the embodiment of all that’s noble about European civilization, from his talent in the arts to his ambitious goals of “civilizing” and helping the natives of Africa, and can be seen as a symbol of that civilization. But in his time in Africa Kurtz is transformed from a man of moral principles to a monster who makes himself a god among the natives, even going so far as to perform “terrible rites.” His transformation proves that for all of his talent, ambition, and moral ideas, he was hollow at the core.

General Manager — The head of the Company’s Central Station on the river. Untalented and unexceptional, the General Manager has reached his position of power in the Company because of his ability to cause vague uneasiness in others coupled with an ability to withstand the terrible jungle diseases year after year. The General Manager has no lofty moral ambitions, and cares only about his own power and position and making money.

The Russian Trader — A wanderer and trader who wears a multi-colored patched jacket that makes him look like a harlequin (a jester). Through some miraculous stroke of luck, he has ended up alone in the jungle along the Congo and survived. He is naïve and innocent and believes Kurtz is a great man beyond any conventional morality. He even nursed Kurtz back to health on a number of occasions though Kurtz once threatened to shoot him. Of all the white men in the Congo, only the Russian refrains from trying to assert control over the jungle.

Narrator — One of the five men on the ship in the Thames, he is the one who relays to the reader Marlow’s story about Kurtz and the Congo. He is insightful, and seems to understand Marlow quite well, but otherwise has little personality. He does seem to be affected by Marlow’s story.

The Brickmaker — The General Manager’s most trusted agent. A sly, lazy, power-hungry fellow who despite his title seems to have never made a brick, the Brickmaker cares only about his own advancement and therefore sees Kurtz as a threat. He also thinks that Marlow and Kurtz are somehow allied within the company. Marlow describes the Brickmaker as a “papier-mâché Mephistopheles.”

The General Manager’s Uncle — The uncle of the General Manager, and the head of the Eldorado Exploring Expedition. Like his nephew, the uncle has come to Africa to make his fortune. He is generally untalented, and his expedition disappears in the jungle.

Kurtz’s Intended — The woman in Europe to whom Kurtz is betrothed to be married. She is incredibly idealistic about both Kurtz and the colonization of Africa. She continues to mourn Kurtz as a great man even a year after he dies.

Marlow’s Aunt — A well-connected and idealistic woman, she helps Marlow get the job as a steamer pilot for the Company. She is extremely idealistic about the European colonization of Africa, seeing it as a beautiful effort to civilize the savages.

Director of Companies — One of the five men on the ship in the Thames who listen to Marlow’s story.

Lawyer — One of the five men on the ship in the Thames who listen to Marlow’s story.

Accountant — One of the five men on the ship in the Thames who listen to Marlow’s story. He is not the same as the Chief Accountant.

Fresleven — A steamship pilot who got into a silly argument that cost him his life. His death opened the position into which Marlow was hired.

Doctor — A medical man in the sepulchral city who is interested in how the Congo drives men crazy.

Swede — A steamship captain who has nothing but disdain for the “government chaps” who care only about money.

Chief Accountant — A Company employee at the Outer Station who wins Marlow’s admiration simply by keeping himself impeccably groomed. (Do not confuse him with the Accountant on the ship in the Thames.)

The Foreman — A man who helps Marlow repair the steamship.

The Pilgrims — Company agents that Marlow gives the derisive nickname Pilgrims because they carry long wooden staves wherever they go.

The Helmsman — A coastal native of Africa trained to man the helm of a steamship. He works for Marlow until he’s killed.

African Woman — A savage and stately African tribeswoman who seems likely to have been Kurtz’s lover.

The General Manager’s servant — A native boy who has grown insolent because he works for the General Manager.