. This same idea of distorting a person's character by changing his name is displayed elsewhere. The Europeans apply the terms 'enemy' and 'criminals' to the natives. In actuality, they are simply "bewildered and helpless victims...and moribund shadows"(Berthoud. 46). Clearly, the injustice done by the simple misnaming of someone is unbelievable. After witnessing all of these names which bare no true meaning, as well as possibly degrade a person's character, Marlow understands that he can not continue in his former ways of mindlessly giving random names to something in fear of diminishing the essence of the recipient. As a result, Marlow finds himself unable to label something for what it is. While under attack, Marlow reefers to the arrows being shot in his direction as "sticks, little sticks", and a spear being thrown at his boat "a long cane"(75--77). When Marlow arrives at the inner station, he sees "slim posts...in a row" with their "ends ornamented with round carved balls"(88). In truth, these are poles with skulls on top of them. Marlow can formulate a name even for the simplest of things. Taking a step back and looking at his voyage, Marlow realizes the insignificant, mindless, meaningless 'labels' which the Europeans use to identify with something, and he wants to be able to "give to experience, names that have some substance". At this point, he is similar to Adam in the Garden of Eden who is "watching the parade of nameless experience" go by. However, Marlow is missing an essential thing which Adam possessed. As opposed to Adam, who was delegated by G-d to name experiences, Marlow lacked this authority to name. It is Kurtz who will become this authority, and eventually teach Marlow the essence of a name(Johnson. 76). Mr. Kurtz is the Chief of the Inner Station. He is a "universal genius, a prodigy, an emissary of pity science and progress"(40-45). It is Kurtz who will teach Marlow what a name is, fo...
