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Marlow

, and that they just couldn't see the "enemies" because they were "hidden out of sight somewhere". In actuality, they're shooting at innocent natives who have probably fled from the area of battle already. Marlow is beginning to realize that "what makes sense in Europe no longer makes sense in Africa"(Berthoud. 46). With that passage, Conrad informs the reader of Marlow's realization. From that point on, Marlow is looking to corroborate if in actuality, the mentality instilled upon him in Europe is similar to this, or if those are atypical Europeans who are living in a dream world. As the novel continues, Marlow recognizes that this flaw of not being able to see something for what it is, and in turn, not being able to give it an accurate "label", is indeed "the European way". There are some names given by the Europeans that simply don't fit the characteristic of the object being named. Marlow points out that the name 'Kurtz' means short in German. However, at Marlow's first glance at Kurtz, he remarks how Kurtz appears to be "seven feet long"(101). Conrad shows us, through Marlow's observation, how Kurtz's name is just a blatant oxy-moron. Marlow recognizes yet another obvious misrepresentation. Marlow meets a man who is called the "bricklayer". However, as Marlow himself points out, "there wasn't a fragment of a brick anywhere in the station"(39). During his voyage, however, Marlow doesn't only observe this misnaming, but realizes the importance of a name. While overhearing a conversation between the manager of the station and his uncle, he hears Mr. Kurtz being refereed to as "that man"(53). Although Marlow hasn't met Kurtz yet, he has heard of his greatness. He now realizes that by these men calling him "that man", they strip him of all his attributes. When one hears Kurtz, they think of a " very remarkable person"(39). These men are now, by not referring to him by his name, denying Kurtz's accomplishments...

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