ve they know what is right and what is wrong to do, and what theyre doing is right (Quinn 167). Everything and everyone is to live the taker lifestyle because that lifestyle is the right way to live. Oddly enough, the taker culture actually performs the exact opposite results from what it attempts to accomplish. As Ishmael preaches, everything was in good order. It was the Takers who introduced disorder into the world (146). When man thought he was not exempt from the laws of nature, he and everything was fine. When man decided that he was exempt from the laws of nature, he introduced chaos. Ishmael indicates to his pupil that takers do not wish to realize their destructive ways. To them, ignorance is bliss. If takers actually gave up their lifestyle, it would mean that all along theyd been wrong. It would mean that they never known how to rule the world. It would meanrelinquishing their pretensions to godhood (Quinn 168). Takers ignorance is evident in Heart of Darkness. When Marlow visits Kurtzs fiance, she is still in mourning over Kurtz. She has been dressed for mourning for over a year. And yet, her devotion is not actually to Kurtz himself, but rather to his image. She is wholly devoted to the seemingly noble purpose of Kurtzs mission to Africa. Like takers, she desires to believe in the greatness of men like Kurtz and their ideas without realizing that it is wrong and harmful. Her loyalty to his image is so dedicated that Marlow must lie to her. Marlow does not admit that Kurtz deserted his ideas of civilizing the African culture and that his last words were The horror! The horror! Instead, he tells her that Kurtzs last words were her name. The only purpose this serves is letting her cling to her false impressions, strengthening the belief that takers are right.Another example of this blindness is visible in the imagery of Kurtzs painting. Marlow sees the painting on the wall of the Brickmakers room. It depicts...
