Blog 5: Heart of Darkness

In paragraph 142, Marlow draws the audience into a lull with the heavy syllables and somber tone in his speech to demonstrate Kurtz's descent into the darkness of his soul. Using the words "heavy, mute spell", Marlow describes the wilderness of Africa as a captivating, mysterious, and dangerous force that draws Kurtz to awaken his primitive and "brutal instincts." He suggests that this heavy spell further draws him deeper into the jungle, where the "throb of drums, the drone of weird incantations" develop the monotonous and savage mood of the darkness. The vibrant and mysterious imagery of the jungle and the natives develops the sense that Kurtz becomes overwhelmed by the darkness inside of him, as he souls descends into madness.