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Kurtz The Russian Marlow Commentary Please choose a character… Quit application Marlow’s id Sees Kurtz as evil, completely primal, materialistic..."he could not have been more irretrievably lost than he was at this very moment." (99) Shocking because it represents a version of Marlow completely surrendered to id. "the terror of this position was...that I had to deal with a being to whom I could not appeal in the name of anything high or low." (100) Lack of society, survival instincts stir the id inside of Marlow "'if you try to shout I'll smash your head..."(99) After all this? Commits to Superego when enlightened as Buddha figure.

Kurtz The Russian Marlow Commentary Please choose a character… Quit application Marlow’s ego Attracted to both superego and id-enters a sort of middle ground: the central station. "I went to work the next day, turning, so to speak, my back on that station. In that way only it seemed to me I could keep my hold on the redeeming facts of life." (33) Are natives good or bad? "The prehistoric man was cursing us, praying to us, welcoming us-who could tell?" (53) Is imperialism just? Once he leaves the immediate European sphere of influence, ego kicks in to balance his morals and his instincts. Confusing for him. Wonders about Kurtz’s true nature, forming a contrasting genius/insane image in his head-starting to give him a chance

Kurtz The Russian Marlow Commentary Please choose a character… Quit application Marlow’s superego Outer station: still under influence of European values. Shows the influence of society on superego “After all, I also was a part of the great cause of these high and just proceedings.” (22) Lies to the Intended "But I couldn't...tell her. It would have been too dark too dark-too dark altogether." (116) Has seen the intensity of the id, dedicates self to superego in response - enlightenment, ability to look back on the journey as a moral expedition

Joseph Conrad’s Heart of Darkness Analysis Using a Psychological Lens by Julia Jones, Rachel Harshaw, and Allen Li

What is a “psychological” critical lens? This lens is based off the idea that everyone has unconscious desires, impulses and feelings that drive people to partake in certain behaviors. Using this strategy, we can explore the motivations of the author, the readers, and the characters as well as any important symbolism.

Classic Freudian Theory Id The “pleasure principle” Desire to have basic needs met Ego The “reality principle” Filter Ensures that the impulses of the id are controlled Superego The “conscience principle” Moral compass The idea of what is considered "right and wrong" based off of society or parents.

The Oedipus Complex Idea that a boy has a natural instinct to kill his father and marry his mother Developed by Freud Name derived from Oedipus in Sophocles’ play Oedipus Rex

You’re ready. Let’s enter a psychological viewpoint.

Kurtz The Russian Marlow Commentary Please choose a character… Quit application Kurtz’s id Inner Station itself represents the id Cannot fulfill desires: "Mr. Kurtz lacked restraint in the gratification of his various lusts, that there was something wanting in him – some small matter which when the pressing need arose could not be found under his magnificent eloquence. Whether he knew of this deficiency himself I can't say. I think the knowledge came to him at last – only at the very last" (57) Megalomaniac- wants control over people he deems inferior: pamphlet on civilizing natives but ends up writing "exterminate them all" on it

Kurtz The Russian Marlow Commentary Please choose a character… Quit application Kurtz’s ego Weak ego defers to id desires Kurtz has no restraint of the id in Africa; therefore, he has no ego there However, in Europe, the presence of the Intended suggests he has control of his id

Kurtz The Russian Marlow Commentary Please choose a character… Quit application Kurtz’s superego Weak superego defers to id desires In the wilderness, Kurtz has lost his superego to balance out the id. "The wilderness echoes loudly within him because he hollow at the core” ( Possible meaning for “The horror, the horror!”

Kurtz The Russian Marlow Commentary Please choose a character… Quit application The Russian’s id The Id is the desire to have basic needs met. The Russian demonstrates this by looking to Kurtz for guidance, a lifestyle and a companion, which are part of basic human nature Believes Kurtz to be a deity and has an instinct to follow his instructions without question Eventually abandons Kurtz and asks for supplies from Marlow "I say, haven't you a pair of shoes you could spare?" (95) Conrad's Purpose: Conrad includes the Russian in the last passage of his novel to show that the "Heart of Darkness" and being away from regular society was turning white imperialistic men back towards basic human needs.

Kurtz The Russian Marlow Commentary Please choose a character… Quit application The Russian’s ego The ego deals with reality and ensures that the impulses of the id are controlled and can be expressed in a manner acceptable in the real world; however, the Russian Trader does not exhibit this subconscious state. The Russian Trader exhibits more of the id and superego.

Kurtz The Russian Marlow Commentary Please choose a character… Quit application The Russian’s superego The Russian Trader builds his morals off of Kurtz as he lacks membership to a civilized society or to a stable family unit. "The man filled his life, occupied his thoughts, swayed his emotion" (84). The Russian Trader exhibits his superego by clearly believing that Kurtz does no wrong and that all of his actions are justified. "You can't judge Mr. Kurtz as you would a normal man" (84). Conrad's Purpose: The author includes the Russian Trader as an example of how influential Kurtz was over the people living at the inner station. Kurtz shaped his followers' morals.

Kurtz The Russian Marlow Commentary Click a character to analyze Quit analyzer Works Cited About

Kurtz The Russian Marlow Commentary Please choose a character… Quit application Final Commentary Conrad offers insight into the true dark natures of humans and how they compensate (or fail to compensate, in the case of Kurtz) for this through moral direction. The "heart of darkness" itself represents many things. Go deeper into the Congo to the natives European hearts are dark – imperialism Marlow’s own heart and its desires, as seen in Kurtz’s surrender to the id All parallel to the ultimate struggle between the id and the superego that we all must face.

Works Cited

Authors of this presentation: Julia Jones, Rachel Harshaw, Allen Li Specific slide contributions: Rachel-Marlow & Commentary Allen-Kurtz & Design Julia-Russian & Definitions 12 th Grade AP English Literature teacher: Mr. Flaherty, period 7 No portion of this presentation and its application has been downloaded from the Internet. Click anywhere to go to the main screen… Authors of this presentation: Julia Jones, Rachel Harshaw, Allen Li Specific slide contributions: Rachel-Marlow & Commentary Allen-Kurtz & Design Julia-Russian & Definitions 12 th Grade AP English Literature teacher: Mr. Flaherty, period 7 No portion of this presentation and its application has been downloaded from the Internet. Click anywhere to go to the main screen… ClockWorks CitedStarting pointQuit

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