Heart+of+Darkness

Literapedia Book Notes for
=//Heart of Darkness// by Joseph Conrad=

Characters

 * **the narrator** (ch 1)—a friend of Marlow.
 * **the Director of Companies** (ch 1)—the owner and captain of the Nellie; Marlow’s friend.
 * **the Lawyer** (ch 1)—a friend of Marlow.
 * **the Accountant** (ch 1)—a friend of Marlow.
 * **Charlie Marlow** (ch 1)—a sailor who relates the story of his foray into Africa.
 * **Marlow’s aunt** (ch 1)—uses her influence to help Marlow procure a position as a steamboat captain.
 * **the old doctor** (ch 1)—gives Marlow a physical before his trip.
 * **the Swedish captain** (ch 1)—takes Marlow from the seat of government on the coast to the Company’s main station.
 * **the chief accountant** (ch 1)—meets Marlow at the main station.
 * **the stout man with moustaches** (ch 1)—works at the Central Station.
 * **the general manager** (ch 1)—tells Marlow that Kurtz is ill.
 * **the manager’s spy** (ch 1)—a brick-maker who is impressed with Marlow’s European connections.
 * **the foreman** (ch 1)—a boiler-maker by trade who helps Marlow make repairs to his steam boat.
 * **the manager’s uncle** (ch 1)—leads an expeditionary group.
 * **the helmsman** (ch 2)—steers Marlow’s boat up the river.
 * **the Russian** (ch 2)—a freelance trader befriended by Kurtz.
 * **Kurtz** (ch 3)—“a remarkable man”; an agent of the Company who is in charge of the Inner Station.
 * **the native woman** (ch 3)—Kurtz’s lover.
 * **the manager’s boy** (ch 3)—announces the death of Kurtz.
 * **a clean-shaved man** (ch 3)—a Company official who seeks Kurtz’s documents.
 * **Kurtz’s cousin** (ch 3)—believed Kurtz to be a musical genius.
 * **a journalist** (ch 3)—thought Kurtz would be a “splendid leader of an extreme party.”
 * **the Intended** (ch 3)—Kurtz’s fiancée.

Chapter Summaries

 * Chapter 1:**
 * Aboard the Nellie, a cruising yawl anchored outside of London, Marlow begins the story of his adventures in Africa.
 * Marlow describes his interest in Africa and how he received help from an aunt in procuring a position in a trading Company.
 * After traveling to the European continent, Marlow signs his contract of employment with the Company and receives a physical.
 * Marlow travels to Africa and is given passage to the Company’s main station.
 * At the main station, Marlow meets the chief accountant and first learns of Kurtz, a first-class agent of the Company and the chief of the Inner Station.
 * Marlow travels 200 miles over ground to the Central Station only to find that his steamer had sunk.
 * When waiting for the materials with which to repair his boat, a new group arrives, headed by the general manger’s uncle.


 * Chapter 2:**
 * In the middle of the night, Marlow overhears the general manager and his uncle talking about Kurtz.
 * Marlow begins the journey up the river, accompanied by the general manager, a number of agents (called pilgrims), and a crew made up of cannibals.
 * Fifty miles below the Inner Station they stop at a hut with a sign.
 * Eight miles below the station, the boat is attacked by savages.
 * Marlow jumps ahead in the narrative to describe Kurtz and the report for the International Society for the Suppression of Savage Customs.
 * The boat arrives at the Inner Station, and Marlow meets the Russian trader.


 * Chapter 3:**
 * Marlow and the Russian discuss Kurtz and his methods.
 * A very ill Kurtz is brought onto the boat on a stretcher, and the savage woman displays her frustration. Marlow speaks to the general Manager and then to the Russian, who leaves the station.
 * That night, Kurtz escapes into the forest, but Marlow talks with him and brings him back to the boat.
 * The next morning, the steamboat leaves the Inner Station and heads down the river.
 * Marlow shares Kurtz’s fevered ravings. Kurtz becomes even more sick and entrusts Marlow with his personal effects before he dies.
 * Marlow becomes very sick himself, and about a year later, finds himself in the “sepulchral city.”
 * Marlow is visited by a Company official, Kurtz’s cousin, and a journalist friend of Kurtz.
 * Marlow visits Kurtz’s Intended and delivers some of Kurtz’s personal letters.

Book Note Creator
Hal Waller, instructor