Plot+Summary

The novel is focused around Marlow, a sailor who is journeying up the Congo river to meet Kurtz, working for the Company, a Belgian trading organization that functions in the Congo. While in Central Station, Marlow’s steamer is sunk, and he must wait several months for repairs. Time is of the essence however, as Kurtz is rumored to be sick. Eventually the repairs are made, and the journey up the river continues.

Surviving attacks by native tribes, Marlow eventually finds Kurtz, who is not what he expected. Kurtz has established himself as God with the natives, and hunts in the wilderness in search of ivory. The man’s sanity can be called into question as rows of severed heads around his outpost atone for his methods. Kurtz, who is very ill, is taken aboard the steamer. We find out that Kurtz organized the attacks by the natives on the steamer in an attempt to force Marlow and his crew to turn back, leaving the crazed man to his plans. He flees in the middle of the night, and Marlow finds him crawling on all fours toward the native camp.

Kurtz is taken back to the boat where he gives Marlow a packet of personal documents. The steamer breaks down, and Kurtz dies, uttering his final words to a confused Marlow. “The horror! The horror!”