Homo-erotic subtext in Heart of Darkness?? It's been a while but I didn't see too much homo-eroticism in it? I'm really interested in this theory though.
ok first off, everyone seems to be infatuated with or admiring of Kurtz excluding those who envy him and his wealth/opportunities, such as the manager so we could possibly exclude any sort of love as admiration rather than attraction but i have some other ideas swag. imma try to be as neutral as possible.
first of all, as the story develops Marlow becomes more and more like Kurtz which is important since the narrative continually frames Marlow as an outsider to the pilgrims and everyone else on the boat and in the various stations. this makes him feel close to Kurtz, leaving him believing that Kurtz is his only real companion or equal in the general situation (while he admires the Africans on board for their self control he still is not part of their community). Note the great feeling of loss he describes when he decides that Kurtz must be dead (after the attack on the ship) as well as the instinctive terror he feels later on when he finds that Kurtz is gone from his sickbed.
So he clearly feels a strong connection to Kurtz, one could argue that the strongest emotions he describes throughout the whole retelling are the ones toward Kurtz. I’m not going to tho. Ok later in the story: here there’s the russian sailor who is completely obsessed with Kurtz and follows him at the risk of death (from Kurtz) and remains to treat him, risking infection from whatever tropical disease Kurtz was suffering from. however, this relationship seems more mentor like than romantic tbh especially since the dude just leaves at the end to continue exploring, indicating that he’s more interested in how Kurtz could expand his mind.. so back to marlow.
similarly to the sailor, Marlow spends nearly all his time by Kurtz’s side in order to try to nurse him through the illness. he even moves Kurtz into his own cabin, keeping him close at all times. Marlow’s a smart dude, he knows that Kurtz is dying and he might die too, if he contracts the illness (and he nearly does die) but stays by his side anyway. from Kurtz’s limited dialogue he seems to also find Marlow to be his only companion in the wilderness, saying “I am glad” when he finds that Marlow is the one who made it to him. this, and the fact that Kurtz has, paralleling Marlow’s situation, heard much of Marlow, shows the mirrored experiences as a type of equality that Kurtz probably isn’t used to but suprisingly accepts. (im trying to be as neutral as possilbe)
ok finally, the last words. one could argue that marlow’s reaction toward them is more important than the words themselves. what he does is with hold them, envy them, possess them. we can say that Marlow and Kurtz become closer persona wise throughout the story and Marlow begins to mirror Kurtz’s style of love, possession. (notice how Kurtz refers to everything he treasures as his his his im not finding quotes). so what does Marlow do with Kurtz’s final words, something, that only the two of them have heard and share, the last essence of Kurtz’s eloquence? he keeps them to himself even with holding them from Kurtz’s mourning fiancee in one last form of possession of Kurtz, the same way Kurtz loved.
there’s more but im trying to have a life here
google it
@eelectrifying
