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Exposition
An expiereinced Sea man marlow is sent into the interior of africa to help escort a british ivory company ship. The african jungle always intrigued him and this would be the chance of a lifetime. Now he first must meat up with Kurtz who is somewhere down the river at an ivory outpost. -
Marlow arrives in Africa
In the first few days of bieng in Africa Marlow is appauled by the brutalness bestowed upon the african "devils". He sees them bound in chains and some even laying on the floor starving to death. In an act of kindness he gives an enslaved african a biscuit to hold off the hunger. He later meets a the chief accountant that explains that he will find Kurtz in the jungle. After 10 days of waiting for a caravan, Marlow heads into the interior. -
Travel delays
After a traveling for a while Marlow is stopped because the ship he was supposed to command has sunk. After taking three months to repair it Marlow is back to traveling looking for Kurtz he is rumored to have fallen ill. Before he leaves Marlow is told that Kurtz is believed to be a prodigy often writing poetry and other archaic arts. -
Unprovoked attack and Kurtz's worth
While traveling through the river Marlow's crew is attacked by African "savages". This attack results in the death of the helsman and distilled fear in the crew. Marlow blows the fog horn to drive the attackers away (much to his succes) but is left with a disatified feeling of regret. Was Kurtz"s truly worth the loss of some of his men? -
Kurtz is found and very sick
After much more traveling Marlow finally arrives at the station house and finally encounters Kurtz. Kurtz who is ill with jungle fever is suffering from dellusions and paranoi. The russian trader (an advent servant of Kurtz) begs marlow to take Kurtz away with him. The russian also warns Marlow to keep Kurtz's mistress away from him for fear that Kurtz will choose not to leave. Marlow agrees to this after over hearing Kurtz yelling at the ivory companies manager. -
Kurtz dies and Marlow grows ill
Not to long after being taken aboard the steam boat Marlow grows ill and Kurtz comes near death. Kurtz realizing that he has not much more time gives Marlow his ivory paper work for safe keeping. Marlow is now becoming more and more ill due to the hard work on his ship and the African environment. One night Kurtz lets Marlow know that he is waiting for death before shouting "The horror! The horror!" in which a scared Marlow runs away not wanting to witness Kurtz die. Kurtz soon dies. -
The after math of the trip
Marlow grows bitter and disgusted with the people of Brussels (the city he is taken to for recouporation) due to their smug demeanors. He nursed back to health by his aunt and regrets going to africa. Members of the ivory company come to reclaim Kurtz's paper work and eventually succed thanks to help from Kurtz's cousin. Marlow is then confronted by Kurtz's wife as to what were his last words. He lies and replies that he said her name.
