Talk:Kurtz (Heart of Darkness)

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[edit] Homosexual?

I see no reason to assume that Kurtz is a homosexual and has a torrid affair with Marlow. It seems absurd. Where does this analysis come from? It seems far more likely that Kurtz is having an affair with the native woman.

I have now edited this part out. I'm open to an discussion about it though.

You are quite correct. Kurtz has obviously been engaged in dealings with the native woman, either romantically or spiritually.

Actually, I read somewhere that Kurtz symbolizes the repressed homosexuality in Victorian men. While not stated at all, there are certain undertones when HoD is interpreted in a diffrent light. I'll look again for where I read that. Also, the native woman in question is known simply as Kurtz's mistress.

Zidel333 02:35, 6 January 2006 (UTC)

this "interpretation" is almost as ridiculous as trying to bastardize a Marxist slant into the book

[edit] "Ironic populism"??

"Kurtz is [...] a promising politician (ironically enough, a populist)"

This part really confuses me. In what sense is populist meant here? Only in the sense that he sides with the majority? And what is ironic about this? Theshibboleth 03:08, 8 January 2006 (UTC)

[edit] minor nitpick

The last line of the "In the Novel" section begins:

"The name, if not the characteristics, most probably came from [...]"

This is slightly confusing, both stylistically and grammatically. Recommend editing to read something like "The mannerisms, if not the name, of the Kurtz character probably came from [...]". 68.118.231.25 02:12, 24 March 2007 (UTC)