FREE ESSAY ON HEART OF DARKNESS--THE LIES

HEART OF DARKNESS--THE LIES

The Lies
A lie is an untruth. It can be a false statement or a statement left unsaid which causes
someone to be misled. In life, lies are told for many different reasons. In fiction, they
thicken the plot and overall setting of the story. In Conrad's Heart of Darkness, Marlow
dislikes lies and therefore only tells two, both in extraordinary circumstances. Thus,
these lies show the following about Marlow: even though he has been touched by evil, he
is still a good man himself. He never actually tells a lie, but lets others continue to
believe what they already believe in which case helps him justify the lies. Marlow, in
the middle of his story, interrupts himself to say, You know I hate, detest, and can't
bear a lie. He does not think he is better than the rest of the world. Lies simply appall
and disgust him immensely. Marlow feels there is a taint of death, and a flavor of
mortality in lies. Lying makes him feel miserable and sick, like biting something rotten
would do. Since he feels this way, he would only tell a lie in the most exceptional state
of affairs. 
The first lie was told by Marlow in extraordinary circumstances. It was told because he
had a notion it would somehow be of help to Mr. Kurtz. The lie was to allow the brick
maker to think he had more influence in the company than he actually had. This lie would
help Kurtz in two ways. Firstly, it would help Marlow to get the rivets he needed to fix
the boat, and that would provide Kurtz with a means of communication, or a way out of the
jungle. Secondly, it would provide Kurtz with an ally who was perceived as powerful.
Marlow knew that others were jealous of the success of Mr. Kurtz. Some saw him as the
next Director of the Company, and some were trying to find a reason to hang him. If
Marlow was considered powerful, he might be able to help Mr. Kurtz in some way. This is
an excellent reason for telling a lie. 
2
The second lie was also told in extraordinary circumstances. It is told to the intended
so that the image of her dead fiancee would not be destroyed. She has waited at least two
years for her lover to return from Africa, and now he is dead. During this time, she has
built his image up in her mind. To her, Kurtz is a man to be admired. She feels it would
be impossible not to love him. She was proud to have been engaged to Kurtz, and would be
shocked to learn of the things he had done to people and the surrounding environment.
Marlow had to decide if he should tell her the truth about Kurtz and cause her even
greater grief, or let her go on believing that he was a good man. Thus, this example was
one in which Marlow could tell a lie. The significance of this lie is that it would serve
no purpose to tell the truth, so Marlow does not. Kurtz is dead and to tell the truth
would only hurt an innocent woman. She had no idea that her fiancee had an evil heart.
She thought that he was loved and admired by everyone who knew him. If she learned of the
things he had done, it would destroy her. Marlow showed his good side by not telling her
the truth about Kurtz. This is a suitable ending to the work because it means that even
though Marlow has met a man with a Heart of Darkness, and that even after facing his own
darkness, he has come out of the jungle unchanged, for the most part. 
He is still a good human being with feelings and a sense of right and wrong. Marlow never
actually vocalized a lie. He simply allowed others to continue to believe an untruth.
First, the brick maker thought Marlow was more influential than he actually was, and
Marlow allowed him to continue to believe that. Secondly, the intended thought her fiance
was a good man, and Marlow allowed her to continue to believe that. Since he never
actually vocalized a lie, he was better able to justify them to himself.
3
Marlow dislikes lies, and only tells them in extraordinary circumstances. When he does
lie, it is for the sake of others, not himself. This shows that he is a kind human being.
It is unfortunate that all lies are not told with such noble purpose. Society, as well as
the world, would be a better place if they were.