Marlow-page 49-50

In the previous two sentences Marlow says, "Everything belonging to him -that was a trifle. The thing was to know what he belonged to, how many powers of darkness claimed him for their own" (49). This "him" that Marlow refers to is Mr. Kurtz. In Part II , Marlow notes that Kurtz had a fiancee, whom he called his Intended. What Marlow finds significant about Kurtz's Intended is the air of possession Kurtz had when speaking about her. Not only this but when Kurtz spoke about everything whether it was ivory, the Inner Station, or the river. In this passage Marlow talks about this "reflection that made you creepy all over" (50). Marlow finds the part about Mr. Kurtz belonging to others to be very bothersome. However, he was others' possession because the Manager, the Company and the Natives had this similar air of possession over him whether it be for his ability to find ivory or his "God" like sense. Marlow is convinced that Mr. Kurtz has "taken a high seat amongst the devils of the land." His belief in this is that Mr.Kurtz was too dull to even know that he was being assaulted by the powers of darkness. He justifies Mr. Kurtz standing with the devils, in a way defending this "shade" of Kurtz. This passage exemplifies Marlow's unwillingness to the truth and concreteness of reality because he justifies Kurtz position in standing amongst the devils.