Kurtz finally passes away, and, at the text's conclusion, Marlow decides to visit Kurtz's "Intended," or fiancee. Why does Marlow lie to her about Kurtz's last words? Does his lie reflect any insight he has gained from his trip up the Congo and to "the Heart of Darkness"? Explain.

Marlow lied to Kurtz's intended about his last words to protect the image of Kurtz that she had held in her mind.

This decision to lie on the part of Marlow seems to reflect the idea that the Congo is not the place that anyone seemed to think. Besides, he seems to be hiding the real image of the place, rather deciding to present an image that will be suitable/ acceptable for everyone.

Explanation:

Joseph Conrad's Heart of Darkness tells the story of Marlow, who travels to Congo as a transporter of ivory. Encountering Kurtz, the story details the many incidents of the life in the African Congo and the dominant theme of imperialism in the backward nation.

Towards the end of the text, Marlow visited Kurtz's "intended" or fiancee, "more than a year since his death". When she asked for his last words, he lied "your name", hiding the reality of his real words which were "'The horror! The horror!'" This lie which he told the woman must have been a deliberate attempt to hide the truth of the matter, that the Congo was far from good, and that Kurtz had even taken a native as his companion. And by lying to her about her being his last words, Marlow seems to suggest that he lied to keep the innocence, the beautiful memory of the man who was despicable, and who had been nothing good. Marlow creates a facade of the Congo as a place which is positive, while in reality it is as barbaric as it really is.

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