Heart of darkness vs apocalypse now

The most important difference between novella and film is the development of their main characters, Marlow and Willard, respectively. In Heart of Darkness, the reader is introduced to Marlow through his various philosophical ruminations about imperialism, morality, and human nature. Learning of the mysterious Kurtz through first-hand accounts of his accomplishments and bizarre behavior, Marlow spends more and more time in the jungle. Due to this increasing time in the jungle, his pre-occupation with Kurtz becomes an important refuge from the brutality of the Belgian

The film also depicts the character of Kurtz in a very different light. Conrad builds up the appearance of Kurtz so much that his first scene is intentionally anti-climactic. He is discovered to be an ailing, elderly gentlemen, malnourished and on the verge of death. Marlow himself is simultaneously impressed with and disappointed by Kurtz. He enjoys listening to the old man’s philosophies, but he is let down by Kurtzs’ lack of realistic thinking. He has clearly lost his mind, and with it, some of his credibility and mysticism.

This brings up the most important plot discrepancy in the film, which is the relationship between Willard and Kurtz. In Apocalypse Now, Willard’s character is a U.S. Army special forces operative assigned to go up the Nung river from Viet Nam into Cambodia in order to "terminate the command" of one Colonel Kurtz whom, he is told, has gone totally insane. He does not reflect the deep psychological and philosophical insights that are an important feature in Marlow's character. He is sent on his mission specifically to kill Kurtz, unlike Marlow who is simply piloting others as captain of a steamboat. This completely changes the dynamic between Marlow and Kurtz. Instead of simply being an admirer of Kurtz, he is his assassin. Although the internal conflict is interesting, it detracts from the relationship between Willard and Kurtz. His mission to kill Kurtz gives him some measure of pause, but his military protocol mentality ultimately rules the day. Compared with Marlow's deep, searching rumination

Some topics in this essay:
Heart Darkness, Marlon Brando, Darkness Kurtz’s, Vietnam War, Conrad Marlowe, Brando Apocalypse, Colonel Kurtz, Asia Coppola’s, Apocalypse Kurtz, Willard Kurtz, heart darkness, marlon brando, kill kurtz, human nature, relationship willard kurtz, kurtz apocalypse, vietnam war, novella film, character kurtz, kurtz’s words, relationship willard, conrad’s heart darkness,