The Congolese "adored him he said. The tone of his words so extraordinary that I looked at him searchingly the man filled his life, occupied his thoughts, swayed his emotions" (Conrad 137). Kurtz has a strong sense of mental fortitude when he enters the African jungle, but as time progresses he slowly shifts his process of thinking. By wielding his superior intellect over the Congolese he is able to gain control of their thought process; in terms of their opinion of him. Which is one of the inciting forces, that leads to his need for ultimate power and control of both the Congolese people and the ivory export trade. Also, Kurtz thirsted for powerful over his crew, eventually leading to power over Marlow. Kurtz was viewed a out of the ordinary, as described; " whatever he was, he was not common. He had the power to charm or frighten rudimentary souls into and aggravated witch-dance in his honour"(Conrad 115). Kurtz is in a position in such power that Marlow admires him with such passion that he could be easily confused for jealous. Marlow can appreciate the fact that Kurtz went into the jungle in the same position he did, but does not understand what a pivotal factor Kurtz plays in Marlow's journey down the river and into the jungle. Marlow is also unaware of the power that Kurtz has in terms of what he can make him and his crews do, for his own personal gain. .
Kurtz' power derives from the brute force he extends upon the Congolese which in turn instills fear giving him ultimate control. Kurtz began his pursuit of power through drastic actions, such as blowing up the steam-whistle ship. Kurtz explicitly explained how he wanted to take care of the steam ship; " He informed me, lowering his voice, that was Kurtz who had ordered the attack to be made on the steamer. He hated sometimes the idea of being taken away"(Conrad 142). Throughout the novella Kurtz slowly begins to act more and more irrationally.