Part 1 of Essay
Heart of Darkness centers on Marlow, an introspective sailor, and his journey up the Congo River to meet Kurtz, a reportedly idealistic man of great abilities. Marlow takes a job with the Company piloting a steamship in the Belgian Congo. Marlow encounters widespread idiocy and absurd inefficiency in the Company's stations ....

Part 2 of Essay
.... his ship, and he and the manager set out with a few agents (whom Marlow calls pilgrims because of their strange habit of carrying long, wooden staves wherever they go) and a crew of cannibals on a long, difficult voyage up the river. They come across a hut with firewood stacked and a note saying it is for them but to approach cautiously. Natives attack them and the helmsman is killed before Marlow frightens the natives away with the steam whistle. They come to Kurtz's Inner Station, expecting to find him dead, but ....