Page "Heart of Darkness" Paragraph 11

Marlow leaves that station with a caravan to travel on foot some two hundred miles deeper into the wilderness-to the Central Station, where his steamboat is based-the steamer he is to captain.

Upon arrival at the Central Station: " the first glance at the place was enough to let you see the flabby devil was running that show.

" Marlow is shocked to learn that his steamboat had been wrecked two days before his arrival.

The manager explains to Marlow that they couldn't wait, and needed to take the steamboat up-river because of " rumours that a very important station was in jeopardy, and its chief, Mr. Kurtz, was ill ." Marlow describes that the manager " inspired uneasiness "-" just uneasiness — nothing more "-Along with the manager, Marlow describes the other Company men at this station as lazy back-biting " pilgrims "-fraught with envy and jealousy.

All trying to better position themselves in a way to acquire a higher status within the Company, which in turn, would carry more personal profit ; but sought after such goals in a meaningless ineffective lazy manner, mixed with a sense that they were all merely waiting, while trying to stay out of harm's way.

After fishing his command out of the river, frustrations are met during the months spent on repairs.

During this time, Marlow learns that at this station Mr. Kurtz is far from being admired, but instead, more or less, Kurtz is resented ( mostly by the manager ).

Not only is Kurtz's position at the Inner Station a highly envied position, but sentiment seems to be that Kurtz is not deserving of it, as Kurtz only received the appointment by his connections back in Europe.