The Comparison of Conrad Josephs Heart of Darkness and Ford Coppola A Essay

The Comparison of Conrad Josephs Heart of Darkness and Ford Coppola Apocalypse Now - Essay Example remote in the film, Marlow harboured no ill intentions towarfareds Kurtz (Willard set out to kill Kurtz). He chose to honour Kurtz by delivering his letters to their specific recipients (Conrad 55). Coppola based his film in Vietnam during the war era, which contrasted the novels setting. Conrads novel was set deep in the heart of Central Africas Congo. The contrast in the plot, main characters names and setting represent more obvious, overt differences amid the novel and film.One can describe both Marlow and Willard as determined, focused individuals whereby unforeseen challenges did not deter them from their specific missions. The fact that they were both able to run across Kurtz attests to their extreme determination. For example, Marlow remained hopeful about his journey despite finding the ship assigned to him wrecked and in need of repairs, which were likely to take a bulky tim e whereas Willard persevered the volatile and brutal conditions present in Vietnam during the war (Coppola Conrad 30). In addition, both characters held leadership positions Marlow was the soon-to-be captain of the ship assigned to him by the Ivory follow whereas Willard served as a Captain in the US Army Special Operations unit. However, Willard and Marlow had contrasting personalities. Willard was more brutal whereby he exhibited psychotic behaviours that were inhumane for example, he brutally murdered Kurtz with a machete and departed from the gruesome scene unremorseful. Despite the fact that Willard was simply following orders, his choice of execution method and pretermit of sympathy indicated a heightened predisposition to engage in brutal, psychotic tendencies. On the other hand, Marlow was more compassionate, as he empathized with others for example, he chose to lie about Kurtzs last words when he delivered the letter to Kurtzs widow who was distraught almost one year afte r her husbands demise. In addition, he did not refuse to deliver Kurtzs letters despite his disapproval of Kurtzs lifestyle, which encompassed instilling fear among the barbaric native population who resorted to worshipping him.