Explanation: “And the girl talked, easing her pain in the certitude of my sympathy; she talked as thirsty men drink.”
Or,
“By the last gleams of twilight I could see the glitter of her eyes, full of tears—of tears that would not fall.”
Exp. This extract has been taken from Joseph Conrad’s short novel Heart of Darkness. Here the novelist gives a vivid description of the fidelity, love, and devotion of the Intended (Kurtz’s fiancée) to her lover, Kurtz.
After his return to Brussels, Marlow visits Kurtz’s Intended. He is wonderstruck by the expression in her eyes, for he realizes that, to her, Kurtz has died only yesterday—or even just a moment ago. During the lapse of a year, her grief over his death has suffered no decrease. Marlow hands over to her the papers and the photograph that Kurtz had entrusted to him.
The girl is pleased that Marlow had known Kurtz well and had admired and loved him. She feels proud that she knew Kurtz better than anyone else and believes that no one could ever have known him as deeply as she did. She goes on talking about Kurtz to Marlow, because speaking of him brings her relief. Until then, she had suffered in silence, with no one to share her sorrow.
She further explains that Kurtz had not been wealthy enough, and consequently, her family had objected to their engagement. However, she had been completely bewitched by his eloquence. According to her, Kurtz drew men towards him by appealing to the best in their nature. She is confident that such a grand life cannot sink into oblivion so quickly.
Marlow is utterly overwhelmed by her unwavering faith in Kurtz’s goodness, so much so that he cannot bring himself to tell her the truth. He lacks the courage to shatter her illusion, for he knows that he is not strong enough to protect her from the darkness that would engulf her if her faith were destroyed.
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