Final answer:
The brickmaker in 'Heart of Darkness' erroneously assumes that Marlow and Kurtz are part of the same eminent colonial authority, attempting to curry favor based on this misconception.
Step-by-step explanation:
Within Joseph Conrad's Heart of Darkness, the brickmaker assumes that both Kurtz and Marlow are members of the same privileged European inner station of authority and colonial influence. This brickmaker, who is affiliated with the Company, presumes Kurtz's influential position within the Company and tries to gain favor with Marlow, mistaking him for a similar figure of power due to his relationship with Kurtz. The brickmaker conveys his belief that Marlow could be an influential colleague worth currying favor from, under the impression that he has the same breadth of power and potential for advancement as Kurtz. This demonstrates a central theme in the novella, where superficial judgments and opportunism within colonial powers are pervasive.