Final answer:
Kurtz symbolizes the white man's failure in Africa, as critiqued by Chinua Achebe, who points out the dehumanization of Africans and the flawed portrayal of Africa as uncivilized in Conrad's 'Heart of Darkness'.
Step-by-step explanation:
Kurtz in Joseph Conrad's 'Heart of Darkness' is often interpreted as the embodiment of the white man's failure in Africa. Chinua Achebe's critique of the novella highlights how Africa is portrayed as 'the other world,' devoid of civilization and filled with savagery, which Conrad uses as a backdrop to examine the disintegration of European colonialism. He argues that the text misrepresents Africans, severely limiting their human complexity and agency within the novella. Only two African characters are given voices, one to showcase cannibalistic tendencies and the other to declare Kurtz's death, reinforcing stereotypes of Africa as uncivilized and barbaric.
This representation aligns with the broader historical context of European colonial attitudes, such as those expressed by Rudyard Kipling in 'The White Man's Burden,' which justified colonialism as a philanthropic enterprise aimed at civilizing supposedly inferior races. In contrast, Kurtz's descent into madness and his ultimate failure in Africa mirror the ultimate failure of the colonial mission to 'civilize' Africa and the inherent contradiction of the colonial project. This interaction between Europe and Africa exposes the exploitation and dehumanization under colonial rule, challenging the idea that any philanthropic or civilizing mission was ever truly successful, as espoused by Conrad's critics like Achebe.