Justice or Knowledge

The major difference between the protagonists of Heart of Darkness and that of Waiting for the Barbarians is the level of submersion into the native culture they endure. In the Heart of Darkness, Kurtz drifts further and further from the civilization. Literally he has removed himself from the post and other European men, while metaphorically, proved by his relationship with the native girl and his intimate association with nature, he has become nature's spouse. He is so far removed from the idea of European civilization that he has assimilated into the African culture, taking his original statement as to be the natives' God-like figure in order to save them in a completely different direction. Kurtz has become the alpha native, while the Magistrate has only had a taste for the Barbarian culture. Unlike Kurtz the Magistrate does not wonder into the Barbarian territory save for a couple of days when he is giving away his strongest and only emotional connection with the Barbarians. His encounters with the Barbarians is strictly limited to the station, and while he spends a great deal of time excavating Barbarian ruins, watching and empathizing with the captives, and creating an intimate relationship with the Barbarian girl, he is never submerged into their native culture.

While the Magistrate can be looked upon as self-righteous and defender of the Barbarians, Kurtz, though neither defending nor helping them, actually knows the native culture. How can the Magistrate truly attempt to be the martyr of the Barbarian culture, when his knowledge is so limited? Yes, it is a fetal attempt, but he could never truly be successful without the Barbarian passion. In comparison, Kurtz, who could be seen as an immoral figure only interested in elevating his own native status to that of divinity, has been completely enveloped in the culture, and even launches an attach on his fellow Europeans, so that he may remain with the natives. His passion has driven him to madness. He has been without civilization, the European man, and laws for so long that he has long forgotten how to behave under these restrictions. Like a domesticated dog left to felt for himself in the wild, Kurtz has returned to his pre-domesticated roots. Native culture is now his norm, while European culture remains in the foggy distance of his past.

I'm not sure which is more justified though, not really knowing the culture one is fighting for, or knowing a culture and not fighting for it. It seems as though the former would be preferred; however, not knowing what he was fighting for, besides his love for the Barbarian girl, would he have been so quick to rise against the Empire? Though Kurtz does not defend the natives, and he was born a European, he died a Barbarian. (480)