Heart of Darkness

The theme of restraint comes up again in this section. However, it is used in reference to Kurtz, when he has the human heads on posts. The passage is "This only showed that Mr. Kurtz lacked restraint in the gratification of his various lusts, that there was something wanting in him- some small matter which, when the pressing need arose, could not be found under his magnificent eloquence."

This is one of the most prominent sections that reflects the savagery of the journey and the depth of the darkness that has taken Kurtz over. In Europe something like this would be seen as very horrible and under normal circumstances almost no human being would do this, but the darknes has overtaken Kurtz to the degree that he turns to the savagery of putting human heads on his posts. The worst part is that the heads are turned to him- demonstrative of his thirst for power and need to be in charge. He is worshipped as a God, and this power mixed with this darkness has taken hum over and made him do things that he would never do in a controlled society. Also, because he is not immune to the darkness like the natives, it has an extreme effect on him which is how this happens.