Heart of Darkness and Apocalypse Now

One of the most obvious changes between Apocalypse Now and Heart of Darkness is the change in setting. Although the setting is different, the central meaning is still the same. Many changes in Apocalypse Now are made in order to make the story more fitting to our time period. Heart of Darkness is set in the 1800s, whereas Apocalypse Now is set during the Vietnam War.

                Feelings toward the Vietnamese natives differ from those of the natives in Heart of Darkness. When reading the book, one becomes more fond of the natives. With previous knowledge of the tortures described in King Leopold’s Ghost and the descriptions in Heart of Darkness, the reader feels pity and sadness toward the Congolese natives. In Apocalypse now, it is more difficult to develop feelings for the Vietnamese natives. Killings of these innocent natives are done through bombings, making it impossible to learn of personal accounts. Despite the fact that the Congolese natives are often described merely as shapes, figures, and colors, the reader feels much more pity for them than the Vietnamese natives in Apocalypse Now. 

            The next obvious change is the ending and Kurtz’s death. The ending in Heart of Darkness was fitting to the book, because Kurtz is not as intense are the Kurtz in Apocalypse Now. The more dramatic ending in Apocalypse Now is also fitting to the movie because it adds to action and the impression that is initially given of Kurtz.