Ethical Dilemma in “Heart of Darkness” by Conrad Essay

The role of a person in any business is significant because a person has extreme powers to control the situation and predict possible outcomes. However, the predictions can often be false and consequences can be unexpected. The qualities of a leader and the prolonged financial success cannot guarantee the further progress tomorrow.

The arguments to support this statement cannot be found with references to Joseph Conrad’s The Heart of Darkness and to the analysis of the financial crisis presented in The Financial Crisis Inquiry Report. In spite of the fact the situations are rather different, it is necessary to discuss the possibilities of the other outcomes and results.

Mr. Kurtz is one of the main characters of The Heart of Darkness. He is described by the other characters as the wise and successful monopolist who has the great knowledge and understands the aspects of life. His leadership abilities are prominent as well as his inner power (McCuaig). Thus, “Mr. Kurtz is a remarkable man” (Conrad 57). Mr. Kurtz is characterized by charisma and effective organization skills, but in reality, he reflects the behaviour of a tyrant which leads him to the rather inglorious end (Goonetilleke).

Nevertheless, paying more attention to the interests of the other people and being focused not only on material success but also on the progress, Mr. Kurtz could achieve higher results and more respect. Mr. Kurtz chose only one perspective from which it was possible to assess the advantages of having financial benefits. The other important aspects were not considered as key ones. That is why, the end of the story could be the other for the Africans and ‘civilized’ persons dependent on Mr. Kurtz in the case of choosing the other ways to realize the leadership abilities.

The participants of the financial crisis could also prevent its development while changing the perspective of their daily business progress. It is stated in The Financial Crisis Inquiry Report that “dramatic failures of corporate governance and risk management at many systemically important financial institutions were a key cause of this crisis” (“The Financial Crisis Inquiry Report” xviii).

Moreover, “the crisis was a result of human mistakes, misjudgments, and misdeeds that resulted in systemic failures for which our nation has paid dearly” (“The Financial Crisis Inquiry Report” xxiii). A lot of officials did not focus on the risks involved in the venture. That is why, they failed to find the appropriate ways with the help of which all the possible risks could be controlled or coped with. The report states that a lot of the monetary firms acted carelessly, and the companies’ leaders took a great risk while trying to work with very small starting capitals and while relying on the temporary funding (“The Financial Crisis Inquiry Report”).

Thus, having analyzed the situations depicted in the book and the crisis, it is possible to note that the whole nations became victims of the leaders who concentrated only on their welfare and prominence and could not predict the dramatic consequences of their actions. Taking into consideration the various risks associated with the business processes, the companies’ leaders could develop the effective decision to prevent or reduce the catastrophic effects of their activities. Thus, the responsible actions of the business leaders could prevent the development of the financial crisis in the country.

Works Cited

Conrad, Joseph. Heart of Darkness. London: Penguin Books, 2012. Print.

Goonetilleke, Den. Joseph Conrad’s Heart of Darkness. Oxford: Routledge, 2007. Print.

McCuaig, Catriona. Heart of Darkness. Leicester: Linford, 2010. Print.

The Financial Crisis Inquiry Report. 2011. Web.