his job He spends all his time on papers and numbers Around him many Africans are sick and dying but he does not look at them He feels no sympathy He is proud of his clean books and neat office He works as if numbers are more important than people Even when men are starving or in pain he does not stop his work For him the company s money is everything Human life has no value in his eyes This shows the cold face of imperialism The First Mention of Kurtz From the Chief Accountant Marlow hears the name Kurtz for the first time The accountant says Kurtz is A very remarkable person This moment builds suspense It also shows that even the neat accountant admires Kurtz though he does not care about others His words push Marlow to feel more curiosity about Kurtz The Chief Accountant is a symbol of the empire s hypocrisy He is neat in dress but empty in soul He shows indifference to suffering He values ivory and order not life Through him Conrad shows the false mask of civilization