Based on Joseph Conrad's Heart of Darkness written in the late Victorian era, Apocalypse Now! gives a modern interpretation of the story. Francis Ford Coppola's film is set during the Vietnam War and examines American foreign policy in the 1960s. Conrad, meanwhile, recreates the effects of British colonialism in Africa. The two protagonists, Willard from Apocalypse Now! and Marlow from Heart of Darkness, travel upstream along the massive trees that line the banks in an attempt to find Kurtz. As they travel further into the heart of darkness, they forget the rules and regulations of society and experience the absurdities of the evil and wild nature of the jungle and war. The similarities and contrasts between Willard and Marlow merit closer examination to see their transitions as characters, their responses to a foreign land, and the causes and effects of meeting Kurtz. In the short story, Marlow begins in the present tense on a ship returning to England. . Marlow, with his “sunken cheeks and yellow complexion,” reflects and tells the story of his voyage to Africa to the crew on board (Conrad 66). He reveals that thanks to his aunt, Marlow finds employment in the Company as a captain. Marlow's only mission was to cross the Congo River into Africa and bring Kurtz back to England. Apocalypse Now!, however, features a stupid, emaciated, drunken soldier, Willard, who is awaiting a mission in the Vietnam War. Willard abuses alcohol until he is finally called to find and execute Kurtz, a high-ranking but "crazy" general according to the US military. Marlow sets out on a journey upstream on the Congo River and Willard on the Nung River, they both witness the atrocities. of foreign invasion. Marlow se...... middle of paper ......d. In the film, Willard remarks that Kurtz is "clear of mind but crazy of soul" (Coppola). The claim that Kurtz is a “broken man” is continually reinforced. He was first separated from society, then separated from himself. Eventually, Willard kills Kurtz and Kurtz dies an honorable soldier. However, this does not happen in the short story in which Kurtz dies naturally from malaria. Aside from some differences in characters, setting, and time period, director Francis Ford Coppola stays true to Conrad's theme of isolation and the innate natural brutality that all humans have. possess. What Marlow and Willard have in common is their ability to move forward. Through their observations and personal experience in Africa and Vietnam, Marlow and Willard highlight a person's susceptibility to falling to the dark side when isolated from society..