Kurtz is very charismatic and intelligent, but instead of using these skills for good, he lets his less noble qualities like greed, lust, and need to be able to gain the upper hand and control. his actions. He is blinded by these qualities. Only once he realizes he is dying does Kurtz seem to become much more introspective. As his final hours approach, he enters a trance-like state as he relives his life. It's clear from his facial expressions of horror and disgust that this is when he finally begins to realize how terrible his actions have been. He sees the way he cheated his company because of his own greed, the evil he did by cheating on his fiancée, and especially the horrible things he did to take control of the natives. He realizes what a horrible man he has become and is particularly saddened because he recognizes the potential for good he had within him. After reliving all these actions, it becomes clear to him that the chances of him going to a Christian heaven are unlikely, and like many people, he realizes this too late. On his deathbed, he finally sees all these things and is left horrified and almost speechless. Realizing what a horrible man he was as he neared death, all he can muster the strength to say with his final words is, “The horror!” The horror!”