Kurtz is very charismatic and intelligent, but instead of using these skills for good, he lets his less noble qualities such as greed, lust and the need for power take over and control his actions. He is blinded by these qualities. It is only when he realizes that he is dying that Kurtz seems to become much more introspective. As his final hours approach, he enters an almost trance-like state as he relives his life. It becomes clear from his facial expressions of horror and disgust that it is in this moment that he finally begins to realize how terrible his actions truly were. He sees the way he deceived his company out of his own greed, the evil he did by cheating on his fiancée, and most of all the horrible things he did to gain control of the natives. He realizes what a horrible man he has become and is especially saddened because he recognizes the potential for good he had in him. After reliving all these actions, it seems clear to him that the chances of him going to a Christian heaven are not likely, and like many people, he realizes this too late. On his deathbed he finally sees all these things and is horrified and almost speechless. Realizing what a horrible man he truly was as he neared death, all he can muster the strength to say with his final words is, “How horrible! The horror!”