How does the jungle in Conrad's "Heart of Darkness" function as both a character and a setting?

The jungle in Conrad's "Heart of Darkness" functions simulatenously as a character and a setting for much of the short story's plot. As a setting, the junlge is the location for Kurtz's quest for ivory and his eventual descent into darkness. It serves to illustrate the depths to which Kurtz has fallen as a result of his greed. As a character, the jungle actively invites and even seduces Kurtz into its depths. It facilitates his consumption by greed, rendering him transformed from when he began his initial exploration.