heart of darkness

A detailed Summary of heart of darkness

Although all of the primary characters in Conrad's Heart of Darkness are male, it is important that the true significance of the roles portrayed by the women of the novel is not overlooked. At first glance, the three women in the novel have seemingly modest roles. In actuality, these women carry great symbolic substance. The Native not only represents all nature, virtue, simplicity, and integrity, but also temptation. The Intended symbolizes chaos, industry, and discovery; the inanity and the chaotic senselessness of modern day civilization. Marlow's Aunt typifies the outlook on women at the time of the novel's writing. A vast deal of the true meaning and undertones of Heart of Darkness would be lost without the women characters of the novel, even while these characters appear only for short periods.

Just in recent times have women taken a heightened part in literature. Not only have women finally ceased to be portrayed as helpless and distressed, women now are described as resilient, forceful, and even as protagonists. At first glance, it would appear as though, in Conrad's Heart of Darkness, the positive depiction of women makes an immense regression. Throughout the novel, not one of the women is cited as saying anythi

Heart of Darkness was written during a time when demeaning views of women were finally beginning to abate, although many during that age still thought of women as the inferior race. Marlow's Aunt is clearly an expression of Conrad's attitude concerning women. After a brief discussion with his Aunt in which she reminds him that "the laborer is worthy of his hire," Marlow reflects:

In examining the female personification of the jungle, and the sexual characteristics given to the jungle, it can be surmised that Kurtz's connection to the Native Woman, his mistress, is one of a sexual nature:

It's queer how out of touch with truth women are. They live in a world of their own, and there had never been anything like it, and never can be. It is too beautiful all together, and if they were to set it up it would go to pieces before the first sunset (28).

This mysterious, entrancing woman is an embodied image of the jungle; the dark and sinister evil that ultimately has been liable for the ruin of Kurtz. For Marlow, the Native Woman, like the jungle, posses a raw and natural beauty, a shadowy sense of the unknown, and an intense physical and spiritual enticement. Kurtz, unable to resist his own, similar fiery desires, fell for the Native Woman, just as he fell for the lure of the Congo, resulting in his eventual fall. Marlow's incredible self-control is outlined by his aptitude to resist the seduction of the Native Woman, paralleling his ability to resist the temptations of the jungle.

Most would agree that this is not a very attractive or desirable description, and is much the opposite of the one given to the Native Woman by Marlow. The Intended is dark, sinister, and unappealing; much like the chaotic 'civilized' world. Just as Kurtz breaks away from the 'civilized' world to the untamed jungle, he leaves the Intended for the much more sexual attraction of the Native Woman.

She walked with measured steps, draped in striped and fringed cloths, treading the earth proudly, with a slight jingle and flash of barbarous ornaments. She carried her head high; her hair was done in the shape of a helmet; she had brass leggings to the knee, brass wire gauntlets to the elbow

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Approximate Word count = 1476
Approximate Pages = 6 (250 words per page double spaced)

Category: English