The Inconsequenstial Roles of Women in Heart of Darkness by Joseph Conrad

Ambiguities Explored in Heart of Darkness     Literature is never interpreted in exactly the same way by two different readers. A prime example of a work of literature that is very ambiguous is Joseph Conrad's, "Heart of Darkness". The Ambiguities that exist in this book are

Role of Women in Things Fall Apart and Heart of Darkness   Women were once little more than slaves to their male "betters." Some women might have been respected, but their places were limited to roles as wives and mothers. They might rule a home, but were not believed intelligent enough for any other role. This chauvinistic attitude is well reflected in the novels Things Fall Apart, by Chinua Achebe, and Heart of Darkness, by Joseph Conrad.

From his first mention in the novel--“[Mr. Kurtz] is a very remarkable person”--it is made clear to readers that Kurtz is no ordinary member of the Company. Before narrator Marlow actually encounters this man, he is described as “exceptional”, “of the greatest importance to the Company”, and a “universal genius”. Readers learn that Kurtz came to Africa “equipped with moral ideas” and has brought in an unprecedented amount of ivory, which is the primary goal of the Company. Overall, Kurtz is a prodigy, expected to move up the Company hierarchy quickly, and becomes a sort of obsession for Marlow. Despite this, higher-ups in the Company seem to fear, and

Mr. Kurtz was the "chief of the inner station" (Conrad, pg. 28). He was "in charge of a trading post, a very important one, in the true ivory country." Kurtz sent in "as much ivory as all the others put together" (Conrad, pg. 22). The company described him as the "best agent, an exceptional man, of the greatest importance to the company" (Conrad, pg. 25). Kurtz went to the jungle for many reasons, but mostly to make money to return to Europe and marry his intended. Marlow "heard that her engagement with Kurtz had been disapproved by her people. He wasn't rich enough or something." He had given Marlow "some reason to infer that it was his impatience of comparative poverty that drove him out there" (Conrad, pg. 74). He had been driven into the jungle to procure money for the company and for himself and for his life with his intended. Greed is what kept him out there so long and clouded his mind regarding thoughts of nobility.

Kurtz is Africa's Satan, who's forbidden fruit is ivory, drawing him away from the rules of civilization and creating a monster that feeds on fulfilling that one job, no matter the consequences. Kurtz has no restrain in his actions, having been consumed by the chaotic darkness that surrounds him and that he becomes a reflection of. His fall from grace comes in the form of the manager and all others on the rescue expedition despising him. They realize his flawed methods and his lost mind and are disgusted by him. Kurtz falls away from the rules of civilization into the darkness of the jungle and all of its chaos. He presents himself as a god to the natives, who are awed by Kurtz's magnificence and become his devoted followers, his own fallen angels. There, in the deepest pits of the jungle, those demonic and primitive people and their god partake in hellish rituals and orgies, taking all of the ivory they want without hesitation, living as they please. This is especially shown when we hear from the harlequin that Kurtz threatened to shoot him for his ivory, "because he could do so, and had a fancy for it, and there was nothing on earth to prevent him

Marlow tells us about the Ivory that Kurtz kept as his own, and that he had no restraint, and was  " a tree swayed by the wind” (Conrad, 209). Marlow mentions the human heads displayed on posts that “showed that Mr. Kurtz lacked restraint in the gratification of his various lusts” (Conrad, 220). Conrad also tells us "his... nerves went wrong, and caused him to preside at certain midnight dances ending with unspeakable rights, which... were offered up to him” (Conrad, 208), meaning that Kurtz went insane and allowed himself to be worshipped as a god. It appears that while Kurtz had been isolated from his culture, he had become corrupted by this violent native culture, and allowed his evil side to control him.

Sexist Attitude in Joseph Conrad's Heart of Darkness This paper will discuss the way Conrad's novel Heart of Darkness relies, both thematically and formally, on values that could be called sexist. By "sexism" I mean the those cultural assumptions that make women be regarded, unjustly, as in different ways inferior to

Kurtz. Kurtz is an intriguing character from the very first moment that we are offered his name. From the first mention of him, we are drawn in and curious to find out more about this mysterious man who people say has conquered the wilderness; some even go so far as to speak of him as somewhat of a god. Ian Watt supports the reasoning we have to assume this, stating “there is nothing inherently improbable in Kurtz’s having been accorded sacred, if not actually divine, status . . . Kurtz would be regarded as calamitous for his people. If he [Kurtz] were to die a natural death, they [African natives] would have thought that the world would perish” (232-233). From what we find out, he was sent from Europe to civilize the native savages of Africa, to essentially colonize the region. We support this through information given about his background such as his mixed French and English ancestry, and that he was employed by the International Society for the Suppression of Savage Customs.We can assume that he comes from an educated background in Europe and is far from a being a savage himself prior to being sent there. Somewhere along the way, however, Kurtz becomes obsessed with ivory and the means to obtain it. John A. McClure proposes the

Angels and Monsters in Heart of Darkness Joseph Conrad’s varying depiction of women in his novel Heart of Darkness provides feminist literary theory with ample opportunity to explore the overlying societal dictation of women’s gender roles and expectations in the late nineteenth and early twentieth century. The majority of feminist theorists claim that Conrad perpetuates patriarchal ideology, yet there are a few that argue the novel is gendered feminine. Sandra Gilbert and Susan Gubar claim “Conrad’s Heart of Darkness…penetrates more ironically and thus more inquiringly into the dark core of otherness that had so disturbed the patriarchal, the imperialist, and the psychoanalytic imaginations…Conrad designs for Marlow a pilgrimage whose

In the 1900s novella Heart of Darkness by Joseph Conrad, the protagonist often encounters women at landmarks of his life. Charlie Marlow is a sailor and imperialist who sets out along the Congo River to “civilize” the “savages.” The novella begins with a crew on the Thames waiting for the tides to change. During their wait, a character named Marlow tells of his exploits on the African continent. In his recounted travels, Marlow meets other imperialists such as Mr. Kurtz, a man who is obsessed with the pursuit of ivory and riches. Like Mr. Kurtz, Marlow embarks across the African continent in hopes of earning both money and respect. One early critic of the novel, Edward Garnett, wrote in his review that “[Heart of Darkness] is simply a

In the Joseph Conrad’s novel, Heart of Darkness, Marlow, the main character, shows his opinion of women in a well masked, descriptive manner. Although women are not given a large speaking role ,the readers still feel their presence throughout the novel. In the scene at the Central Station, the description of the symbols in the painting,the blindfold, the torch, and the darkness, allow the readers to see the darkness in the world and the thought that women should not be exposed to that darkness. Marlow believe that women are too fragile to know the truth and should instead be left in their beautiful, untouched world.

Gender Role In Joseph Conrad’s Heart of Darkness For the most part people who read Heart of Darkness by Joseph Conrad may feel that the novella is strictly a story of exploration and racial discrimination. But to Johanna Smith who wrote “’Too Beautiful Altogether’: Ideologies of Gender and Empire in Heart of Darkness” it is much more than that. Johanna Smith along with Wallace Watson and Rita A. Bergenholtz agree that throughout Heart of Darkness there are tones of gender prejudice, but the way that these three different authors perceive and interpret those gender tones are to a certain extent different.

With a station allowed to become bare of goods and stores, Kurtz is forced to decide either to seek relief from the Company Station or else abandon his outpost and his work. He does neither. Kurtz 's tragic mistake occurs when he decides instead to turn his back on the headquarters, on relief, on thoughts of home and to return to his empty station. The turning point in Kurtz 's career, in his plans, in his life and sanity, is arrived at the moment he decides to abandon his trade relationship with the natives and continue acquiring ivory from them by raiding the country.

Written in 1899, Heart of Darkness by Joseph Conrad conveys a story of European colonization along the Congo River in Africa. Although his work lacks central female characters, some of those mentioned hold great influence in society and the power to predict the future. Despite these abilities, women are still largely ignored by the men in their midst. Conversely, Chinua Achebe’s Things Fall Apart features a multitude of female figures, including oracles and priestesses, but much like Heart of Darkness, the majority of women in his work are belittled and viewed as unimportant. These two authors both showcase sexism in their works, as they promote stigmas surrounding females and a sense of male superiority that leads men to treat women as inferior. While the writers of Heart of Darkness and Things Fall Apart highlight the values certain females possess, they chose to depict sexist societies in which women are viewed as largely irrelevant and impotent.

Men and women are expected to behave in certain ways. These presumptions on genders are shaped by the prevailing ideologies in societies, encouraging societies to attribute roles for men and women. Supported by the definition from World Health Organisation, genders are “socially constructed roles, behaviors, activities and attributes that a given society considers appropriate for men and women.” (WHO, 2017) These presumed thoughts on the two sexes lay the foundation for the perceptions on genders. From Lessing’s point of view, the fundamental differences between masculinity and femininity are that “[m]en are restless, adventurous [while] women are conservative.”