Heart of Darkness-Dream Alone

The Role of Women- Through some research I learned that Joseph Conrad was a supporter of the suffragist movement. This little known fact changed my perspective on Conrad's portrayal of women in Heart of Darkness. I had previously thought that Conrad's depiction of women was one of ignorance and simplicity. While this may still remain true, Conrad was portraying the thoughts of others, not his own. After examining the text closer I found that despite Heart of Darkness being a tale of men, women form the basis of Marlow's growth throughout the novel.

The European men in the Congo are the ones who stage colonization, while the European women are the behind-the-scenes crew. They are the modest strategists. Thisis evident through Marlow's aunt and her references to the people of prestige that she is acquainted with. Though Marlo is apparent when Marlow tries to obtain a position in the Congo on his own and fails. Marlow comments: "Then-would you believe it-I tried the women. I, Charlie Marlow, set the women to work-to get a job! Heavens!" (Conrad 83). There is a certain amount of embarrassment and shame in his comment, yet even Marlow would have to admit that women form a crucial part of Europe's development. Their ability to influence the male-dominated business world w may be ashamed of seeking assistance from his aunt, he recognizes her efficiency. "I got my appointment-of course; and I got it very quick." (85).

The women at the company's main office are the next women mentioned. When Marlow arrives at the office, he encounters two women knitting black wool. This black wool could symbolize the women's grasp on colonization and the black natives that reside in conquered lands. These women seem to know everything about Marlow and are described by him as "guarding the door of darkness." This statement represents the admission these women present to Marlow. These women mark the beginning of Marlow's descent into the heart of darkness.

Kurtz's fiance (his "Intended") is another significant woman. It is suggested that she is the reason Kurtz initially traveled to the region. Marlow learns that their engagement wasn't approved of by her relatives, and it "was his impatience of comparative poverty that drove him out there "(164). Thus, the Congo was a land where Kurtz could prove himself financially. This suggests that women are often the driving force behind men's motives. Being in love with a woman can clearly inspire a man to prove himself, and indirectly, it was his Intended's view of Kurtz as unsuitable that led Kurtz on the path to his inner evil.

There is one woman who stands apart from the others: the native woman who emerges from the forest. She is described by Marlow as "savage and superb, wild-eyed and magnificent." The text leads the reader to believe that this is Kurtz's mistress. Regardless of her physical relationship with Kurtz, she is the opposite of his Intended. Whereas the Intended is at home, sitting safetly in her home, the native woman is there, with Kurtz, experiencing the darkness of the lush wilderness. While his Intended mourns his absence quietly, the native woman shouts and physically moves to ensure Kurtz's safety. This women represents temptation that is often associated with evil because of Eve's temptation to eat the apple in the Bible. Her primitive behavior is representative of Kurtz after his transformation, while the Intended represents suppression of inner evil.

"We live as we dream--alone" (Conrad 131).
Marlow expresses this feeling en route to Kurtz. Aside from learning the horrors of inner evil, Marlow learns the solitude that each person lives in because no one will ever feel the exact same way another does. Even before Marlow has a complete grasp on his inner evil, Kurtz dies, leaving Marlow stranded on the verge of his primitive instinct . This quote compresses life into the capacity of a dream. While dreaming, one is often taken into a world of absurdity that can be felt by the dreamer alone. Conrad frequently uses words that typically describe an intangible idea, such as a dream, to describe the wilderness that surrounds Marlow.

This quote also leads the reader to believe that we live in a hostile world where a solitary life is the only option. From this quote, we realize that Marlow views the world as a lonely and desolate place. The choices he makes throughout the novel reflect his need to express his feelings to others. He needs to find Kurtz to prove to himself that he is not alone in the world. The quote emphasizes the tests of strength that Marlow must go through to survive in an absurd world where he is isolated. The whole novel depicts his struggle with isolation, confinement, and absurdity.

In the end, the main characters end up living alone. Kurtz leaves his Intended to a life a solitude, while he himself dies alone. Marlow narrowly escapes the heart of darkness and does on to lead a life without anyone to understand his experience. The natives are left to fend for themselves in a world taken over by useless conquerors.

Hmmm....the first read-through of this novel was nothing short of painful. Three-page long paragraphs left me frustrated and my head jammed with descriptions and an overload of visual images. However, the second time I read through, I found myself enjoying Conrad's word choice and character development. I particularly enjoyed Conrad's vagueness in his personal views. Does he portray women in a positive or negative light? Is Conrad a racist or is he simply expressing the views around him? This unanswerable questions led to lively class discussion that allowed me to grasp a better understanding of the book as a whole. I would have enjoyed knowing a bit more about Marlow's life after this encounter with darkness, but I liked the frame format of this novel.