Portrayal of Women in Heart of Darkness - Essay Example

Portrayal of women in Heart of Darkness The modern audience is familiar with women portrayed as professionals, athletes, and intellectuals at present, but until the late nineteenth century representations of strong, reliant, commanding women were practically very few in literatures though early Greek literature had portrayed strong women characters. We could see that women have played important role in literature from the ancient Greek to the modern classical literature which gave female characters much more substance and purpose. Women were very important to the Greek, and through female characters in his epic, "The Odyssey," Homer shows us the different ways women were viewed by Greek. Conrad possibly employs women characters in his short novel "Heart of Darkness" in a way that reflect the archaic perspectives concerning women, and takes more primitive demeaning view point (Conrad 2000). Three major characters in this story namely, the aunt of Mr. Marlow, the African mistress of Mr. Kurtz, and his fianc are used to present different moods and apply twist to the story. Conrad also used two knitting women to symbolize the nature of human fate and to enlighten Mr. Marlow, before his departure to the dark region of Africa, the chaos and anarchy employed by western colonizers on the black African natives. Whether Conrad's treatment of women in Heart of Darkness project extraordinarily complex male understanding of women, or puts the reader to contrasting pictures of women is interesting to explore. Characterization of women in the ancient Greek to the present, and view point of Conrad calls for a rational view. Greek literature display power and authority in women and Homer was a master in presenting women in this role. For understanding Conrad, a deep and critical analysis of the social system and male prejudice about women, during the period of writing "Heart of Darkness," is essential to understand his motive in presenting three major characters in different colors in this novella. During the period of writing the travelogue, the Heart of Darkness, it was a strong patriarchal society, White women were supposed to maintain modesty, Africans were considered as uncivilized brutes, and until the mid nineteenth century women were viewed from a different angle. Greek literature, particularly The Odyssey of Homer, present woman as strong driving force behind man and the characters Penelope, Naussica, and Anticlia are good examples. Penelope, a faithful and loving wife of Odysseus, is a perfect, devoted, strong person and "blessed in the possession of a wife endowed with such rare excellence of understanding and so faithful to her wedded lord." (Homer 2000 p.256). It clearly depicts the powerful role of women in Greek literature. Conrad also used women very sparingly in Heart of Darkness, but in a way that reflect the archaic perspectives concerning women, and takes more primitive demeaning viewpoint. In Heart of Darkness no explicit narrative is used by Conrad to describe women's role except a whole page on the African woman, that too towards the end of the story. Conrad used only three major female characters in the form of: an influential aunt of Mr. Marlow in the beginning; the savage, imposing Black African women, the mistress of Mr. Kurtz in the middle; and the modest white lady, the intended of Mr. Kurtz in the end of the story. The white and black female characters are presented in contrasting status and it is a reflection of prejudice present in Conrad. Marlow considers white women as the keepers of the flame at home and the purest form of belief in their society. In the words of Marlow, "I tried the women. I, Charlie Marlow, set the women to work-to get the job" is clear example to show that in the view of Conrad women are simple medium to attain the men's ambitions (Conrad. 2000. p. 22). Again the male exploitive notion drove Marlow to his aunt, an 'enthusiastic soul' whom knew the wife of a very 'high personage in the Administration" and she was determined to make no end a fuss to get him appointed skipper of a river steamboat. (ibid p.22-23). She was successful to get a job, Marlow desired, immediately and her influence is reflected from the reception he received from the company office. Marlow's aunt is portrayed as much influential, has friends in the Company and she believed in grand and glorious interpretations of colonialism. Presenting her, as a replica of women with social standing and having much influence in the government machinery, is with main intention of projecting power in the hands of white women. The narration of second women character, the African mistress of Kurtz, creates an entirely different picture in Marlow and his companion. The arrival of the African women to the scene stirs them as she was taken as "a formidable mystery over the unchangeable imminence" of Kurtz's departure. In the words of Marlow (precisely the view of Conrad) "She was savage, superb, wild-eyed, and magnificent.she stood looking at us without a stir and like the wilderness itself, with an air of brooding over an inscrutable purpose." (ibid p.99). It shows that the white men were horror struck in her presence, and were unable to imagine her power and authority on the natives as well as Mr. Kurtz. "She walked with measured steps, draped in striped and fringed cloths, treading the earth proudly, with a slight jingle and flash of barbarous ornaments" is clearly an indication of her authority and virtue which has not been identified by Marlow and his team (p.99). According to Marlow she must have had the value of several "elephant tusks upon her," and the "colossal body of the fecund" and mysterious life seemed "looking at the image of its own tenebrous and passionate soul." How Marlow treated this Women, a native who fell for the charm of a white civilized man, and most probably the instrument in his hands to extract ivory from the natives, is repulsive and inhuman, shows the double standard adopted by Conrad to present white and black women in two extremities. The third character, fianc of Mr. Kurtz, is very much influenced Marlow and by looking only at her old photo he was drawn to her. Kurtz's fiance is a representation of the best European virtues. She came forward "all in black with a pale head, floating toward me in the dusk. She was mourning. She took both my hands in hers and murmured, 'I heard you were coming" (p. 117). To Marlow she had a mature capacity for "fidelity, for belief, for suffering." She seemed ready to listen without mental reservation, without suspicion, without a thought for herself. (ibid p.117-118). Few words used to describe the third character speak volumes and reverberate with sympathy. This narration of two white women in contrast to the African mistress is clear show of prejudice present in the personality of Kurtz. According to Achebe, the "difference in the attitude of the novelist to these two women is conveyed in too many direct and sub file ways to need elaboration" (Achebe 1988). The use of women to symbolize the intentions of Conrad and reflections of his philosophy to human fate is achieved through two knitting women in the Company office. To Marlow the older woman seemed uncanny and fateful, and he thought the two were "guarding the door of Darkness, knitting black wool as for a warm pallNot many of those she looked at ever saw her again..." (ibid p.24-26). These two knitting women in the Company office at sepulcher city are primarily used to symbolize the impending threat to Mr. Marlow during his journey to the Dark Africa, and is an index to the future outcome. Peter Hyland (ibid p.xxxv) argues that representation of women in "Heart of Darkness" is both demeaning and stereotypical. Marlow's critical comment on his aunt and his idealization of the intended reflects Victorian patriarchal stereotype. The two women in Kurtz's life are also contrasted. His black mistress in Africa is very demonstrative, wearing bright clothing and jewelery and acting in a large, wild manner, clearly displaying strong emotions. In contrast, Kurtz's intended in Belgium is fair, mild-tempered, and draped in black. She is the picture of calmness and patience. Despite their differences in appearance and temperament, the love they feel for Kurtz is very similar. The black mistress is devoted to her man and stretches out the arm to him in a show of great grief as he is taken away from her on the steamer. Thus, a reading of "Heart of Darkness" clearly puts the reader to contrasting pictures of women and expose to prejudiced view, driven by patriarchal influence of Conrad, against white and black women. . Works cited Achebe, Chinua. An Image of Africa: Racism in Conrad's Heart of Darkness. Massachusetts Review No. 18 Ed. Kimbrough, Robert. London: W.W. Norton and Co. pp.251-261. 1988. 12 Dec. 2007 . Conrad, Joseph. Heart of Darkness with The Congo Diary. Hampson, Robert. London: Penguin. 2000. Homer. The Odyssey. 800. B.C.E. Translated by Samuel Butler. 2000. 12 Dec. 2007 . Read More