Joseph Conrad had dreamed of traveling to Africa since childhood. Unfortunately, his trip to Africa in 1890 was described as less of a dream, and more of a nightmare. Conrad reflected his experiences while writing his short novel Heart of Darkness. The novel follows a sailor’s employment for a Belgian trading company and his journey up the Congo River. The sailor, Marlow, encounters intense brutality and cruelty towards the natives forced into work for the Company. As Marlow searches for the mysterious and legendary station master Kurtz, he describes his experiences and interactions along the way. Heart of Darkness is often viewed as “racist” and “sexist” by critics. Nigerian writer Chinua Achebe directly criticized Conrad’s novel as prejudice
…show more content…
In contrast, women are rarely mentioned and seem to exist in a world outside of the novel. Females only gain acknowledgement through their relation to powerful men, such as Marlow or Kurtz. The reader only encounters approximately five women with relevance to the story; Marlow’s aunt, the knitting women, Kurtz’s intended, and Kurtz’s African mistress. When mentioned, women in Heart of Darkness are often in locations or activities demonstrating safety and security; having tea, knitting, or sitting at table. They are far removed from the world of dangerous action and intense work that male characters occupy. The first woman to appear in the novel, Marlow’s aunt, immediately develops an ongoing theme of the naivety of women. She is thrilled at her nephew’s departure and believes he will be doing good work, saying he will be, “weaning those ignorant millions from their horrid ways” (1961). Her final advice to Marlow is wear a flannel and write often. The ending of the novel leaves the reader with final emphasis on this view of women’s inability. Marlow lies to Kurtz’s intended, telling her that Kurtz’s last words were her name. He believes that it would be better for her to continue to live in oblivion than hear the reality of Kurtz’s death and the world. Marlow once again separates women from the truth and enables them to exist in a world of their
In contrast, women are rarely mentioned and seem to exist in a world outside of the novel. Females only gain acknowledgement through their relation to powerful men, such as Marlow or Kurtz. The reader only encounters approximately five women with relevance to the story; Marlow’s aunt, the knitting women, Kurtz’s intended, and Kurtz’s African mistress. When mentioned, women in Heart of Darkness are often in locations or activities demonstrating safety and security; having tea, knitting, or sitting at table. They are far removed from the world of dangerous action and intense work that male characters occupy. The first woman to appear in the novel, Marlow’s aunt, immediately develops an ongoing theme of the naivety of women. She is thrilled at her nephew’s departure and believes he will be doing good work, saying he will be, “weaning those ignorant millions from their horrid ways” (1961). Her final advice to Marlow is wear a flannel and write often. The ending of the novel leaves the reader with final emphasis on this view of women’s inability. Marlow lies to Kurtz’s intended, telling her that Kurtz’s last words were her name. He believes that it would be better for her to continue to live in oblivion than hear the reality of Kurtz’s death and the world. Marlow once again separates women from the truth and enables them to exist in a world of their