I think how Conrad portrays women in Heart of Darkness is intriguing. His opinions run the entire gamut. At one point the women are like the fates, sitting on a chair knitting the black wool of someones life. Then comes the secretary, whos stare sees into the truth of men, “same quick glance of unconcerned wisdom. She seemed to know all about them and about me, too. An eerie feeling came over me. She seemed uncanny and fateful.” And then of course comes Marlows Aunt, who through a friend of hers (another women who manipulates her husband) was able to get Marlow the job in the Congo. These women are powerful, effecting men and shaking Marlow to his core.
These images of truth and power are contrasted when his aunt says “ It's queer how out of touch with truth women are. They live in a world of their own, and there has never been anything like it, and never can be. It is too beautiful altogether, and if they were to set it up it would go to pieces before the first sunset. Some confounded fact we men have been living contentedly with
ever since the day of creation would start up and knock the whole thing over.” This would be the classic 19th century view of women. How women are so out of touch with reality, they live in their own world that is so beautiful it could not stand up to harsh reality.
By contrasting these views of women, I think Conrad was trying to show how women often have great power to effect the lives of men.
You are right Joe, it is and intriguing insight into Conrad and his relationship with women for him to write about them this way. There are stark contrast between the description of the women in the civilized world and those that are in the Congo. Good post.
ReplyDeleteWavelengths crossing here, Joe. I just finished editing in a comment about those women echoing the fates into the study guide, then flipped over here and read your journal. Strange. Well, obviously I agree with your post here, and Conrad definitely espoused the view that Frank Herbert assigned to women in Heretics of Dune: "The dark side of the magic universe belonged to them." Yet, they were also isolated from the frontiers of exploration.
ReplyDeleteAre women really out of touch with reality? Or have they been shielded from the real world by the "manly" men who believe that they can not cope with the harsh world. That being said why wouldn't a woman or man, for that matter, let someone else deal with these harsh realities or truths?
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