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The portrayal of women in literature
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Feminist Perspective of Heart of Darkness
In Joseph Conrad’s novel Heart of Darkness, Marlow’s view of women embodies the typical 19th century view of women as the inferior sex. There are only three relatively minor female characters in Heart of Darkness: Marlow’s aunt, Kurtz’s mistress, and Kurtz’s "Intended." Marlow mentions these female characters in order to give the literal aspect of his tale more substance. While they definitely play specific roles in the story, they do not relate with the primary theme of the story. The primary theme focuses more on how Marlow’s journey into the heart of darkness contrasts the "white" souls of the black people and the "black" souls of the whites who exploit them, and how it led to Marlow’s self-discovery.
In the beginning of Marlow’s story he tells how he, "Charlie Marlow, set the women to work--to get a job." He tells this in the context that he was so desperate to travel in the trade industry that he did what was unthinkable in those times: he asked a woman for financial assistance. The woman, his aunt, also transcended the traditional role of women in those times by telling Marlow that she would be delighted to help him and to ask her for help whenever he needed it. This incident did not have much to do with the symbolic theme of the story; it simply served to tell the reader how Marlow managed to be able to travel to the Congo. On a higher level, it was intended by Conrad to illustrate Marlow’s opinion of women’s inferior role in society, which embodied traditional 19th century society.
The two other female characters are not mentioned until much later in the story, after Marlow has arrived at the Inner Station. When Marlow reaches this point in his tale, he jumps ahead and tells a little bit about The Intended, Kurtz’s fianceé who was to marry Kurtz when he returned. The Intended woman does not appear until the very end of the novelette, in which Marlow visits her and lies to her about Kurtz’s dying words. The Intended had a more significant role in the story than Marlow’s aunt; however, her role as a whole was somewhat limited and did not affect the main theme of the story.
The third female character, Kurtz’s African mistress, is briefly mentioned two times near the end of the novel.
Throughout The Heart of Darkness Joseph Conrad (personified in the book as Charlie Marlow) conveys his belief that women, in their belief of a better world one that men do not see, are mentally of an unconnected planet of their own. Conrad imparts the reader with the many reasons why women think this way and why men continue to let this be. He also shows the reader what he thinks a woman’s role is and what it should be. By the end Conrad communicates that the blackness of Earth is all around us and to tell these women who do not see the world in this way, would in turn be an even darker act.
At the beginning of the protagonist’s journey it seemed as though the "two women . . . knitting black wool" (Conrad 13) in the trading center office were there to foreshadow the mortal death of Marlow. One may have drawn this conclusion because this is an obvious reference to the women who knitted while watching aristocrats executed by the guillotine during the French Revolution. I believe it meant something much more deep. A good writer, one of Conrad’s caliber, does not place superfluous scenes, words, or phrases in his or her book. He writes only what he needs to write. With that in mind, because Marlow did not die at the end of his journey, therefore the women then had to represent something else. They foreshadowed the death of Marlow’s soul. They knew he was without a spirit guide because they were aware the Trading Company had not offered him one. They also knew Kurtz hadn’t had a guide either.
Conrad's racism is portrayed in the actions and perceptions of Marlow along his trip up the Congo. Marlow's views of the area during the beginning of the trip are given as inhumane, and uncivilized. The Heart of Darkness for Marlow is the ignorance and brutality that he witnesses from natives as well as Whites that are met upon his trip.
Joseph Conrad’s “Heart of Darkness” is the author’s most celebrated work. The book conveys the story of Marlow, who is a sailor on the ship. Marlow narrates the story describing particularly what he came across during his journey and experienced. When we look at the events that take place in the book, it is unquestionable that Women do not occupy a significant portion of the story; the story is predominately male dominated. However, does women’s lack of appearance make them minor characters? Or do women have a minor effect in the story? Having analyzed the book under the scope of “Feminist View”, we can answer these questions and say that women play considerable roles even though they occupy a small portion in the story. In my essay I will
The book is regarding a girl named Charlotte (Charlie) Livingstone whose grandfather (John Lee) is dying of age. In order to prevent over thinking about her grandfather’s predicted end, she goes on a walk in the Cold Tarn Woods with her best friend Pip (Phillipa). Though through a quick unforeseen event, she goes back in time with the power of a few stepping-stones. 1952 is the destination in which ends up in the Cold Tarn Open Air School. Miss Carrington, the Headmistress, has mistaken her for a girl named Joyce Ingham, and with confusion set upon her; she believed it was only an act of a television series. As a result, Charlie now needs to blend in with the students of this era and in order to do this; her modern behaviour is most definitely not welcome. Opportunely, a boy named Jack Lee, a fellow student, is persuaded that she is not whom everyone thinks she is. The outcome to this is an adventure to prove who she is once and for all but is it enough? Will fellow students, the Headmistress, Miss Stafford or even Mr. Newberry (Old Two Biscuits) believe her after showing proof? Will the people she once thought were characters in a television series be able to guide her back to her time era, or will she be a prisoner that is life-longed seized in the nick of time?
Plastic surgery is one of the most growing fields in medicine. Reconstructive surgery is one of the branches from plastic surgery and it is defined as surgeries performed to restore facial and body defects caused by a disease, trauma, burns, or birth defects (Nelson, 2010). When it first started, it focused on helping people who are having difficulty blending in society. For instance, during the Renaissance era, in the late 1700s, doctors worked on enhancing the appearance of patients suffering from the nose deformation caused by syphilis using plastic surgery. Enabling them to blend in society and cover the disease. Also, after World War I, because there were a large number of soldiers with disfiguring injuries, the United States of America relied on plastic surgeries to improve the life of wounded soldiers (Nelson, 2010). The other branch of plastic surgery is cosmetic surgery. This type of surgery is performed to preserve or restore normal appearances, or to enhance it beyond the average level (American Board of Cosmetic Surgery, 2014). For the last couple of years, Plastic surgery marketing has focused massively on cosmetic surgery procedures rather than reconstructive ones. This type of advertising is having negative effects on society by increasing the number of needless procedures, changing the true meaning of beauty, and harming females’ self-esteem.
Driving under the influence is one of the most common and dangerous situations in which anyone can be or be placed. Drinking and driving is a serious offence that can cause someone to be physically harm or even killed. Not only are you putting yourself at risk but you are also risking the lives of passengers in the car as well as any other car and occupants sharing the road with you. Many people believe that increasing fines for drunk driving offenders will play a compelling role in cutting down the occurrences of driving under the influence. However, while harsher DUI laws will look effective on paper, they will not make a significant step in the fight against drunk driving. Although there is a law enforced for drinking and driving in the
Joseph Conrad states that “they, the women are out of it, should be out of it. We must help them to stay in that beautiful world of their own.” (pg.122) In The Heart of Darkness women are portrayed as naive, innocent creatures who cannot face reality or the truth, hence they remain delusional. A perfect example of this is the Intended, who is incapable of accepting the truth and is the only character who remains in her delusional world. Conrad describes the women in a stereotypical, old-fashioned manner and this is why he receives criticism from Nina Pelikan, who says, “Marlow presents a world distinctly spilled into male and female realms, the first harbouring the possibility of truth and the second dedicated to the maintenance of delusion.” In The Heart of Darkness, Conrad has exhibited a male dominant society where men have the upper hand and women are subservient to men. The Intended is a perfect example of this, she remained servile to Kurtz, who was the dominant figure in her life and controlled everything. Conrad shows the innocence of women in the beginning when Marlow’s aunt views him as an emissary of light who will educate the African native, but Marlow tells her that the company is run for profit, not missionary work and later tells his friends how women are out of touch with the truth. It is ironic how Conrad depicts women as a symbolism for innocence, yet it is the women who facilitate the men at
Center for Planetary Studies. "Deforestation Isn't the Real Problem in the Amazon." June 1996. http://www.ctr_planets/Amazon.html (7 June 2003).
When read at face value, Joseph Conrad’s novella, Heart of Darkness, is a portrayal of white, imperial, oppression of the African natives of the Congo. However, when we view the writing through the lenses of psychoanalysis and feminism, a story focused on one character, Marlow, emerges. Each theory presents a new way of interpreting and understanding the character development and imagery within the story. Psychoanalysis provides a look into the mind and dreamlike setting of Marlow. Feminism examines the binary gender roles of the characters, Marlow and Kurtz. Both theories examine how these two characters are in some way the same person.
The second individual is Ann. Wolff does not divulge Ann's everyday character, but displays Ann's "indifference" to her Husband's assessment of the subject ...
Comparisons and contrasts are important devices which an author may use to help convey his thoughts and feelings about a situation or an event. Joseph Conrad makes use of these devices in his novel Heart of Darkness. Throughout the novel when he was trying to convey a deeper meaning about a situation or a place, he would us a comparison or contrast. The comparative and contrasting themes in the story help to develop Conrad's ideas and feelings in the Heart of Darkness. Light verses dark, the Thames verses the Congo, the Savages compared to the civilized people, and the darkness of both worlds are all contrasts and comparisons that are important to the meaning as well as the understanding of this novel.
Athletes should be able to use sports enhancing drugs to boost performance for better play and fan entertainment. Think of a world where athletes are stronger, faster and more physical then today normal athletes. This would be great for fans that enjoy entertainment at high levels of play. Athletes would get more endorsement, owners would make more money due to more fans watching their teams, and fans would be able to watch better entertainment and choose from a large list of great players. Also fans wouldn’t be let down when they find out that their favorite player broke the rules using sport enhancing drugs. Sport enhancing drugs should be the only drugs took of the banned list. Because it could have a positive effect.
Cosmetic Surgery has been around ever since the early wars to repair scars and injuries but, “today, cosmetic plastic surgeries outnumber reconstructive ones in many countries.” (Edmonds, 2012, p. 134). Cosmetic surgery continues to grow in popularity all around the world. It has now evolved to beautify an unattractive physical appearance. In 2013, Americans spent more than seven billion dollars on cosmetic surgery according to a website titled, Healthline. Cosmetic surgery may sound ideal to someone who is unhappy with a physical appearance but it can be very dangerous. According to “The Culture of Beauty”, “analysts agree that because
The French are with the Italian and the Spanish part of the biggest consumers of table water in the world. 80% of the sales volumes are made by Hyper and super markets, whereas restaurants make 20%. The consumption of still bottles water was 145L per year per inhabitant in 2009, close to the consumption of 1999 (Source: Agreste – Prodcom, Douanes – Mémento alimentation, 2011).