Hopefully it is kosher to write about the section that I talked about in class, because that is what I am about to do (if it isn't then just tell me and I will post on something different)
When Marlow sees his aunt, they begin talking about the his trip to Africa. She is convinced that what he is about to do is very noble- at one point she mentions 'weaning those ignorant millions from their horrid ways" This leads Marlow to make the statement about how Women are off in their own little beautiful worlds, and that everything is right and wonderful in the worlds of women. (It's queer how out of touch with truth women are. They live in a world of their own), Though this is obviously says a lot about the views of women, it also brings the idea of darkness back up. The word "beautiful" is repeated several times, emphasizing the perfection of the "woman's" world. This in turn brings out the imperfections and "darkness" of the "real" world. Yet another chance for Joseph Conrad to isolate the "darkness" of the world. He also talks about how his aunt sees him as the emissary of light... (this goes back with the idea of conquering the "horrid ways" and he is bringing the light of colonialism to the dark and unrefined world of the natives.
Subscribe to:
Post Comments (Atom)
3 comments:
This is a curious view on several levels and the analysis is spot on. It's interesting to think about the "beautiful world of women" and how exactly they view the African quest differently than a man would. This only brings up the question, would it be any different?
Totally kosher.
i think this is definitely an interesting point to bring up. it made me think about how so far in the book - we havent really read much about women in the darkness, besides the old women that somewhat represented "the fates." Conrad does not associate beautiful women, or any aspect of beauty itself in "the darkness" so far. you are certainly right in that he isolates beauty from the darkness.
Post a Comment