Part III Regarding WOMEN

[Ethan Hanson]

I feel as if this painting could symbolize on what Kurtz was becoming, with all that power and corruption he was on a path of darkness. The blindfold could represent the blindness people have for Kurtz, they view him as a god and am idol, when in reality he was the one blind with corruption and power. The lighted torch could represent Marlow, he could of been the only light in this darkness, he was going to become the "Heart of Darkness" but he stopped himself proving that he could be hope and light. It seems appropriate for Kurtz to paint this sketch because he is representing Africa and the way he wants it to run, he wants to control everything which leads him into a path of darkness, power, and corruption. He fell victim to the control of Ivory and therefore became the darkness in Africa.

[annap]

The painted figure may symbolize the depths of the jungle and the darkness within the jungle. The woman being draped in a blindfold creates the picture how women should not be seen in the darkness of the jungle. The only women there are the native savages whom have dark skin and are not seen as important in society. The lighted torch shows that women are physically there, but not really regarded. It seems appropriate for Kurtz to have painted a sketch of this woman because of his disrespect towards women and views of them as inferior.

[MorganDuss]

The significance of the painting refers to the imperialism that the Europeans bring into the Congo. The torch is meant to symbolize civilization, and the blindfold represents the Natives (women) following Kurtz into "darkness." The importance of the women being blindfolded is that she doesn't need a lighted torch since Kurtz holds all the power to guide her and the Natives.

[kristinyinn]

The woman is “blindfolded, carrying a lighted torch”. This shows that the woman is lost in darkness and knows nothing about the world around them. This symbolizes the ignorance of women of imperialism. “The effect of the torchlight on the face was sinister”. This can symbolize the fact that women’s ignorance is bringing evil and bad things toward the world around them that they are unable to see. This painting is appropriate for Kurtz to have painted because women follow him blindly without seeing the truth.

[Sydney Davis]

The painted figure can possibly symbolize the civilization in Africa. It seems appropriate for Kurtz to have painted this sketch because of his European background and how he views the darkness in Europe. As he is a strong leader, his main desire is money and Ivory.

[Collin Stark]

The women in the painting has a very important meaning, as it holds the torch which is referenced earlier in the book when speaking of how Africa is taken by " sword or torch." The use of the torch in the painting by Kurtz shows how instead of the sword which represents violence, Kurtz prefers the torch representing enlightenment and truth. the woman being blindfolded represents the Europeans being blind to what is truly happening in Africa and blindly supporting the humiliation of millions of people.

[spencercornman]

The painted figure may represent the barbarity that the people and the environment had demonstrated to Kurtz when he was out in the wilderness. The woman with the blindfold and the lighted torch may represent the blindness the Europeans have to their effect on the natives. It is dark all around the woman because it was unclear what what was happening in Africa from a European perspective as well as the darkness of death and savagery. The Europeans are blinded to these horrible effects and darkness. Kurtz sees through the blindfold and understands the terrible effects because he had experienced and seen the horrors the Europeans had inflicted.

[corinnetaylor]

Women and their obliviousness has been a constant theme throughout the book. I think it's trying to symbolize that even deep in the actual heart of darkness women still are blind to what's actually going on in the world whether they live in a big city or in the heart of darkness. It just follows along that in this book ignorance is bliss for all kinds of women.

[elle]

This painting of Kurtz's fiancé really captures how women are viewed during this time period. In the quote, she is described as being, "draped and blindfolded, carrying a lighted torch". This represents how women are ignorant to what is really happening in the Congo. They are not aware of the corruption and evil of the Europeans colonizers. Women in this time period are so absent from the actual reality, so, they don't understand that what is being done is wrong. It is appropriate that Kurtz painted this because he believed in how women have their own reality and should be protected from the corruption of what is occurring in the Congo.

[kazhir]

This painting shows how the Congo is no place for a family to strive. I interpret this painting as a woman who is walking away from the savagery and corruption of the colonizers and imperialism occuring in the Congo to the Natives. She is blindfolded because Kurtz doesn't truly want people to see what goes on there. Kurtz painted this because inside he realizes how cruel and harsh he and the Company is to the Natives, and he wishes he didn't have to live in such a cruel society.

[Chris N.]

The painting that Marlow describes could symbolize the aspects of the Europeans occupation in Africa. The woman could represent the African natives, she is blind folded and draped but there is a torch that she is holding in the darkness. The african natives are very blinded to what's really going on, they have very little insight, similar to faint light of a torch through a blind fold. The Europeans plan to simply extract all the wealth from Africa in ivory not help them modernize any further. The black background represents the darkness that has consumed the African natives during the time of the Europeans occupation. The movement and effect of the torchlight on the women would symbolize the progress that the natives have made with civilizing there society with the Europeans and how sinister their plan to gain wealth in Africa really is. It is significant that Kurtz is painted this sketch because he is involved with all the corruption, deception, and greed that is consuming Africa in darkness.

[WillDo]

The painting somewhat symbolizes the colonization in Africa. The blindfold shows how people not involved in the colonization do not know what is really going on in Africa, and are unaware of the corruption and darkness caused by imperialism. The torchlight, described as sinister, represents this corruption in the Congo. The significance of Kurtz painting this picture represents how Kurtz brings darkness in Africa, and how it is hidden from everyone else's eyes.

[cboehm1]

The significance of the painting is first and foremost, Conrad’s continual theme of light versus dark. It is interesting how light generally is a portrayal of good, safe, and inspiring, whereas darkness is typically a portrayal of evil, danger, and bad times. In the example of the painting, the light reveals a sinister face. Conrad could be implying that the woman, who in this case could symbolize Europe, and the sombre background, which could represent Africa, is entering the “darkness” under the pretense of “bringing the light”, while her sinister face proves that it is all a lie. It seems appropriate that Kurtz had painted this sketch because he of all people would be the one to know first hand of the reality of the European colonization in Africa and how many people were delusional to the true presence of ill-treatment toward the natives.

[ZackF]

The painting is symbolic of the imperialistic nature of the europeans and how the natives are almost blind to what is going on around them. The torchlight on the womans face makes her to appear sinister because of the anger that is built up about the imperialism they are in the middle of. It is appropriate that Kurtz created such a work because he realized the negatives the coincide with imperialism yet was a greedy colonizer of ivory.

[Benkashanchi]

The woman is symbolic of the company who is attempting to civilize the natives of Africa. The blindfold represents the idea that the company is attempting to civilize a land which they have no experience navigating, and reflects the idea that eventually the company’s imperialistic actions are likely to fail. Since “the effect on the torchlight on the face was sinister”, we could likely conclude that the Company’s actions are entirely sinister for they are motivated by solely greed and share no regard for the well-being of the inhabitants of the “darkness”. It is appropriate for Kurtz to have performed this sketch because it reveals that even Kurtz, the most prominent figure of the company, knew the journey would result in failure. He might have predicted the falling-out of the company as soon as he began to contract the illness, which further cements the belief that he is stood apart from the company in terms of efficiency.