Part III Regarding WOMEN

[Bostgeme]

This painting of the woman in a blindfold carrying a torch represents the natives who are forced to help the ivory traders raid villages. The blindfold represents their lack of knowledge of the intentions that Kurtz and his men truly have. The torch leads them forward so they think its positive, but the light of the torch only shows them what is so far ahead of them, but they don't know what lies farther before them in the darkness, similar to how they don't know exactly what they're being led to. It's appropriate that Kurtz painted it because he is the one in charge of it all and he realizes what he's making the natives do.

[mmurai]

The painting of the women symbolizes the colonization of Africa by European countries. The women represents the Europeans which are the civilized sent because it is their duty to help the uncivilized people. The fact that she is blindfolded represents that Europeans don't know what they are getting themselves into and are running into a problem they won't be able to fix. They think that colonization will be very easy but make little progress. The torch represents civilization and industry which is what Europe is giving to the Africa. the darkness represents Africa which is uncivilized and lacks technology. The women's face is sinister to show the evil motives that drive imperialism in Europe such as exploiting the local people and treating them like animals just to be able to reap natural resources from the land. It is symbolic that Kurtz paint the sketch because he symbolizes imperialism.

[KLyle]

It is appropriate for Kurtz to have painted this picture because of his views about the whole situation in Africa. He believes that Europeans constantly enters the heart of darkness of Africa expecting that they know the situation, however they have no idea what they are doing and are completely in the dark. Kurtz paints a torch to show that they believe they have a lead and light to guide them, however they have a blindfold on because they are completely lost in the scheme of things.

[KLyle]

Also, a woman might represent some ignorance in the equation.

[Neil Castro]

The painting of the woman has a symbolic meaning because she is carrying a lighted torch in the dark, like saying that she has the hope with her and that hope can be strong than darkness, the torch can be seen as hope too, Africans are being used and abuse and they are looking for hope to continued with their lives now that the Europeans are taking control of them.In the novel woman are being seen as ignorant because the men does all the work but in this picture shows us a woman doing work, Kurtz is trying to say that woman can be strong if they want to, at the same times is explaining that Africans should be treat better instead of violence.

[tchoe]

The torch could represent the destruction that the Europeans can bring with imperialism and can at any time set fire to African civilizations. The shadow on the woman's face could represent the different viewpoints in which people see imperialism. One point is from the way the Europeans living in Europe see it and the other is from the way people who have actually visited the sites see it. The blindfold on the woman represents European society as a whole and how blind they are to all of the horrors going on in Africa. They live their lives completely unaware of the terrible truth.

[MartySparty]

I think the woman represents the false notion of how Imperialism was supposed to help the natives. She is draped and blindfolded symbolizing the attempts of the Europeans to cover up what was actually going in Africa. Yet when the light is shined upon the woman she looks sinister, just like when the truth about what was really going on in Africa is exposed we find out that it is also extremely sinister and evil. Kurtz painted this sketch because he knew all that went on and this was his way of representing it.

[bhong3211]

The painting depicts women as ignorant and bliss because they are blindfolded and holding a torch, but this could relate more to Europe's imperialism. It is symbolic in that the woman represents Europe blindly going into Africa and waving torch around, which means they are dangerous. The danger is represented with the actions that Kurtz puts upon the natives. Conrad has Kurtz paint this because he is the imperialist and knows the darkness and evils that is put onto the natives.

[Amin Taherabadi]

The idea that the novel is suggesting the imperialism that the europeans are brining to the heart of Darnkess. Throughout the novel women are ignored regarding the idea of collecting ivory in Congo. The torchlights effects on the woman's face represents that the torch as a light represents corruption but no the goodness and civilization. The portraits message is the failure of the imperialism.

[colecollins]

The painting is symbolic of how they are almost blind to everything around them. The light on the womens face shows her anger about the imperialism that is going on. It is appropriate that Kurtz created this because it shows how reedy he is with ivory and the negative effects of imperialism

[Emily Schwartz]

This painting is a figure of a woman in the shadows that represents truth. I think that this represents truth because whenever Marlow sees a dark space- a shadow, shade, etc, he comes to a realization or a truth about himself, his surrounding or others. She is distorted by the sunlight hitting her face, this is an image of corruption and distortion of society that has consumed all of the congo, especially the inner aspects.

[Katie Craig]

I think the painting is symbolizing the fact that women turn a blind eye to the reality that is going on right in front of them. The torch could represent reality and truth. The woman is holding the torch symbolizing truth right in front of her eyes yet she can't see it because of the blindfold is significant because it depicts how the women in the story are ignorant of the inhumanity and savagery going on in Africa. The fact that the women is holding the torch means that she somehow supports what is going on. I think it is appropriate that Kurtz drew this sketch because he was apart of the imperialistic movement at one point and also kept his fiance in the dark about what was really going on.

[Skylarcrenshaw]

The women in the drawing is the lady of justice. This is extremely ironic because what the whites are doing to the blacks is anything but justified. She is surrounded by darkness which represents the truth and the torch is a symbol to seek out the truth. The women in blindfolded because marlow believes women live in their own world and it suggests the theme “ignorance is bliss”.

[megashark]

This sketch represent Lady Justice, the figure of integrity and moral correctness for many things, including the United States judicial system. Lady Justice is often depicted holding a scale and a torch: the scale is so that she can weigh what is right and what is wrong, and the torch so that she can illuminate the truth that is hidden in the darkness. The fact that Kurtz drew this sketch furthers the self-contradiction that Conrad stresses because although Kurtz is a high ranking official for an oppressive company, his subconscious must believe in the basic human right to freedom from injustices if he drew this sketch.