"dark-clothed knitters of destiny " wow.. have you read greek mythology? Obvious allusion to the fates my friend....<br><br>About the women thing... I don't think the women in the novel were given power at all! Marlow talks about protecting women and not being able to tell them the truth for fear that they couldn't handlne it. I think you just wanted to annoy all the women in you class by bringing up that viewpoint...
I don't think that the women in the novel were meant to be seen as devilish. The references in the novel give the women a sense of innocence and ignorance. There is a notion of romanticism in that the men of this time were the explorers, the brave ones, ready to head out into the unknown. The women were more content to stay at home and hold up every aspect of the life built up so far, the fantasy world that they live in (the comfort). If they knew what the rest of the world had to offer, they would be frightened, "It's queer how out of touch with truth women are. They live in a world of their own, and there had 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." If they knew the true, harsh realities of the world outside of their own, that innocence would be lost. The beauty of how they view life would crumble before them and what structure would the men have to turn to?<br>That is where the image of the woman in the painting comes into play. She is blindfolded and carrying a lighted torch. She is a guide, yet cannot see for herself.<br>
I was thoroughly impressed with how you perceived "Heart of Darkness." I, too, have had noticed the role of women in Conrad's novel. However, due to a presentation on this book I have had to go into great detail about Conrad's view of women as revealed through the Aunt, and the Intended. It is for an AP class so I was hoping that maybe if you have any extra ideas to offer about these two women, I would greatly appreciate it! Thanks!
Howard, congratulations on tooting your own horn.
it's nice to know that when you die, you'll be thinking about social circumstances and prejudice towards genders... i think it's much more realistic that kurtz could be thinking about what is going to happen to him in issues of morality pertaining to his life. how can you substantiate your arguement pertaining to the rest of the novel? it would be possible if only women were described as weak, but just about everyone in the novel's weak, with the exception with the native woman that lifted her arms towards the end.
I think the women in conrad's piece are knowing collaborators in the dark business of exploitation, of the greed of the players/pilgrims and the indiginous peoples. <br><br>Your thoughts on the roles of women are interesting. I have just re-read your comments and suggest that women in general are knowing exploiters of the greed of men (sexuality) in order to further their relative position in their civilised society.<br><br>Do find the time to indertake your work - regards tony
Hey moron, its KurtZ not Kurt! Did you even read the book? You never got around to doing that project huh? You sound very motivated...you'll go far in life...
I like your comment very much, and find it rather appealing<br><br>Another thing that could back it up is at the very beginning, just as he's about to start his story, an allusion to the point not being the kernel of the story, but the outside of it. The women were very much on the outside. <br><br>Also, at the end of the story, as Kurtz's intended is going off on the wrong path about Kurtz, she seems to be 'swallowing' all the light.<br><br>Hm!<br><br>Nice perspective.
Being the only male in a literature class at Oranim affiliated to Haifa University, I ventured (to the horror of the female students and teacher) the idea that Conrad's seemingly clouded conception of the horror expressed by Kurt on his deathbed pertained not merely to the inward revelation achieved while the darker memories and visions of life flashed before him in his last moments, but alarmingly to the woman. Throughout the text allusions are made to the woman having some devilish super-natural power as seen by the dark-clothed knitters of destiny and the Jungle warrior set up rising up with the immagery of ghostly torch lit faces culminating in the final words of Kurt - transmitted by Marlow to his intended (woman) and equated with the horror - "your name" that of the intended.<br><br>I feel a sense of Conrad's helplessness as a man who realizes that the aim in life of reaching manhood and reproducing is self defeating where the torch or baton of light is passed on through the woman to leave the man once again after his moment of revelation in total blackness or on the down path to rot and decay while the seeds flow on and away.<br><br>Although the head of the English department at the University of Haifa wished to jointly develop my idea in a paper (He had been giving a series of lectures on "The Woman" as seen in Literature, I unfortunately never got around to doing it with him.<br><br>Maybe some other interested readers of the novel (unfortunately many seemed too bored and may not have connected with the essence of the man) will air their views on the subject so I can see if there is any simpathetic degree of sharing my views preferably by women readers.<br><br>All the best - Howard
Hi! I am so lost, i was actually suppose to read this book for engligh's ISU essay but didn't. So if you guys can help me thanks. I am writting my essay on the role of women in the novel and if there are any quotes that will support my essay topic, can you please email them to me at [email protected] with page number ASAP
Please and thank you
Last edited by pink_panther; 05-31-2005 at 05:54 PM.
i would like for you to explain WHY anyone would help considering that you have not bothered to read the book
shh!!!
the air and water have been here a long time, and they are telling stories.
Well I assume you are pretty lost as you've posted this exact same message in 6 different threads.Originally Posted by pink_panther
How about this quote (yeah, its in the book)
"Jimbo turned to his wife and said 'where the hell is my dinner'" in my book its on page 2222222, dunno 'bout yours
There once was a scotsman named Drew
Who put too much wine in his stew
He felt a bit drunk
And fell off his bunk
And landed smack into his shoe ~(C) Ms Niamh Anne King
Wat the hell! don't be hating. i just asked for help
i am reading heart of darkness right now for my ap world lit class. i happen to have the dover thrift edition of the novel. the problem is that i cannot remember what pages some quotes are on. so if you could help me out (i have to write a 1000 - 1500 page essay) i would appriciate it but if you do not, whatever.
1.) "you know i hate, detest, and can't bear a lie..."
2.) "It's queer how out of touch with truth women are. They live in a world of their own, and there had 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."
so if you know the pages those are on and could tell me i would be greateful.
thanks so much.
semisweet07
-"till this moment, i never knew myself..."
oh and i almost forgot. well i would like some input about the women and their roles in the novel. i think that the men have created the innocence about the women on purpose. it's like the men have to have a safe place to come home to after conquering the "evil" of the Congo. so when marlow criticizes the women and their innocence, he is being a hypocrite. perhaps not on purpose though because he does not know better yet. but in the end when he lies to kurtz's Intended, then he is also creating and maintaining the innocence of the women in london. the women's lives are built upon lives. just a thought.
semisweet07
-"till this moment, i never knew myself..."
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