A huge part of the book presents stories of men, who decisively make most of the story. Also, the story that is being told by Marlow is directed to the male part of the crew only. Although It might seem like women do not play an important part in the book, I believe that it was them who stand behind every important character in the story and in somewhat inspire them and help taking necessary steps. Why it is then that women are sidelined here, starting with the fact that they do not even have names? Conrad is constantly trying to prove that women do not play a part in the world of the darkness, however female’s characters appear in the most important moments of the narrative.
European women certainly had an influence on the progress of events. The situation where Marlow is interviewing for a job on a ship for a trading company best shows that they were “under covered strategists”. To get that job, Marlow wanted to use his qualifications and experience but he gave up easily, deciding to use family connections. However, it was not the men of his influential family who pulled the strings, it was the success of his aunt. Marlow does not consider women to be his equal, however with a sense of shame and some kind of failure finally admits: “I, Charlie Marlow, set the women to work- to get a job. Heavens!”
The next women reader gets to meet in the story are the employees of company’s offices. “Two women, one fat, and the other slim, sat on straw-bottomed chairs, knitting black wool.” When Marlow came across them in the office he thought it takes them only one look to know everything about a men. The way Marlow seems to contrast them, makes me think of the women being some kind off representation of fate. The author refers to them as “guardians of the door of darkness” which in Marlow sees as an ominous sign, as if they participated in the upcoming evil.
A similar role in the story plays Kurtz’s fiancé. The author suggests that it is because of her that such a talented men decided to go to Africa. Marlow found out from her that their engagement was not happily received by Kurtz’s family, yet she was completely devoted to him “I am proud to know I understood him better than any one on earth”. Marlow portrayed her as naïve and idealistic, just her vision of Kurtz was. The protagonist even says “We must help them to stay in that beautiful world of their own lest ours gets worse”. In other words, Marlow believes that women should not go beyond their idealistic views, and even remain shallow for that matter.
One women who does not fit the description of the women above is Kurtz’s mistress, who was a complete opposite of his fiancé. Instead of mourning and crying after his lover’s death she demonstrated her fury and anger.
During the conversation with his aunt Marlow thought that women live in their own world, which never existed and never will. According him, women’s world was filled with naïve illusions. At the same time, we can consider them as main activists of the colonial expansion and the benefits coming from it. The truth is that most actions in the book is taken by men, however it was women who inspired them. Yes, women here are viewed a trophies for men, however we are missing the fact the supporting roles that their characters played are actually supporting. Although, Condrad worked very hard or portraying women as insignificant, I do not think he realized that they actually played a bigger role than he thought.