In

Joseph Conrad’s novella, Heart of Darkness, the representation of women is

extremely limited. Conrad’s portrayals are extreme stereotypes meant to depict

the entire female gender. Through these extreme stereotypes, Conrad is able

to illustrate his themes of darkness and brutality.

     Joseph Conrad depicts

only three main women in his novel: the aunt of Marlow, as well as the mistress

and his fiancee. These roles though limited in their descriptions, are meant

to represent the commonly perceived (as well as extremely stereotypical) positions

of women in society, i.e.: the mother, the whore and the dutiful Lady/virgin.

Conrad describes the aunt as a “dear and enthusiastic soul...ready to do anything,

anything for [Marlow],” (pg. 34). The mistress is described as “savage and

superb, wild-eyed and magnificent; there was something ominous and stately

in her deliberate progress,” (pg. 101). While in contrast, Kurtz’s fiancee

is described as ready to listen without mental reservation, without suspicion,

without a thought for herself,” (pg. 115). These characters are all extremes,

stereotypical in nature and limited, illustrating Conrad’s portrait’s of brutality,

violence, death and darkness of the unconquered world. Since navigation and

exploration was all done by men these themes are ap

art of the male realm,

and thus can only be understood or is meant to be inclusive by men. As a result,

through these extreme characters of the women, it is understood that women

this brutality would never have occurred if it had been written about women,

because these women do not have and are not capable of these feelings and characteristics.

     All

of the women in Conrad’s novella are depicted in an unthreatening manner, easily

dominated and controlled by men. These representations allow the central themes

to be illustrated for the author, showing that they are

of male phenomenons.