As far as I can see, her character is the only one that contributes to the idea of female powerlessness in the novel. She believes the be Kurtz's last thoughts and words, her life is shattered by his death, she can and couldn't have done anything to prevent it. She is the ideal match for the powerless woman that most critics describe. The only woman who truly lies in her ignorant bliss and declines power is the Intended. Kurtz's heavy influence by his African mistress might not have sparked his moral and physical demise. The novel would have never gone into the direction that was intended had Marlow's aunt not secured him a position within the Company. Those who are 'blessed with the joy of ignorance' can still obtain power of some kind.

While my argument is not against the claim that late Victorian women were naive and ignorant, I still stand for the argument against the claim of their powerlessness. The joy of ignorance and were confined in the artificial world of their Biswas goes on to say that the women ' were ‘blessed’ with The aunt and the Intended represent both the old and the young of nineteenth century, European women. However, he adds that while Conrad attempted to follow these guidelines to make his novel more realistic, three female characters had a tremendous amount of effect on the book: Marlow's aunt, the African mistress, and the Intended. If a woman were to be written as a dominant and powerful, then the novel would be viewed as highly fictitious. Biswas claims that Conrad's decision to give women little characterization throughout the novel was due to a societal obligation. Without the risk of making the whole novel unrealistic' (156). The theme of Heart of Darkness can hardly allow any such character Part of Conrad such as his inability to build up one, but because Biswas argues that ' It is thus evident that in Heart of Darkness the absence ofĪ fully developed woman character is not due to any fault on the

Women in heart of darkness