Comparing and Contrasting the Role of Women in Things Fall Apart and Heart of Darkness

Role of Women in Things Fall Apart and Heart of Darkness

Women were once little more than slaves to their male "betters." Some women might have been respected, but their places were limited to roles as wives and mothers. They might rule a home, but were not believed intelligent enough for any other role. This chauvinistic attitude is well reflected in the novels Things Fall Apart, by Chinua Achebe, and Heart of Darkness, by Joseph Conrad.

In Things Fall Apart, women are praised in their capacities as wives and mothers, almost revered really. In many instances, Achebe paints glowing pictures of them in these roles. "Anasi was a middle aged woman, tall and strongly built. There was authority in her bearing and she looked every inch the ruler of the womenfolk in a large and prosperous family" (Achebe 20). Anasi's role as Nwakibie's first wife is obviously one of great respect and she is regarded nearly as a queen. She presides over the other wives of her husband and keeps them under control and peaceful. Because she does a good job, she is highly regarded as a woman. Also, "Ani played a greater part in the life of the people than any other deity. She was the ultimate judge of morality and conduct" (Achebe 36). This quote may be surprising to the reader at first that men might worship a female goddess, but it fits with feminine roles in the Ibo society. Women are often entrusted with instilling morality in their children and governing their conduct. A female goddess will remind men to uphold their morals and mind their conduct, much the way a mother would her child. Again, there is the valued role of a mother for a woman. She will be admired and cherished for that, but little else. Outside the roles of mother and w...

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...orld, this is a sad attitude. Worldwide, women have it even worse. In Africa and parts of Asia today women are still as they were in Heart of Darkness and Things Fall Apart. They hold little power, are married to produce children, and are no much better than slaves. Achebe and Conrad, though indriectly, have painted a pitiful picture of the role of women in certain societies. In both novels, societies run by men eventually turn evil and fall apart. The admired war-like men come to destroy their lives and that of those around them. Well, perhaps it is time to give the women, the guardians of morality and conduct, a chance to run things. Maybe then there will be some peace on earth.

Works Cited:

Achebe, Chinua. Things Fall Apart. Greenwich: Fawcett Publications, Inc., 1959.

Conrad, Joseph. Heart of Darkness. London: Penguin Books, 1989.