Feminist Criticism Heart Of Darkness

My research paper is entitled, Analyzing Heart of Darkness through a Feminist Lens. Through this paper, I will investigate and examine Heart of Darkness by means of Feminist Criticism and literary theory. I aspire to thoroughly analyze the entire narrative, in order to pull out and pinpoint various aspects and examples linked to feminist theory. I want to investigate and spotlight specific occurrences, in the novel, where characteristics of Feminist Criticism can be found or applied. I specifically want to look at the tree women characters introduced in the text; “The Intended” “The Mistress” and Marlow’s aunt. I also want to prove that Heart of Darkness is a text that openly conflicts with the basis of feminism.

To begin this paper, I want to explain a little bit about Feminist Criticism. This category of criticism scrutinizes the means in which texts have been molded in accordance with matters of gender. It concentrates on social and financial disparities in a “male-controlled” culture that continues to impede women from grasping their true potentials. There are several perceptions and theories universally shared by feminist critics. One such belief is that our society is undeniably regulated by men. Another belief is that the concept of “gender” is mostly, if not wholly, a social standard that has curtailed from the never ending masculine biases that engulf our world. This male dominated philosophy is excessively abundant in most of the writings that are deemed exceptional literature. In addition, many feminist consider females, in literature, to be represented as destructive or docile objects, while most males are portrayed as being brave and resilient leaders.

According to Clark, VeVe A., Ruth-Ellen B. Joeres and Madelon Spr...

... middle of paper ...

... Marlow doesn’t believe she is worthy of the truth, so he lies to her. "I could not tell her. It would have been too dark" (124).

Further examples that can be drawn out and observed through the feminist lens include Marlow continuously referring to the boat as a "she." Though this was the correct method to talk about a boat, it still shows male dominance regarding a feminized ship. Marlow and the other men are continuously in control of the boat, implying that like a vessel, females live under the control of men. They are worthless without men to guide them:

Her ensign dropped limp like a rag; the muzzles of the long six-inch guns stuck out all over the low hull; the greasy, slimy swell swung her up lazily and let her down, swaying her thin masts. In the empty immensity of earth, sky, and water, there she was, incomprehensible, firing into a continent (49).