Heart of Darkness Prompt #5

In his novel, Conrad paints women as holding the gentler and more pure aspects of human nature. Two of the major female characters described in the book are Kurtz intended and his mistress. Although these two share similarities such as being objects that Kurtz can show off his wealth on, there are far more differences between them. Kurtz's love interests in the book are shown as models for a woman's capacity to love through hardship and adversity. In Kurtz intended, she remains faithful and in full belief that Kurtz has underrated love for her. She stays in a delusional world in Europe where she really has no idea of the reality that lies in Africa with Kurtz. Kurtz's mistress is quite different than his intended in this way because she stays and sleeps in Africa, which is portrayed as the center of uncertainty and the opposite of civilization, with Kurtz. She is portrayed as a dominant and bold character, where as the intended is innocent and almost childlike in her trust in Kurtz. This part of the native mistress' personality is what draws Kurtz to her because it embodies the same personality trait that he sees in himself. The mistress is seen as much more beautiful and striking than the intended who is seen as almost plain with her European features. The final contrasting feature of these two women is whether or not Marlow speaks directly to them. In Kurtz's African mistress, Marlow never speaks to her which makes her even more of an enigma while Marlow is the one that breaks the news to Kurtz's intended that he has passed away.