“Then he asked me to his room, which was in the main building of the station. He struck a match, and I perceived that this young aristocrat had not only a silver-mounted dressing-case but also a whole candle all to himself. Just at that time the manager was the only man supposed to have any right to candles. Native mats covered the clay walls; a collection of spears, assegais, shields, knives was hung up in trophies.... Then I noticed a small sketch in oils, on a panel, representing a woman, draped and blindfolded, carrying a lighted torch. The background was sombre – almost black. The movement of the woman was stately, and the effect of the torch-light on the face was sinister.”
This is one of the most important passages in Heart of Darkness because it alludes to how Africa influenced European art. First, Conrad portrays the manager as being prestigious and powerful. He “was the only man supposed to have any right to candles.” The manager could have any type of decoration in his room, but he chooses spears, shields, and assegais, a slender, iron-tipped, hardwood spear used chiefly by southern African people. Next to these African weapons are Native mats covering the clay walls. Every decoration in this room is of African style. But among everything, the painting of the woman is the most ironic on how Africa influenced European traditions.
At the start of the twentieth century, after colonial conquest into Africa, Europe collected thousands of African sculptures. Famous artists like Picasso and Vincent van Gogh were inspired by this African Art. The human figure has always been the primary subject matter for African Art, and that is exactly what Kurtz painted.
Do you think this painting is an ironic metaphor of some sort?
If the woman in the painting is blindfolded, why does she have a lit torch?
What is your favorite piece of African art?
I personally think that the woman in the oil painting is blindfolded to further the image of darkness in the painting and the passage for that matter. She carries a lit torch to symbolize light within the darkness whether this darkness be interpreted as imperialism, oppression, ignorance, prejudice, ect. The woman is even cloaked and set against a dark backdrop in addition to not being able to see, thus reinforcing the symbol of darkness. If one cannot see, one cannot fully understand their environment, situation, or others. Just as the woman cannot see, the foreigners invading her home cannot understand the inhabitants around them.
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ReplyDeleteI believe the blindfolded woman in the painting is carrying a lit torch to symbolize how the Europeans are trying to conquer parts of Africa. Like the blindfolded woman, the Europeans are blinded to the culture, traditions, and people in Africa. The lit torch represents their idea that they are bettering Africa by colonizing it and taking control. However, because they are blinded as they do so, it almost foreshadows the possibility that they could make things worse instead of better. It's not wise to carry a lit torch while being blindfolded. In other words, it's not ideal to invade a country without first understanding the people of the land since what we think are improvements may actually be looked upon by the natives as destruction of culture.
ReplyDeleteI believe the blindfolded women represents the blind following of imperialism by Europeans. Colonialism of Africa, especially the Belgium conquest in the Congo, was advertised in Europe as being a great accomplishment. Invading the Congo was supposed to help the natives and enrich their culture. In reality, Europeans, like the woman in the painting, were blindly following the light of a torch they had never laid eyes on.
ReplyDeleteI think it would be giving too much credit to Conrad to say that the painting is a criticism on the Europeans for ruining a culture that they don't understand. The book seems to use the African imagery as more of a symbolic catalyst for inherent human savagery.
ReplyDeleteI think the painting symbolizes the manager himself - he feels as though he carries a light, but his surroundings are completely dark. Instead of the light illuminating his way, it seems to merely emphasize how deeply he has been claimed by his primitive motives.
As I agree with others' responses, I believe the woman in the painting could also symbolize Kurtz's fiance. As there were not too many prominent woman characters in the novel, the blindfolded woman could represent how the fiance was somewhat blinded at the end, especially when Marlow told her Kurtz's last words were her name. The light shows how throughout the novel, darkness was a distinguished setting and that Marlow needed the light to find his way through his journey.
ReplyDeleteWhile I agree with the other comments, I also feel that it is advantageous to point out what the last line of this excerpt is addressing. It is interesting that Conrad described the light upon the woman's face as 'sinister' while she is surrounded by darkness. I think that the woman symbolizes the imperial conquest of Europe and the torch is lighting the way of their 'good intentions'. It is important to consider that this good intention of spreading colonialism is displaying a sinister look upon the woman's face and is a direct representation of the experience of Europe in Africa. Although their initial intentions may have been wholesome, they have sprung a sort of savagery and evilness in their conquest, especially while surrounded by darkness.
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