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Heart of Darkness Women and Femininity Quotes Page 2
Citations follow this format: (Chapter.Paragraph)
"And from right to left along the lighted shore moved a wild and gorgeous apparition of a woman." (3.13)
The fact that the woman is described as an "apparition" suggests that Marlow does not consider women, especially this native African woman, as fully human or as capable as men.
"She walked with measured steps, draped in striped and fringed cloths, treading the earth proudly, with a slight jingle and flash of barbarous ornaments. She carried her head high; her hair was done in the shape of a helmet; she had brass leggings to the knee, brass wire gauntlets to the elbow, a crimson spot on her tawny cheek, innumerable necklaces of glass beads on her neck; bizarre things, charms, gifts of witch-men, that hung about her, glittered and trembled at every step." (3.14)
This seductive native African woman has the air of a warrior. She walks regally and without fear, her hair is "done in the shape of a helmet," and she wears protective brass coverings on her limbs.
"She walked with measured steps, draped in striped and fringed cloths, treading the earth proudly, with a slight jingle and flash of barbarous ornaments. She carried her head high; her hair was done in the shape of a helmet; she had brass leggings to the knee, brass wire gauntlets to the elbow, a crimson spot on her tawny cheek, innumerable necklaces of glass beads on her neck; bizarre things, charms, gifts of witch-men, that hung about her, glittered and trembled at every step. She must have had the value of several elephant tusks upon her." (3.14)
In another interpretation, Marlow describes this warrior woman’s magnificent brass ornaments only to put a price on her. In the last sentence here, she is valued at "several elephant tusks." This dehumanizes her and renders her an object to be bought at the market with ivory.
