In Conrad's Heart of Darkness, Marlow's preconceived notion of the naive and sheltered woman is revealed early in the novel: “It is strange how women are far from the truth! They live in a world of their own and there has never been anything like it and never can be. It's too beautiful overall, and if they put it up it would fall apart before the first sunset. (Conrad 10) However, it is because of the purity and naivety of women that the novel's female characters - Marlow's aunt, the black woolen knitters, the African lover, and the Fated One - possess a sense of mystery and exercise power over men. . The women ultimately lead the reader to discover a new truth, not that of the harsh reality of the Congo, but that men yield to the will of women as a way to discover and assert themselves. Women are powerful enough to offer men direction, a literal journey, and a sense of purpose. Say no to plagiarism. Get a tailor-made essay on "Why Violent Video Games Shouldn't Be Banned"? Get an Original Essay Although Marlow's aunt and the knitters appear only for a short time, their presence precipitates and guides the course of the novel. Marlow's aunt, who is presented as a disillusioned woman who stubbornly adheres to the concept of the "white man's burden", is primarily the one who actually guides Marlow on his expedition of self-discovery and truth. This irony is compounded by the fact that it is Marlow's aunt who comes to the rescue when his efforts prove fruitless: “The men said 'My dear friend' and did nothing. Then – would you believe it? – I tried with women. I, Charlie Marlow, put women to work, to get a job. This passage implies that, regardless of Marlow's condescending views towards women, he also realizes (though without openly admitting it) female influence and his and other men's helplessness. It is her aunt's belief in the fundamental goodness of humanity that gives her power over men; it justifies men's imperialistic goals and becomes the object onto which these men project wealth, power, and status. The women in the Belgian company's office knit black wool, symbolizing and prefiguring a marked, dark and tragic destiny. Their power lies in their possession of this destiny, and their presence is so overpowering that later in the journey, Marlow yields to their unquestionable authority: at the other end of such a matter.” If Marlow's aunt is the usher in the Darkness, then the knitters are the guardians of the Darkness, and the portrayal of Conrad's fate as two women is no coincidence. The connection between the aunt and the knitters, and ultimately the other female characters, binds them into a sisterhood, and their roles merely complement their respective goals in maneuvering men. The ending of the book is shaped by the African lover and the Expected. . In physical contrast to the ailing Kurtz, the two women are towers (literally, from the description of their height and outstretched arms) of strength, devotion, and purity. Throughout the book, Kurtz is the "extraordinary person", the "exceptional man" and an almost Christ-like figure, but, for Marlow, the Fated One is a god: "bowing his head before the faith that was in her" and "silencing me into shocked silence." While Kurtz upholds truth, the Inspired upholds illusion, and Marlow's ultimate lie demonstrates that the world of women surpasses the world of truth. It is the illusion of women that protects men and gives them strength and purpose. This protection can be seen clearly with the Destined: his depiction of Kurtz is drastically different from the reader's observations, and his image., 1990.