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Women in the Twentieth Century

 

             The twentieth century was a turning point for women. Perhaps the most important thing that .
             happened during the century was Women's Liberation. Women gained the right to vote and own property among other things. Freedom from their repression made it more common for women to enter the workforce, gaining an economic means of self support. Although Heart of Darkness and The Awakening were written before the Women's Liberation truly started in they 1920s, they give a glimpse of how women were viewed, and of how some chose to raise opposition to this view. .
             In Joseph Conrad's book, Heart of Darkness, women are viewed as inferior to men, both physically and mentally. The main character, Marlow, chooses to have his aunt help him find a job and proclaims, "Then - would you believe it?- I tried the women. I, Charlie Marlow, set the woman to work - to get a job. Heavens!- (67). Marlow feels that having a woman, even a relative, help a man shows a sign of weakness, .
             that there could be nothing lower than a man going to a woman for help. Ideally women are to be subservient and reserved, in no way outspoken or having any confidence. This can be shown when .
             Marlow's aunt speaks of his new job as honorable, and Marlow disagreeing chalks it up to women being unaware of what the world is actually like. He says:.
             It's queer how out of touch with truth women are. They live in a world of their own, and there had never been anything like it, and never can be. It is too beautiful altogether, and if they were to set it up it would go to pieces before the first sunset. Some confounded fact we men have been living with contentedly with ever since the day of creationwould start up and knock the whole thing over (72).
             Marlow's saying this is an example of men thinking women are ignorant, also showing that women at this time are unappreciated, and men felt they had to take care of them. Women are also a symbol of purity, and naiveté.


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