Women in the Heart of Darkness Women seem to be classified in a separate group, serving as a supplement to the actions, characters and behavior of men. All of them seem to live in a kingdom of their own, built on the idealistic conception of the surrounding world, governed by just rules and laws. The two women that Marlow meets in the Company's office are knitting black wool: they represent the Fates who guard the “gate of darkness” (Hell and Destruction) and to the “home in a city of the dead”. The color black can be associated with the natives on whose destruction and exploitation the Company was based. Black also equates to the Darkness into which Marlow descends (sin and death). Wool can mean the thread of life. Their appearance is prefigured by the two black hens that "decided" Fresleven's fate. Marlow's aunt is depicted with an underlying irony ("a dear enthusiastic soul") that indicates an illusory existence of a white woman in his civilized imaginary world. She was “ready to do anything” for Marlow in the name of a “noble cause,” that is, to colonize blacks and implement civilization in the darkness of the Congo. He firmly believes that his nephew is the "emissary of light", overlooking the dark level of exploitation of the natives for financial benefits (ivory). The painting of a woman "blindfolded, with a burning torch" that Marlow admires indicates the initial intentions of Kurtz and his beliefs before being engulfed by the tempting Darkness. He was supposed to be an emissary of light but he remained blindfolded and did not see the consequences that led to his self-destruction. The painting indicates Kurtz's original and good nature, lost in the darkness of the Congo. The Native woman represents the entire black community and the beauty of the wilderness, both invaded by "civilized" whites. She is the passionate reality, being "wild and proud, extravagant and magnificent", reminding white people of the black heritage and their own culture (the jewels). The gesture of throwing your arms up to the sky can symbolize a silent cry to God to restore the original Time when the earth was not plundered and there was peace and freedom ("wild pain... silent pain"). The lack of unspoken words only reiterates his appearance and the message his behavior sends. Kurtz's girlfriend is contrasted with the native woman: the Expected, as indicated by the name, will remain the Expected, living with an idealistic image of her. future husband who she believed was unquestionably of impeccable character and behavior.