Women's roles in things falling apart and in the heart of darkness Women were once little more than slaves to their "better" men. Some women might have been respected, but their place was limited to the role of wives and mothers. They could rule a household, but were not considered intelligent enough for any other role. This chauvinistic attitude is well reflected in the novels Things Fall Apart, by Chinua Achebe, and Heart of Darkness, by Joseph Conrad. In Things Fall Apart, women are praised in their abilities as wives and mothers, almost revered in fact. In many cases, Achebe paints brilliant pictures of them in these roles. "Anasi was a middle-aged woman, tall and well built. There was authority in her bearing and she seemed every bit the ruler of women in a large and prosperous family" (Achebe 20). Anasi's role as Nwakibie's first wife is obviously one of great respect and she is regarded almost as a queen. She presides over her husband's other wives and keeps them in check and at peace. Because she does good work, she is highly appreciated as a woman. Furthermore, "Ani played a more important role in the lives of people than any other deity. He was the ultimate judge of morality and conduct" (Achebe 36). This quote may initially surprise the reader that men can worship a female goddess, but it fits female roles in Igbo society. Women are often tasked with instilling morality in their children and governing their conduct. A female goddess will remind men to uphold their morals and watch their conduct, just as a mother would her child. Once again, there is the precious role of the mother for a woman. She will be admired and loved for this, but little else. Outside of the roles of mother and… middle of paper… world, this is a sad attitude. Around the world, the situation is even worse for women. In Africa and parts of Asia today, women are still as they were in Heart of Darkness and Things Fall Apart. They have little power, marry to have children, and are not much better than slaves. Achebe and Conrad, albeit indirectly, painted a pitiful picture of the role of women in certain societies. In both novels, societies run by men eventually turn evil and collapse. The admired warlike men come to destroy their lives and the lives of those around them. Well, perhaps the time has come to give women, the guardians of morality and conduct, a chance to run things. Maybe then there will be some peace on earth. Works Cited: Achebe, Chinua. Things fall apart. Greenwich: Fawcett Publications, Inc., 1959.Conrad, Joseph. Heart of Darkness. London: Penguin Books, 1989.