Question #6 p. 430

The painting of "a woman, draped and blindfolded, carrying a lighted torch" symbolizes how imperialism supposedly helps the natives by guiding them to civilization and truth (which is symbolized as a lighted torch). A woman being blindfolded usually represents justice being blind to all prejudices; however, the idea of a superior country conquering others because they are "primitive" is anything but justice. Instead, the blindfolded woman could represent the blind leading the blind because the imperialist nations are just as or even more ignorant and blind to the truth than the natives they want to "save."

Marlow would agree somewhat with this message because he is very critical towards imperialism. In his mind, he views that the natives and even the continent of Africa reject European "improvement"; therefore, they should leave the people to continue being savage and misguided. After witnessing a fight between the natives and the imperialists, Marlow realizes how cruel mankind can be towards one another.