Exam (elaborations)
Revision Notes on Joseph Conrad's LORD JIM
Revision Notes on Joseph Conrad's Lord Jim
[Show more]
Content preview
Lord Jim – Joseph ConradSummary of the novel:
Jim is a chief mate on the steamship, Patna. During a voyage towards Mecca, with its cargo of
pilgrims, the ship strikes a submerged object. Watching the small crew lowering a lifeboat to
save their own skins, Jim appears to be an idealistic onlooker but then, impulsively; he jumps.
The significance of this action is the pivotal point of the novel. The action moves to Aden, where
the narrator, Marlow, observes Jim at the Court of Inquiry. Ironically; and contrary to the crew's
belief, the Patna had not sunk; Jim is the only one, among the entire crew, who has decided to
face the official ramifications of his actions. Marlow is interested in Jim's private consciousness
of disgrace; being stripped of his Master's certificate proves to be a public, but not a spiritual
atonement. With Marlow's assistance, Jim moves through a variety of jobs ashore, but the
promise of real freedom 'talkers' (those who know of his blemished reputation) is provided only
by a position as agent at the remote trading post of Patusan.
Jim's life at Patusan, recalled by Marlow, has an active and practical perspective: to the
people, including the elderly chief Doramin, he is Tuan, or Lord Jim. His relationship with the
woman he calls Jewel, stepdaughter of his corrupt predecessor, contributes to his partial
happiness. This is violently disrupted by the arrival of Gentleman Brown and his fellow thieves.
Jim vows to Doramin that Brown will leave the island without bloodshed; he is proved horribly
wrong. Doramin's son is killed as a result of Jim's misplaced trust in Brown. Taking responsibility
for his action, Jim allows himself to be shot by an angry and grieving Doramin.
Author’s Note
“When this novel first appeared in book form a notion got about that I had been bolted away with.
Some reviewers maintained that the work starting as a short story had got beyond the writer’s control.
One or two discovered internal evidence of the fact, which seemed to amuse them. They pointed out
the limitations of the narrative form. They argued that no man could have been expected to talk all that
time, and other men to listen so long. It was not, they said, very credible.
The benefits of buying summaries with Stuvia:
Guaranteed quality through customer reviews
Stuvia customers have reviewed more than 700,000 summaries. This how you know that you are buying the best documents.
Quick and easy check-out
You can quickly pay through credit card for the summaries. There is no membership needed.
Focus on what matters
Your fellow students write the study notes themselves, which is why the documents are always reliable and up-to-date. This ensures you quickly get to the core!
Frequently asked questions
What do I get when I buy this document?
You get a PDF, available immediately after your purchase. The purchased document is accessible anytime, anywhere and indefinitely through your profile.
Satisfaction guarantee: how does it work?
Our satisfaction guarantee ensures that you always find a study document that suits you well. You fill out a form, and our customer service team takes care of the rest.
Who am I buying these notes from?
Stuvia is a marketplace, so you are not buying this document from us, but from seller ruthcjones25. Stuvia facilitates payment to the seller.
Will I be stuck with a subscription?
No, you only buy these notes for £5.29. You're not tied to anything after your purchase.
Can Stuvia be trusted?
4.6 stars on Google & Trustpilot (+1000 reviews)
60904 documents were sold in the last 30 days
Founded in 2010, the go-to place to buy revision notes and other study material for 14 years now