On Joseph
Conrad's
The Nigger
of the " Narcissus "
by
Toru
Kojima
I
Joseph
Conrad disliked
being
interest
limited
to local
colour.
scenes
were laid
on the
land;
some connection
with
to the sea, we find
called
a writer
"Narcissus"
called
of the sea, whether
he liked
the
I am going
to treat
in search
the
the Narcissus, of 1.300
he got a position
a ship's
log like
the lives
for Dunkirk
about
the sea-tale
a leakage
are
and a disturbance
all
aboard
of lofty
moral
on a ship,
fear
of death
and
Typhoon which
types
carved
is strongly
are vividly
on the sea
mate in the sailing
with
Madras.
the
the captain,
From there
harbour.
he
Soon afterwards
as on the former
Late
in
lives
of
and it may be regarded
as
of the voyage
are depicted;
in
ship.
which
are mere
those
In this
story
of human nature
in bold
emphasized;
delineated.
than
the
of Youth which
or of Typhoon treating
Chinamen.
are specially
sense
laid
One day he saw a graceful
into
more complicated
of wretched
ages
The Nigger of the
via the Cape of Good Hope.
is a story
of men's minds and the different
through
to be
Youth or Typhoon. But in The Nigger of the "Narcissus"
far
and fire
have
relation
has good reason
masterpieces
when she reached
same capacity
happenings
of sailors
the closest
term or not.
of new employment.
on her in the
and various
having
Conrad
whose
all of them
He had some sort of dispute
vessel
The Nigger of the "Narcissus"
sailors
almost
at London as second
tons, come sailing
the Narcissus set sail
that
is one of his
embarked
bound for Madras.
went to Bombay
suggested
Typhoon.
1883 Conrad
and left
term
a good many stories
it may be said
sense,
L. B. McDonald,
April
wrote
In this
In September
ship,
he
works.
that
Riversdale,
of the sea, as the
And among his stories
as well as its companion-piece
ship
Really
but
the sea.
the best
a writer
relief.
while
of violent
movements
that
unchanged
remains
tenacity
Thus the Nigger is very different
records
of adventurous
1
storms
the delicate
Moreover,
the
tells
voyages.
the
exaltation
of life
and the
from Youth
It is
beyond
dispute
that
part
there
exists
some embellishment
of it seems a description
words of Conrad
spoken
about
of facts.
This
to his French
friend
the
story;
can be gatherd
but
the
greater
from the following
M. Jean-Aubry:
Apart from changes in detail and in the names of characters,
the voyage of
the Narcissus was performed
from Bombey to London in the manner I have
described.
COliver Warner : Joseph Conrad p. 33J
The Nigger was Conrad's
infinite
variation.
first
excursion
He set great
works by which
he would
store
like
into
a realm he was to develop
by the work, and regarded
to have been judged.
it as one of the
When it came out in the
NewReview, 1897, by the good offices
of W. E. Henley, the English
was much pleased.
from the literary
Though
make him happy,
writer
had
Folly
public
he wa9 confident
been really
and
established
by the
beautiful
wife,
full
that
of rocks
the plot
autumn
Essex.
When he finished,
saying
that
and charming
exotic
of the
same year,
he began
It is noteworthy
his
the
come to know that
way in which
that
former
the original
by contrasting
can easily
understand
book with
contrasted
of the reading
But he
it with
title
another.
with
where the
the gentle
solitary
island
to England,
it at a small
village
in
friend
of
a close literary
'in
a decent
edifice.'
sailors
Some critics
theme is the ship,
the
original
In his literature
on the
Considering
title
grotesque
think
this
title
strikingly
method
of the Forecastle
figure
of the
not the black
in mind,
Conrad loved
of one thing
why the commonplace
with his
of the Nigger was the Forecastle ;
description.
description
Brittany,
for his old fellow
care bearing
it is the case.
to the Niggtr of the " Narcissus"
curiously
out Almayer's
returning
shipmates
but the true
he made his
impressive
to
as a
mood in them.
After
Garnett,
dear and yearning
of the book,
man. When we read this
shall
position
given
attention
to write
he wrote to Edward
it was to enshrine
as the subject
his
It was at this
of the Nigger was formed.
A Tale of Ship and Man. This is accurate
nigger
that
near Lannion,
a few months there.
The fee words show how he felt
Narcissus.
the
Conrad
was not enough
he !had
attracted
went to the Ile-Grande
spending
in the
time
poet,
live by the pen.
In March 1896 Conrad
new-married
circles
Already
and
language
if he could
for the first
by it.
An Outcast of the Islands,
had doubted
his,
praise
with
of the
and sweet form of the narcissus.
we
to adopt
vivid
and
of his,
we
was changed
nigger
was
The Nigger of the "Narcissus"
is
a narrative
of bad
company under
sailors'
beautiful
heretic
sneak
abominable
the
is a short
weather,
direction
who has served
and
vice is.
of human life
Now, let
me give a synopsis
begins
with
Mr.
out of his
lighted
he begins
to call
of the
Baker,
negro ; while
as half
the sorrow of this
story
in more detail.
cabin
into
the
darkness
ejaculates
as an incredibly
new hand.
When the
tall
comes out
person
James Wait
roll
call
crying
(Jimmy).
figure
appears
is over
and the group
"Wait!
" This
to go away, the
negro's
whites.
his
side
hollow,
fore
puts
hand
and tremendously
desiring
to
late
He is calm and towering.
When he is about
He
aged
of the
to his
loud.
go back
before
and
The black
to England,
roll
coughs
Donkin
is going
wildly
to break
applied
for
up, a
deck.
become all
a cough
the
called
the
and
twice,
-
is a
is a nigger
man has his lungs
he has
him:
he involuntarily
His deep voice fills
eyes
stepping
quarter-deck.
in the light.
comer
how
seaman,,
Narcissus,
O Lord ! "
dilapidated
a
and suggests
over the names of the crew mustering
"Hanssen-Campbell-Craik-Singleton-Donkin
appears
indicates
a century,
mate of the ship
described
an old helmsman
about
chief
It
of a ship's
there
moreover, brings
as long
chapters.
efforts
in whom Conrad
The author,
by telling
five
In it is humorously
sick
does evil,
of
desperate
captain.
the sea mute and silent
the transience
Slowly
by the
of a brave
plots
and disgusting
in one stride
defeated
consisting
human love for an enigmatic
who lays
The story
novel
metalic,
affected
; there-
sailor's
post
of
theship.
In
the
quarrelled
forecastle
and fought
and he asks
looking
them
the sailors
the
Yankees bravely,
for compassion.
stands
tells
When this
and speaks
an old man with
a white
oldest
able
are much troubled
by the
violent
at daylight,
men. She continues
simple-minded
ragged
fellow
beard
3
naked;
the
smoking.
seaman on the ship.
One evening
he
rich-
familiarly.
calmly
cough of James
stark
notices
to the black
the Narcissus goes to sea carrying
a calm voyage.
seamen that
but at last was stripped
by name ; he is the
Next morning,
six
with
proudly
negro, he moves up sideways
At the door
Singleton
Donkin
That
He is
night
all
Wait.
a crew of twenty-
when they
are amusing
them3elve3
by noisy
ironically
with
disputes,
gasps,
Jimmy
"I'm
Much you care for a dying
cold
and gloomy floats
talks
of his coming
Is his illness
trust.
death
men of their
between
for
Jimmy hates
They attend
of Africa,
the
heavy seas.
in the
every motion.
the coming
the forecastle
furl
the fore
this
of the night
the
and mizen topsails.
symptom.
A gulf
He flatters
; he tries
forms
the former,
to make the
to a sick-bay
weather
Men tackle
Belfast
by
complaint
alive.
emotional
as a declaration
the deck,
men feel more dead than
; and he
may be taken
the cape
nasty
prince
This
chasm
in the deck-house.
never lessens.
of storms,
the
falls
over them.
Captain
southern
end
suddenly.
The
The ship is tossed
Allistoun
day out of Bombay.
the
and mis-
it to Jimmy.
comes at last
thirty-second
pity
of a hated
and the barometer
Never leaving
his own way.
to give
and is removed
threatening
Jimmy
serve him in his bed with
pie
the latter
is passing
it.
over;something
between
alone is delighted.
towards
all have dreaded
It is the
They
It is a bad
as ever, but his
becomes
about
After
fruit
officers.
Donkin
the Narcissus
which
speaks.
One night
on a ship
attitude
bad weather
; nobody
the ship.
Sunday
a wet floor,
sky
all
hesitate
He says
You all know
prevails
criticism.
their
him as kindly
About the time
o'nights.
were the base courtiers
the men and officers.
and assumes a defiant
With
overclouds
Such stealing
dislike
door.
death
The sailors
the officers'
comes to the front.
forecastle
many times a day, and has everything
as if they
the galley
like
smiles
them by his unconciliating
from
wider.
sleep
or a sham?
rage and humility,
steals
and can't
Nobody
A deep melancholy
rewards
out of the
man! " Silence
out.
a reality
ill,
totters
watches
her
The day wears away.
becomes worse and worse.
At midnight,
the
orders
difficult
In
are given
to
work with
desperate
its fury.
Finally,
efforts.
Morning
struck
the
dawns;but
by a heavy
water.
All
the storm,
gust,
the
unceasingly,
permit
In
it.
Thus several
the ship
crew fall,
Men all yell
far from abating,
"The
the relentless
and
rain
pass.
Suddenly
moment they forget
their
sufferings-
bottom
out in the
of the carpenter's
face
of their
a toppling
lurch,
have to clasp
anything
masts!
hours
the
gives
shop.
own peril.
increases
Cut!
they
some one cries
4
the
with
: " Where's
scream of distress
They begin
Though
they
Cut ! " But
are shivering
Jimmy's
and puts
an arduous
the nigger
her side
catch
captain
cold
and
sight
in
of.
does not
fatigue.
Jimmy?
" That
comes up from
work to help
is rescuedby
this
him
self'
sacrificing
toil
of theirs,
As the sun declines
sky
the
stars
cold
and hunger
living.
he seems displeased
westwards,
come out,
men's fatigue
are full
of the wish
to whiten
lips
first
in twenty-four
for the
voice
he cries,
torpid
men start.
time
"Wear ship
! "
They begin
The master gives
orders
of the
men she carries.
exhausted
the
improvement
abetted
Jimmy,
work.
sick;
an iron belaying-pin
and this
serious.
what the row is about.
mightily
flap
against
Singleton
masts.
Posts-
utters
helmsman
to herself,
The
the
with
after
Jimmy
hope.
in-
the black
of men. Donkin
the
sails
wheel
hurls
suddenly
to recall
wake,
to keel.
and
It is
the seamen to the
Startled
tranquillity
will
to know
to the wind
from trucks
sharply.
The same night,
that
in the manner
comes up gently
shake
master
rise.
cook, has a quarrel
leaves
sleeping
an angry
an ominous prediction
gradually
any of them. The situation
The ship trembles
" Helm up ! " cries
respective
the
these
He reprimands
in the indignation
it-
hand gave the ship
sense of duty.
their
aware of
the
the pious
but it does not hit
Meantime
make all
commence to behave
to pass by.
The Narcissus, left
one being
as if an invisible
to
results
firm
wages are not in proportion
Padmore,
happens
tones
Allistoun
a fresh,
eyes of men sparkle
that their
One night
at the officers,
becomes critically
any
They complain
Captain
moves slowly
men gradually
them
wind somewhat
overturned,
The ship
with
keeps
and with
sharp
nearly
The glassy
when the captain
manfor shamming
without
a break.
terrible
hours,
The ship,
of the weather
by Donkin.
to the amount of their
with
without
of life
opportunity,
The commanding
to stir.
desire
the
favourable
On the black
The men fighting
this
the sky,
this
further.
sea.
; and
Perceiving
his
solently
to live
its severity.
opens
With
increases
and gream over an inky
When the dawn begins
mitigates
and discontented.
men run swiftly
is restored,
old
die when land comes in
sight.
As Jimmy becomes weaker day by day,
him.
Belfast,
and tending
island
for
him.
of Flores
instance,
One windless
the others.
words of Singleton.
rppm, and finds
While
moment of his spare
land
is reported
Men are much excited
is Donkin.
He has neither
he is lost
At this
the black
every
evening
west of Spain.
one who looks glum-he
envies
spends
men show more sympathy
his
in
thought,
face turns
man too emaciated
5
time in nursing
from aloft.
and elated
It is the
; but
money nor clothes
he remembers
bright.
towards
He steals
there
; he quite
in a flash
into
is
the
to move but not yet dead.
the
nigger's
Donkiri
becomes impatient
excitement
; he heaps
and vexation
gross abuses
Jimmy
breathes
the money from the dead
man's chest,
Jimmy's
death
surprise
Jimmy's
thoughts
is a great
that
at sea watched
begins
the
Channel.
the burial
to gather
break
The voyage
death
; that
with
the
literature.
Conrad strongly
appeals
of the Judia
reflected
in his
dust,
The
novel LordJim,
struck
and faces
; and the
the chops of
enters
get their
boasts
that
Belfast
alone
feature
that
fidelity
the dock
wages, and
he is going
is grieving
to
over
forms
through
of the legend
life,
the keynote
and responsibility-
or unconsciously
Lost-and
death
these
his works as
'Do or Die'
and is the
and
his
noble,
by the honourable,
essence
the hero
these
such things
virtues
are really
as meanness,
the latter
on the
of morality
is the
fidelity
to the
In his stories,
noble
lofty
side
6
; while
and indicates
of the former.
of his girl
ofanaged
captain
Sofala.
of Captain
in Victory.
slyness,
Jim, who
theme of LordJim.
ship
character
and
youth,
the advice
; and are also deeply
cowardice,
are by the
rejecting
the deep affection
large-hearted
chivalrous
of Heyst,
about
sellers
a promising
in full:this
instense
best
figure
calmly
redeemed
Chance, one of the author's
and offensive
well-off.
Conrad portrays
daughter,
with
rises
odours ; and
in his pocket
very spirit
for
that
is buried
and goes into the Thames.
Men go ashore,
and endurance,
in The End of the Tether, writes
realize
and nasty
is a conspicuous
Conrad,
forcibly
the nigger
by
literature.
him to fly.
his
morning
minds are so occupied
the Narcissus enters
was the prop of his whole
much responsibility
urging
Next
wind mysteriously
Foreland,
to us consciously
in life.
In his best-known
feels
takes
eyes.
Courage
the supreme virtues
stern
South
he has friends
No one can deny that morality
of Conrad's
Their
is over, a fair
a fat purse
streaming
immediately
work. That evening
comes to an end.
carrying
Donkin
with
who is too ill to come.
smoke, noise,
have a job ashore
Jimmy's
service
Trembling
and goes out stealthily.
can hardly
Soon she rounds
up. Donkin
last.
way. A week afterwards
She moves through
in safety.
1 is
to the crew.
by all but Donkin,
The instant
ship
they
on the poor negro.
We are
Anthony
in
impressed
with the
Conrad
makes us
he contrasts
them
how unpleasant
The mean Cornelius
in
Lord Jim, the idle
and
the
like
matter
Verloc
in The Secret Agent, the coward second mate in Typhoon,
are poor and miserable
; but
they
play
important
roles
in
the
of humour which Conrad never forgot.
There is another
feature
in Conrad
evanescence of human life.
He is destined
born.
-Man can not possibly
to move according
But he who is blinded
immensity
he finds
of its force.
it nothing
that we can never fail
resist
to the direction
by the wordly
He attempts
the great power of fate.
concerns is unable
effort.
It is the
of it from the moment he is
a stubborn
but an unrewarded
to observe.
resistance
to measure the
to it,
Completely
but in the end
conquered,
he throws
up the sponge hopelessly.
In An Outcast of the Islands,
of Aissa
who is burning
with hatred
is also
readily
murdered
disires
to avenge her brother.
away in sheer
despair
Willems
by drinking
to death,
Jimmy did not succeed
the
ship
eternal
like
in the fear
land.
a bubble.
figures
of mortals
Now, taking
found
in shaking
feel
the
leading
at some of the above features
of Conrad
dark shadow of fate.
They
duty
Anthony
old father,
the
Judia
concealing
of the
Ferndale
and at last
that
blindness,
sinks
is destined
free
of fate,
of life
pass
he has
Doomed
from the hand of death,
too.
at sea before
In comparison
is!
with
It soon vanishes
when we watch the lonely
in Conrad's
works.
on the Narcissus, I want to have a look
by them.
there
are
are : Whalley,
many who are followed
Captain
of the Sofala,
and causes his ship to butt
who is torn between
beneath
by which
to destiny.
man's life
fragility
displayed
CA] Allistoun
Among the captains
his
poison
He had been buried
and frail
characters
who fervently
in Chance lonesomely
containing
was a decree
here and there
the four
by his wife Winnie
himself
from the gun
in The Secret Agent,
These are all ascribable
how brief
We keenly
knife
of its shadow.
That
heaven and earth,
by a bullet
him- Mr. Verloc,
of a glass
of the captain.
reached
killed
And we see De Barral
the life
he writhed
against
with a carving
attempted
though
is easily
his
his dear wife
7
ship
as
the
who continues
a stone reef ; Captain
and her vindictive
the waves with the ship
to abandon
by the
;Captain
result
Beard
o|! a fire
of
; the
deranged
old captain
coming back
Allistoun
character,
though
of the Narcissus is different
he gives
naught
When the ship
captain
never takes
brain
but an un forgiving
leaves
proper
the
steps.
greatly
and gets
into
captain
does
not
permit
in his
eyes,
whole
ship
finally
seizes
result
her
row of the rough
pluck
it.
son
He, after
end of Africa,
I.)
of
her every
efforts
"The
that,
no compassion.
When the ship
first
of all,
there
He
and racks
his
Cut!
of a chance.
" But
voice.
is anybody
he
and calmness
rashly,
as the
it would
and crew met. In the aforementioned
an inch,
but points
to a clever
again,
out their
Allistoun
faults
solution.
person
the commander asks Mr. Baker,
hurt or missing.
Jimmy and the cook, Captain
the
Thus he succeeds
but he is by no means a cold-blooded
rises
the
At sunrise
them to cut the masts
the matter
with
fittings.
crew she lurches
Cut!
lost thought
he does not recede
are cold,
the
seems as if he were grasping
If the captain
what fate the ship
captain
ship's
motion,
masts!
"Wear ship ! " in a powerful
and allowed
the
of the
for the arrival
and wisdom, and leads
whether
near the southern
the
Men yell,
he is no tragic
wrote thus :
; he watches
and waits
sailors
The eyes of the
between
of his
Conrad
as if he were part
danger.
and terror,
to imagine
storm
Notwithstanding
get up again.
of panic
not be hard
with
deck,
it and cries,
in making
delusion
He is a man of bravery,
portrayal
God. (Chap.
a terrible
his eyes off the ship
for
the
them in that
on others.
In his character
runs into
never
from
a cold impression
and prudence.
He feared
with
tomorrow ; and suchlike.
Captain
composure,
in Tomorrow who is pbsessed
says
When the quarrel
is over
to the negro with severity:
"There's nothing
the matter with you, but you choose to lie-up to please yourself-and
now you shall Jie-up to please me. Mr. Baker, my orders are that
this man is not to be allowed on deck to the end of the passage-" (Chap. IV.)
It
seems
to men a cruel
cut
that
when he says he will do so, being
can not read
already
well.
But they
thoughts
of the master.
motive of it may be the
captain's
words, but its true
sympathy
the
explain
with
clearly
the inmost
the master does not allow a man to work,
Jimmy),
the meaning
following
After
words of the
of what he has said
are mistaken
the row subsides
; they
(the
cause does not lie in their
captain
to Jimmy
to the
coldly
two mates
:
"When I saw him
amongst that gaping
came to me all at
be for a sick brute.
thought
I would let
you see the eyes of
something.
What?
us, and he seemed
in peace
"
The two listeners
are more impressed
shed a miraculous
thus
with
tear of compassion
Moreover, Conrad
by stating
standing
there,
three parts
dead and so scared-black
lot -no grit to face what's coming to us all-the
notion
once, before I could think.
Sorry for him-like
you would
If ever creature was in a mortal funk to die!
I
him go out in his own way. Kind of impulse
Did
that sick nigger, Mr. Baker.
I fancied
he begged me for
Past all hope. One lone black beggar amongst the lot of
to look through
me into the very hell.
Well, let him die
(Chap. IV.)
refers
to the
this
than
if they
over the incertitudes
quiet
and scrupulous
saw a stone image
of life
disposition
and death.
of the captain
:
He was one of those commanders who speak little,
seem to hear nothing,
look
at no one-and know everything,
hear every whisper, see every fJeeting
shadow
of their ship's life, (ibid.)
Conrad found in Captain
pictured
to himself
telerance,
CB3
Allistoun
-the
calmness,
the ideal
image of a shipmaster
commander of a ship
with
such
that
virtues
he had
as courage,
and prudence.
Donkin
In Conrad's
literature
more contemptible
elaborate
appearance
it would
than Donkin.
description
of
on the night
the
be hardly
possible
In a realistic
style
heretic
before
on the
the voyage
for us to find
Conrad
Narcissus,
to Bombay
gives
out a man
a minute and
when he makes his
first
:
He stood with arms akimbo, a little fellow with white eyelashes.
He looked as
if he had known all the degradations
and all the furies.
He looked as if he
had been cuffed,
kicked,
rolled
in the mud; he looked as if he had been
scratched,
spat upon, pelted with unmentionable
filth
and he smiled with
a sense of security
at the faces around. (Chap. I.)
It is quite
natural
for Mr.
Baker to exclaim"O
Lord ! " at his sight.
He was the man that cannot steer, that cannot splice, that dodges the work on
dark n'ghts ; that,
aloft,
holds on frantically
with both arms and legs, and
swears at the wind, the sleet, the darkness ; the man who curses the sea while
others work. The man who is the last out and the first in when all hands are
called.
The man who can't do most things and won't do the rest.
The pet
of philanthropists
and self-seeking
landlubbers.
The sympathetic
and deserving
creature
that knows all about his rights,
endurance,
and of the unexpressed
faith,
together
a ship's company, (ibid.)
but knows nothing
of courage, of
of the unspoken loyalty
that knits
On the Narcissus are done various
conducts
Donkin
that
that
will
strike
which
description.
frantically
during
The other
this
There are three
the
"Cut
abortive
is Jimmy's
! " when
mutiny,
pathetic
is most feared
means the ruin
dable
risk
the
ship
of hurling
death
he feels
with
that
he endeavours
ship
major things
lurches.
about him
which
this
form in
One is his
a belaying-pin
at the
evil-minded
mean
officers.
fellow
has
a
the more are they
of the
of such
he earnestly
as will
working
linked
together
influence
towards
that
under
are
the officers
greatness
as
in this
of the sea.
both
sides
is the
the result
master.
They
and puts her side
in the
and an impediment
to her rise.
Cut !
unceasingly,
all yell
"into
"No!No!
the
spirit
and
know this
water,
of the long,
and well they
are willing
of unity.
10
ship
are
of one task
"The
Only
to collaborate
Donkin
are
well.
it is reasonable
heavy
masts as
masts ! Cut
turn
him.
a dislike
!
their
cry, "No!No!
with
feels
so
exerts
full
may. But they
" as soon as they hear the captain
mastar
to recover
harmony and co-operation
the cause of the accident
" they
on the
of the performance
therefore
of agitation
enough
Duties
think
respect
alone,
Therefore
children
sensible
calm and prudence
unconsciously
left
and men.
as the result
conducts.
a competent
a lurch
who have lost
in their
his
between
self-control
they
on their
upon another;
When the Narcissus gives
believe
Being
the more is he isolated.
defiantly
formi-
is distinguished
between the officers
sow discord
of mob spirit,
organically
"Cut!Cut!
to run this
dislike.
By showing
the men sometimes lose their
required
it
expects.
soon and reflect
they
harmonized,
tries
among the simple-minded
events
equanimity
absolutely
harmony
men's rights.
The occurrence
by the
that
in the forecastle
to the men, and behave
to win popularity
an immediate
position
bear the
way he intends
caused
of solidarity;because
and men. It is Donkin
He cannot
to cringe
But, though
disturbance
on the bad eminence of a general
if he were a guardian
very thing
is the
Narcissus, Donkin's
He stands
lonely.
He thinks
on a ship
of both
on the
but unsafe.
They
acts by
connection.
What
that
and contemptible
us and remain long in our memory. One is his pitiable
he cries
outrage,
close
endorse
shameful
"
They
to this
noble
spirit.
and yells,
He, caught
by one foot
in a loop of some rope, hangs,
his face
to the deck
: " Cut ! Cut
with
down by some men, he shouts
blasphemies,
calls
upon
murdering
fool ! Cut,
These loud cries
the
other
usual
are thought
off
from his fellow
up the
his
seamen,
reproach
prevent
want, the captain
His
his fist
to
being
at him with
"Cut
!
Don't
helped
horrible
mind
that
brings
their
rebellion.
The
sharply
man can no longer find
his own life;
but, on
spontaneous
manifestation
of his
anger
on him.
ship's
morning,
reprimands
far
Jimmy, Donkin's
The
following
of losing
insubordination,
of the master for
it.
fear
to be the
power.
men into a successful
good sense
words
of his may be due to his
they
from the
them in filthy
shakes
after
some of you ! "
way of showing
support
nated
hand,
at the master,
! " Even
head down,
Donkin
after
In that
outrage
warning
obtaining
row origi-
can not stir
to them and their
asking
for his foolish
anyone who seems to side with
from
them what
act ; but
they
the tricky
him :
"Hare yer goin' to stand by and see me bullied,"
screamed Donkin at
silent crowd that watched him. Captain Allistoun
walked at him smartly.
started
off again with a leap, dashed at the fore-rigging,
rammed the
into its hole violently.
"I will be heven with yer yet,"
he screamed at
ship at large and vanished beyond the foremast. (Chap. IV.)
After
that
slowly
every
he has nobody
by an inward
man looks
failures,
Jimmy
thinks
of that
at Jimmy's
it only
out
through
is the
only
inauspicious
the black,
with,
at
injustice
the
his
eyes.
object
of
prophecy
head the biscuit,
grazes,
agreeable
rage
to talk
and
To this
thought
as if consumed
black-hearted
That
His hate
for
man repeating
When land
of Singleton's.
as if wounded
thinner,
of men and of fate.
he has been all
words come from Donkin
appears
the
He
pin
the
comes in sight,
night
the
time
clutching
mortally,
falls
back
Donkin
hard.
on the pillow.
he
flings
Though
Dis-
:
"Die, you beggar-die
I would soon giv' you a leg up haloft.
That's
where
yer will go. Feet fust, through a port
Splash ! Never see yer hany more.
Hoverboard ! Good 'nuff fur yer. " (Chap. T.)
Jimmy who has been wayward talking
death
most on board
"Overboard!
of his
:
I!
My God ! "
ll
Hearing
death
is a man who fears
A tear, a big solitary
tear, escaped from the corner of his eyes
touching
the hollow cheek, fell on the pillow.
His throat rattled
With the key he has found
face-for
the frist
hurries
time
under Jimmy's
in his life
to the door. Before
impression
think,
of something
is enough
to strike
that
something
Donkin
perhaps
he opens it, he spins
round
receiving
behind
the reader
with
grasp of a great
some day,
will
of triumph.
of dread
He
the irresistible
The following
a feeling
being
of course.
anguishing
his back.
His
description,
I
:
Jimmy's eyes blaze up and go out at once, like two
by a sweeping
blow.
Something
resembling
a
his chin out of the corner of his lips-and
he had
closed the door behind him gently and firmly, (ibid.)
is a human
of humanity,
opens the box.
flush-
He was just in time to see
lamps overturned
together
scarlet
thread
hung down
ceased to breathe.
Donkin
Seeing
Donkin
a pink
happening
-has
pillow,
and, without
faintly,
(ibid.)
like
Watching
the
rest
the
end of Jimmy,
sorrow on his heart
have to go through
it perhaps
of
at the
like
the seamen,
thought
this.
he has
he feels
that
the
he himself,
His eyes become moist,
and he murmurs, "Poor beggar. "
Donkin
His
is innately
overbearing
a dastard
attitude
men's support
behind
he spiritlessly
gives
towards
him.
in.
under
cover of darkness.
them.
It is owing
erable
amidst
the
pretext
This
that
Various
Donkin
His
wilfulness
the ship,
he is a dying
knew it,
he would
to England
well
aware
that
skulks
all,
on account
may be half
man; but
not ship
as a sick
the
he conceals
he is incompetent
for
it till
with
and mis-
caused
stories,
by the
but
it is
he is not vicious
he gets on.
man thinks
his wages paid.
the
12
himself
uneasy
of horror
to his malady.
The black
seaman having
he does it
the worst of them.
traceable
negro.
support,
body at sea, he is away on
we meet in Conrad's
is probably
but
to confront
Jimmy's
sneaks
of his fellow
at the officers,
bury
openly.
to get their
Jimmy is wayward and somewhat sly ; but
nature.
back
it unable
that he shamelessly
is, after
matters
is on the strength
a belaying-pin
When they
not too much to say that
It is true
officers
He has not enough courage
of illness.
Wait
such a man as faces
The moment he finds
He hurls
the storm.
James
the
to his cravenness
qualms of conscience.
CCT]
; he is not
task
Before he boards
If
the
that
Therein
captain
he will
From the first
of a sailor.
by
go
he is
lies
his
slyness.
they
When he tells
that
he is seriously
it for
that
a dying
take
granted
to do a great
right
deal.
to enjoy
be pardoned.
over the
their
of
other
anger
fate
seamen.
towards
death,
him.
more feared
than
other,
dreadfully
the oqly
from it, and
Jimmy takes
advantage
of this
strange
life
the
unseen
for
person
and reciprocal
help,
Jimmy dies.
longer
resist
chagrin.
feeling
ly.
chin
is nothing
the
stay
He is
sad and lonely.
he
He is
Men's attendpower coming
lonely
is based
so is that
on the
founded
upon
Even when the crew have
to them,
greatest
they
sailors
tragedy
long
causes the
and
seldom
show the
in this
leave
fine
hire
spirit
it adds
story
of
is the manner
to a mere skeleton
expires
turned
trembling
on Donkin
with
Jimmy
not in a direct
excitement
But this
indirect
driving
immensely
13
can no
rage and
and the scarlet
in the mind oi the reader
kills
compassion,
memories of him ; while
it.
men. Though
As this
members,
liberal
a bad man of Donkin.
and
shadow of
;and
given for a solitary,
life.
who has been reduced
his death.
in making
power of death
of mysterious
love
troublesome
Donkin
language
hastens
our pity
common
yet.there
ordinary
of the crew.
of Donkin,
will
sort
to family
eyes of Jimmy
of fear and pity.
a direct
the mystery
a case.
that
The black
down his
excitement
excite
admit
the vituperation
His abusive
repressing
is the
a man near death.
of human
landlubbers,
in such
The glaring
hanging
very
than
to that
assistance
him
especially
will
and besides
love of the family
self-seeking
Every reader
that
mutual
man and find
mutual
slaves
Death
Jimmy is, at heart,
may be likened
the
Unlike
more afraid
and the spirit
and
solidarity
with
attributable
on a vessel
alone.
dear
man on the ship,
co-operation
a sick
his
and scornful,
ance on him is ultimately
man. Life
should
magic power
power lurks
can be free
disdainful
from a dying
magic
has a
displeasure
like
; nobody
of death-perhaps
black
him
unseen.
fights
afraid
always looks
person
in them-havea
serve
of this
who is required
it.
On the one hand,
on the
appears
it ; because
a sick
his
on them though
mankind
acts
that
and that
can not but
doubt
not be a sailor
of others,
At the bottom
rest
impression
very often
They
and it strongly
of all
the
warm sympathy
His words-death
the
man will
Jimmy is under
the
ill,
with
way, but
of the poor
thread
nigger,
a mixed
indirectand
murder is more effective
Jimmy's
death
is tragic
away all the humorously
to our hate
and dislike
the
than
enough
unpleasant
for Donkin,
to
thebully.
When he is about
planks.
ship
In death
with
and swathed
the grip
Tenacity
human beings,
sented
for
of Belfast
his severe will
kills
the
others
and
we often
here through
Folk
life
which
to continue
his
There
see in Conrad's
of the
of his blindness.
Whalley
is largely
of death.
his life
wreck.
is also from his eager
terrible
and fatigue.
At
time
lifted
of
all
repre-
for food,
because
Falk
and eats
of
in the tale
his flesh
desire
with
to live,
and
speak
from
and this
wish
of death.
crisis
this
body repeatedly
in The End of the Tether
This
he is much afraid
dis-
are so vividly
who attempts
the
to the
common instincts
literature
Captain
This
down the
to whizz off the
the
work in spite
On the Narcissus facing
head
reluctantly
of death,
than the outcome of his horror
keeps them alive
the
starts
terror
of going
is a moment of shuddering
Old
on the drifting
no sign
he yet seems to cling
James Wait.
carpenter
hunger,
gives
touches
to live-unconsciously
the
is no other
cold,
fear.
it to go down, the grey package
planks.
tries
fingers
Jimmy
up for all eternity,
of an undying
may. When the
asking
to be buried,
all
the
all they
crew can hardly
wish
is to live,
:
It was too cold for curiosity,
and almost for hope. They could not spare a
moment or a thought
from the great mental occupation
of wishing to live.
And the desire
of life kept them alive, apathetic
and enduring,
under the
cruel persistence
of wind and cold. (Chap. IV.)
The basis
everything
trying
of life
is the
is true
of will
to -tear
aware that
of will.
himself
will
to live.
But
power.
away from
Jimmy
tne ghostly
that
there
hand of fate,
The power of fate
yet makes his utmost
the end he must go where fate orders
CD]
saying
is a limit
to
However hard a man may cry and wriggle
it is a mere waste of labour.
In death
the
he will
is far
to hang on to this
soon be
above that
world,
but in
him to.
Singleton
Singleton
is a faithful
age of twelve.
by Bulwer
When he has time,
Lytton.
man resembles
to deference
may be called
seaman.
With
a learned
to him
his
he is often
spectacles
and savage
as their
some kind
He has served
senior,
of prophet,
the
sea and ships
seen turning
since
the pages of Pelham
and a venerable
white
beard,
patriarch.
Men all show something
and listen
to him
because his
14
the
without
prophecy
the old
a word.
as to Jimmy
akin
He
has
come true.
This
senior
of
the
ship
has
neither
hope nor doubt.
He is quite
unselfish,
and never flatters
or puts on airs. He is plain,
natural,
and unreserved
in everything;he
is what is called
an eccentric
man. Therefore
he is felt shy of
by Donkin
and Jimmy
"Are you dying?
with us over that
These
:
Well, get on with your dying;
don't
job.
We can't help you. " (Chap. I.)
are the words with
but him
could
which
not say so.
he takes
The forecastle
ment to her he works for the ship,
ship -this
he deems his
may encounter,
flinches
from
doubt
nor egoism.
situation
after
exhausted
stands
all,
rigidly
and
still
with
vocation.
with
hungry
an attentive
home.
the
with
officers.
The
whatever
those
tne
fury
for rest,
at the
upon the din and tumult
face
work of the
hardships
he
and never
who have not
of the elements
alone
and attach-
complaint,
tided
fuss
and nobody
From fealty
them without
do it except
a blamed
to task,
seamen who have finally
battle
swaying
Jimmy
Consequently,
to grapple
When the
ravenously
is his
and not for
No one could
a death
and
real
he is ready
them.
the wilful
raise
hope
nor
over the critical
are
helm,
now utterly
old
of the seas,
Singleton
forgotten
by
:
Hanging on there he (the captain)
looked
up in an objectless
manner at
Singleton,
who, unheeding
him, watched anxiously
the end of the jib-boom.
"Steering
gear works all right?
" he asked. "Steers
like a little
boat," said the old seaman, without
giving
the master as much as half a
glance. (Chap. IV.)
Here,
the
recollected,
who sticks
and waves.
with
the
sublime
figure
loyal
helmsman
of the
to the helm as long as he can, resisting
As if neglected
horror-stricken
of Hacket,
by all,
second
he is fulfilling
mate trembling
his
beside
the heavy
duty
him
Nan-Shan, is
for
wind
many hours
:
The steam gear clattered,
stopped,
clattered
again ; and the helmsman's
eyeballs
seemed to project
out of a hungry face as if the compass card
behind
the binnacle
glass had been meat. God knows how long he had been
left
there to steer, as if forgotten
by all his shipmates.
The bells had not
been struck;there
had been no reliefs;the
ship's
routine
had gone down
wind ; but he was trying
to keep her head north-north-east.
(.Typhoon
Chap.IV.)
Unable
to stand
the mental
strain
and bodily
15
fatigue
he drops
at last,
and lies
alongside
the steerig
After
take
the
his
gear with
lapse
of more than
place.
The
old
towards a pipe which
staggers,
faces
He repeats
pathetic
thirty
falls
death.
hours,
man steps
one of his
and suddenly
bending
a face like
into
fellow
a relief
the forecastle,
seamen offers
forward
all
for
some while
and
falls
to
and puts out his arm
in silence
of a heap.
over him, he mumbles despondently
it
comes to Singleton
;but
he misses,
Under a crowd of startled
: " I am getting
asleep.
The
next
old
old."
passage
is
too
:
Yet at midnight
he turned
out to duty as if nothing
had been the matter,
and answered to his name with a mournful " Here! " He brooded alone more
than ever, in an impenetrable
silence
and with a saddened
face. (Chap. IV.)
He has never given a thought
if
he
were indestructible.
to his mortal
But
self.
He has lived
now he sees clearly
that
unscathed,
his
strength
already begun to decline,
and mingled feelings
of sorrow and solitude
rash into his mind.
That Singleton
is not concious of his declining
he drops is partly
due
peculiar
of not
character
Singleton.
to his
It is a grim
robust
thinking
truth
them to be nervous about
about
that
But most of them act as if they
people
of life
old seaman,
which
dying,
but
of the
and twenty-three
men.
standpoint
looks
third
person
'we'
including
pairs
second
the
without
of
exception.
is no need for
for it,
faithful
of his
tragedy
whenever it
to duties
in this
winter
at
chapter
'they*.
but before
of this
keeping
But about
himself
aloof
long leaves
the
'we'
them,
story,
there
not from that
men. Half-way
to 'they'.
and employs
16
and two mates)
aboard
of an officer.
He, at
chapter
his
story
in the
he relates
of the fourth
In the fifth
they'.
crawling
the whole things
from the crew, and tells
of the second
stern
seems to have been
(a captain
Conrad observed
the middle
among
*
her low broad
- three officers
of a mere seaman,
matters
*
of eyes watched
It seems that
away from them, and changes
'we';
lies
must be prepared
*
Narcissus a crew of twenty-six
first,
because
Of course there
solemn human figure
suddenly
years till
and he warns us of the sorrow of the approaching
from ' Twenty-six
from the
Here
die sooner or later
they
*
.... ' at the outset
on the
himself.
chiefly
has
we can never check.
*
Judging
but
were immortal.
comes. Conrad found a pitiably
eccentric
constitution,
as
he joins
again
it in
he is
them using
At the end he narrates
in
the first
person
think
about.
the
narrator
sider,
tells
a method
In
the
the
of the
literature
true
what
people
call
and
far
quite
that
sincerity
of
his
Further,
ideas,
externally
of his
own exaggeration,
truth
he says that
and sincerity
that
that
as an out-
in short,
no other
of impression.
slips
out of the noisy
that
men.
by so doing
the
products
he
at
the world,
internally
with
notion
world,
strike
the
are
is the
imagination,
it is
life.
tells
that
truth
becoming
and
the victim
and in the end
too blunt
rests
which
his
of sincerity,
too cold,
of men,
Consequently
against
on the idea
emphasizes
through
Record, Conrad
the temporal
among others,
actions
in his tales
blended.
vivid
romanti-
and what not-we
Everything
looked
the exact
experiences
of mere imagination
his depiction
as something
afloat,
of the sea,
from actuality.
losing
Valuable
in it through
of these-life
A Personal
he specially
in expression,
delineated
and warns the writer
itself
notably,
experiences.
are so harmoniously
are very important;
and rests
is,
Am I wrong in saying
of facts
we should find
Prefice
coming to despise
This
he cleverly
and evenings
representation
and imagination
In A Familiar
sometimes
the truthfulness
are vividly
mornings
where reality
natural
chapter
In the descriptions
from reality
and accurate
fourth
personally
in the weather,
separated
to the group.
is the one of his personal
to him.
can not find
standpoints,
to convey
to
see such a mode of narration
from different
he tries
of persons are very interesting
He is so fond of humour.
he went through
changes
changes
we often
much meaning.
our smile?
cism peculiar
literature
story
in which
middle
Conrad's
frequent
as a man belonging
is not without
expects
that
In Conrad's
sometimes
than
This
' I *. These
for
his
purpose.
on a few very simple
of fidelity.
keynote
Indeed,
of his
truth
literature,
in thought.
Only in men's imagination
does every truth find an effective
and undeniable
existence.
Imagination,
not invention,
is the supreme master of art as of
life.
An imaginative
and exact rendering of authentic
memories may serve
worthily
that spirit
of piety towards all things
human which sanctions
the
conceptions
of a writer of tales,
and the emotions of the man reviewing
his own experience.
These
are the
words
of the
last
section
17
of
the
first
chapter
of A Personal
Record,
and
through
them
we can grasp
a good idea
of Conrad's
view on
literature.
The ship began to dip into a southwest
swell, and the softly luminous sky
of low latitudes
took on a harder sheen from day to day above our heads : it
arched high above the ship vibrating
and pale, like an immense dome of
steel, resonant with the deep voice of freshing
gales.
The sunshine
gleamed
cold on the white curls of black waves. Before the strong breath of westerly
squalls
the ship,
with reduced sail, lay slowly over, obstinate
and yielding.
She drove to and fro in the unceasing
endeavour to fight her way through the
invisible
violence
of the winds ; she pitched
headlong
into dark smooth
hollows ; she struggled
upwards over the snowy ridges of great running seas ;
she rolled,
restless,
from side to side, like a thing in pain.
Enduring and
valiant,
she answered to the call of men ; and her slim spars waving for ever
in abrupt semi-circles,
seemed to beckon in vain for help towards the stormy
sky. (Chap.
I.)
The above is a description
storm
near at hand,
and
through
the
nature.
Such a description
literary
talent
the scenes
swelling
the
float
waves, forerunner
before
is apt
Youth which
implacable
Then,
fighting
her
It is quite
unless
his own eyes writes
why Conrad
of consideration.
But
account
of limited
I hope,
dealing
with the problem
to
a person of great
about
them making
space.
May we not say that
pleasant
adventure
followed
about
story
that
I can
however, that
I believe
not
I shall
eulogizing
by the dark
wrote tragedies?
I regret
*
touch
this
books
have an opportunity
:
The Nigger of the " Narcissus 1- by R. Fukuhara,
Sawamura, Kenkyusha
(1934).
Tragedy in Joseph Conrad by Walter F. Wright
by Oliver Warner (1951),
18
Kenkyusha
(1949).
the
is well
on it here
in the near future.
following
even
shadow of
The Works of Joseph Conrad, Dent (1923-8).
Joseph Conrad, A Study by Richard Curie
(1914).
Joseph Conrad by Hugh Walpole
(1916).
Typhoon aud
Conrad by T.
Romanceaud
Joseph Conrad
way
true
*
of the Judia
worthy
to the
liveliness,
end tragically.
to be a fresh,
is the tragedy
I am indebted
weather.
#
works of Conrad
fate?
Narcissus
his eyes.
is reputed
of youth
of wild
with
of the sky with a terrible
of the
to lack
*
Most of the
appearance
poor figure
who saw the sights
*
joys
of the eerie
(]928).
on
of