Lord Jim

Lord Jim
Study Guide by Course Hero
Lord Jim is written in the past tense.

What's Inside
ABOUT THE TITLE
Lord Jim refers to the novel's central character—a disgraced
j Book Basics ................................................................................................. 1 seaman whose quest for redemption earns him the moniker
"Lord Jim."
d In Context ..................................................................................................... 1
a Author Biography ..................................................................................... 3
h Characters .................................................................................................. 4 d In Context

k Plot Summary ............................................................................................. 9 Joseph Conrad never intended Lord Jim to be a stand-alone
novel. He envisioned it as the third narrative in a three-part
c Chapter Summaries .............................................................................. 15
book, which included the novella Heart of Darkness (1902).
g Quotes ........................................................................................................ 47 Each story would be narrated by English sea captain Charles
Marlow—introduced in the short story, Youth (1902). Before
l Symbols ...................................................................................................... 51 Conrad began writing he was sure he could tell Lord Jim's
story in three or four monthly installments for Blackwood's
m Themes ....................................................................................................... 53
Edinburgh Magazine. However, a remarkable tale unfolded that
e Suggested Reading .............................................................................. 55 required 14 installments and began to reshape the artistic rules
that had governed the Victorian literary world since the
mid-18th century.
j Book Basics
The Seeds of Literary
AUTHOR
Joseph Conrad
Modernism
YEAR PUBLISHED Under the rule of Queen Victoria (1837–1901), Britain
1900 flourished. With a keen sense of destiny and moral
responsibility, the British Empire extended its geographical
GENRE reach, bringing Western civilization to the larger world through
Adventure, Drama trade and direct control of colonies. At its peak, the Empire's
colonial holdings encompassed one quarter of the world's land
PERSPECTIVE AND NARRATOR
mass. From the safe vantage point of the average Briton, this
The events of Lord Jim are initially described by an omniscient
rule was paternalistic and highly moral.
third person narrator. In Chapter 5, the story becomes a first-
person narrative, taken over by the character Marlow. In tone and style, much of the era's literature reflected pride
and confidence in the Empire. However, by the turn of the
TENSE
Lord Jim Study Guide In Context 2
century, Britain had begun a slow decline as a world power, captain and officers soon decided she was in imminent danger
and the Empire's continued supremacy and prosperity came of sinking and abandoned ship, leaving the pilgrims to their
into question. The self-assured Briton's perception of the world fate. When the seamen found safety, they reported the Jeddah
and his place in it no longer seemed guaranteed. To some, the and all her passengers had been lost. They were wrong. A day
future looked bleak. later, the British ship S.S. Antenor sailed into the Yemeni port
of Aden with the Jeddah in tow and the pilgrims on board, alive.
In literature, this crisis of confidence reflected in a strain of
realism differing sharply from the safe, sure-footed realism of The desertion of the Jeddah and its passengers was an act of
Victorian fiction. In works such as Conrad's Heart of Darkness, cowardice, and the officers' false report of the ship's sinking
the moral consequences of Britain's colonial endeavors was inexcusable. Although most passengers survived, the
became the subject of scrutiny. Novels like Lord Jim examined incident cost the lives of 10 pilgrims and one of the ship's crew.
the cost of human weakness and moral failings. Within the Only the chance encounter with the S.S. Antenor brought the
context of these stories, perceptions of people and events truth to light.
were unreliable and conflicting, the usually accepted universal
truths were challenged, and no worldview was trustworthy. In Lord Jim Conrad builds his story of the pilgrim ship Patna
and her desertion by the European crew—including Jim—on
This departure from Victorian literary conventions held the this infamous case. Jim's failure to do his duty as an officer on
seeds of 20th-century modernism—an experimental, avant- the ship challenges his idealized sense of self and alters the
garde movement that rejected 19th-century standards in course of his life.
literary style and form, and explored nontraditional themes of
destruction, chaos, loss, and exile. Lord Jim stands as a
groundbreaking bridge between the Victorian and modernist Malay Archipelago and the
periods. Conrad applies innovative techniques such as
nonlinear time-shifts and multiple perspectives that reflect White Rajah of Sarawak
multiple truths. His protagonist, Jim, holds dear the high-
minded, heroic expectations embraced by the Victorian era. Disgraced by his actions aboard the Patna, Jim in due course
However, when circumstances drive Jim to act contrary to this flees to Patusan, a remote island in the Malay Archipelago. Like
personal vision, his life becomes a battleground where old- events aboard the Patna, events here are drawn from historical
fashioned virtues struggle to rise above the shame of personal accounts. This time, Conrad looks to the life of a
failure. Viewed from the modernist perspective of a crumbling, swashbuckling adventurer.
unstable world, the nobility of his battle is tainted with futility.
That adventurer was British statesman James Brooke,
destined to become the first White Rajah of Sarawak. In 1838
Voyage of the Jeddah at age 36, Brooke set sail for the island of Borneo as a private
merchant with the goal of promoting trade while bringing
When crafting a story, Conrad often looked to historical events Christianity and the benefits of civilization to the island
for inspiration. While in the island nation of Singapore, he inhabitants. Borneo lies off the Malay Peninsula, which is the
encountered the ship involved in a notorious scandal he had southernmost tip of the Asian continent. It is one of the
read about earlier, which he used to shape a key event in Lord approximately 25,000 islands that lie within the sprawling
Jim to test Jim's courage and inner worth. The repercussions Malay Archipelago, also known as the East Indies. The
of the infamous event reached from Singapore to London. archipelago is made up of smaller island groups such as the
Philippines and Indonesia with Borneo counted among the
On July 17, 1880, the Jeddah, a ship carrying more than 900 Indonesian islands. Brooke was headed for Sarawak, a
Muslim pilgrims, set sail from Singapore for Jeddah, a Middle constituent state of Malaysia.
Eastern port on the Red Sea near the Islamic holy city of
Mecca. The ship sailed under British colors and was manned The timing of his arrival could not have been better. The Sultan
by a European crew. The passage was stormy, and about three of Brunei, who also controlled Sarawak, was being threatened
weeks into the voyage, the Jeddah began to leak badly. Her by a native uprising in the region. He offered Brooke rule over
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Lord Jim Study Guide Author Biography 3
Sarawak if he could successfully quash the rebellion. Brooke, significant influence on other 20th-century American writers,
who had once served in the armed forces of the British Indian including William Faulkner, F. Scott Fitzgerald, and Ernest
Empire, eagerly accepted the challenge, led the Sultan's army Hemingway, and English novelist Graham Greene. In 1925
to victory, and assumed the role of Rajah of Sarawak. Fitzgerald stated he had used Conrad's literary style in writing
his masterpiece The Great Gatsby (1925), modeling narrator
Like Borneo, Lord Jim's fictional island Patusan is populated by Nick Carraway on Conrad's Marlow.
Muslim Malays and non-Muslim Dyaks. In creating Jim's rise to
the status of "Lord" among the islanders, Conrad borrows from
a Author Biography
Brooke's documented exploits in Sarawak. Like Brooke, Jim
heroically defeats the enemies of a powerful island leader and
is rewarded with administrative control of Patusan. In further
imitation of Brooke, Jim frees all slaves and introduces a
justice system based on equality. He also eliminates customs Early Life and Influences
at odds with European ideals of civilized behavior while raising
the people's overall standard of living. Joseph Conrad (Józef Teodor Konrad Korzeniowski) was born
on December 3, 1857, in Berdichev, Ukraine (part of the
As a seaman, Conrad had traveled to the Malay Archipelago.
Russian Empire at the time). His parents were of Polish nobility
Nevertheless, when creating Lord Jim's island world and
and conspired against Russian rule of their homeland, which,
depicting its people, he turned to a favorite authoritative
after a long history of independence, had been divided among
source: The Malay Archipelago, published by British naturalist
the Russian, Austrian, and Prussian empires. They were
Alfred Russel Wallace in 1869. Wallace's insights helped
arrested and exiled to northern Russia when Conrad was four
Conrad create a fictional setting that is historically credible,
years old, and both died before he turned 13. Conrad's parents'
from Patusan's political and social hierarchies and struggles to
politics and their suffering were his earliest lessons in political
its economy and religious and cultural practices.
oppression. Thus, Conrad developed a sense of the mixed
nature of human beings, who had the capacity for both good
and evil.
Critical Reception of Lord Jim
Conrad spent time in his formative years in France, supported
Upon its publication in 1900, England's Daily Mail said of Lord by family and influential family friends. By age 15, he had
Jim, "The whole narrative is profoundly psychological, decided he wanted to go to sea, and he did so in his late teens,
profoundly human—a tragedy of daily life which stands out entering the French merchant marine. In his autobiographical
grimly against the romance of the sea." work, A Personal Record (1912), Conrad observes there was
"no precedent ... for a boy of my nationality and antecedents
Contemporary reviews of Lord Jim were so favorable that
taking a ... standing jump out of his racial surroundings and
Conrad wrote to his publisher, Blackwoods, "I am the spoiled
associations." Conrad learned English during his time at sea,
child of the critics."
and, although he might have found a wider audience had he
written in French, he notes in A Personal Record that he did not
In 1958 American critic and author Albert J. Guerard declared
choose English: "It was I who was adopted by the genius of the
that "human fallibility" lies at the heart of Lord Jim's impact
language, an adoption by English ... too mysterious to explain."
because most people have "jumped off some Patna" and are
Despite this late adoption, Conrad developed a style of artful
forced to "[reconcile] what we are with what we would like to
prose that places him among the foremost stylists of English
be."
literature.
The novel's ambiguity allows readers to create their own
Conrad's service as a deckhand on a British freighter brought
meanings for the tale, which has endeared it to its audience for
him to England in 1878. He would return to England when not
more than a hundred years. Lord Jim is included on the New
at sea and, after marrying, would continue to live there. His
York Public Library's list of Books of the Century.
career at sea spanned two decades, took him all over the
Conrad's modernist style and use of antiheroes proved a world, and provided a rich source of material for his novels.

Lord Jim Study Guide Characters 4
powerless the noble code by which he lives. Jim's failure to act

Literary Career courageously and honorably during a crisis at sea shatters his
self-image and alters the trajectory of his life. Jim has a mythic
In 1890 Conrad spent six months traveling in the Congo as a quality. Storyteller Marlow says he often seems to glimpse the
steamboat officer. When he returned, he was exhausted, sick essence of Jim as if "through a rent in the mist in which he
with malaria, and deeply troubled by all his experiences. He moved and had his being." Throughout the novel, Jim appears
started writing full-time in 1894 and adopted the English through the eyes of others. Like an impressionist painting
version of his name, Joseph Conrad, the following year. In made up of multi-colored dots, Jim's character is a collection
1899, Heart of Darkness was published serially in three issues of conflicting impressions. Jim appears strong, yet weak; noble,
of Blackwood's Edinburgh Magazine. His writing brought yet cowardly; self-confident, yet insecure. He looks "as
attention to the barbarity of Belgian colonial control of central genuine" as a newly minted gold coin, but there lurks "some
Africa established in the 1880s to exploit the region. In 1903, a infernal alloy in his metal." Jim is described as an inch or two
British consul solicited Conrad's support in exposing these under six feet, strong, with "blue, boyish eyes," curly fair hair,
atrocities to the public. and a tendency to blush. At emotional moments, he is often at
a loss for words. However, "there [is] a high seriousness in his
His next published work, Lord Jim (1900), was similarly
stammering," and his words are deeply felt and hold deep
serialized in Blackwood's. Narrated by Marlow—the English sea
meaning.
captain from Heart of Darkness—it was published in 14
installments from October 1899 to November 1900. Once
again, Conrad drew upon his personal experiences at sea. He
also turned to historical sources to inspire and shape Marlow
significant plot elements—most notably an infamous 1880
maritime scandal in which white European officers abandoned Captain Marlow is about 20 years Jim's senior, an experienced
their posts on the Jeddah—a sinking ship laden with Asian seaman, and the narrator of Jim's story. In the course of his
Muslim passengers en route to Mecca. Lord Jim, published professional career at sea, Marlow has trained young men like
during an innovative and dynamic period in British literature, is Jim for their maritime service. He sees in Jim the essence of
considered one of the finest novels of its era. youth, "on the brink" of life and adventure, "looking with shining
eyes" upon the glitter of the vast ocean—a glitter "which is only
Conrad continued writing until his death in England on August a reflection of his own glances full of fire." Marlow is drawn to
3, 1924. Some of his notable works are the novella Typhoon Jim's youthful idealism while repulsed by his criminal desertion
(1903), along with the novels Nostromo (1904), The Secret of the Patna. He experiences a mix of sympathy and antipathy
Agent (1907), and his first best seller, Chance (1913). His works regarding Jim—sympathy because Jim's naïve, romantic
stand as early examples of literary modernism, a writing style illusions reminds Marlow of his own youthful dreams; antipathy
that would mature after World War I. because Jim has violated the time-honored moral codes held
dear by "the community of mankind." In the moment of Jim's
deepest despair, Marlow steps in to help him, assuming the
h Characters role of benefactor and father figure. He is someone Jim can

trust and who wishes to help him regain what he has lost in the
wake of the Patna incident. Simultaneously, Marlow becomes a
conduit for bringing Jim's story to the world that has harshly
Jim judged and rejected him. He relates Jim's story as seen
through his own eyes as well as the eyes of others, such as
As the son of an English parson, Jim grows up in a secure Captain Brierly, Stein, and Jewel.
environment where he is free to construct romantic adventures
in which he is the hero, always ready, always victorious, and
always adhering to a strict moral code of behavior. His heroic
aspirations draw him toward a life at sea. Here, Jim encounters
brutal realities he cannot control and which seem to render

dream and capture it. He also understands the devastation an

Brierly individual experiences when he realizes he cannot achieve his
dreams. After Marlow asks Stein for his help with Jim, Stein
Montague Brierly is a 32-year-old captain in the mercantile proposes to drop Jim into the remote island setting of Patusan
marine with an impeccable record of service. Also known as where he will be free to pursue his noble and heroic fantasies.
"Big Brierly" among his peers, he has risen steadily in his career He can leave "his earthly failings behind him" and discover "a
and is everything Jim aspires to be. Brierly has never made a totally new set of conditions for his imaginative faculty to work
mistake, never had so much as a mishap, and seems to "know upon."
nothing of indecision much less of self-mistrust." In Marlow's
initial judgment, Brierly is rock-solid, at ease with himself, and
impervious to "the sting of life." Therefore, it comes as a shock
when, a week after the court hearing concludes, Brierly
Brown
commits suicide. Brierly is an assessor, or judge's assistant, at
Brown is the rumored son of a low-ranking English baronet and
the court hearing concerning the Patna. The case greatly
often refers to himself as "Gentleman Brown." He began his life
disturbs him, especially as Jim is the only officer to accept the
as a modern-day pirate by jumping ship in Australia during the
full brunt of accusations of cowardice and dereliction of duty.
gold-mining days. Within a few years he was known as the
Brierly asks Marlow why Jim is willing "to eat all that dirt." For
terror of Polynesia. In time, his luck went sour and he was
Brierly, the Patna incident represents everything he abhors. It is
driven from the South Seas toward the Philippines. Now he
an abomination and "enough to burn a man to ashes with
sails into Jim's story. A streak of sadism runs through Brown's
shame," particularly as it involves a dreadful violation of trust.
history of piracy, kidnapping, and murder. He has "a vehement
"Such an affair," he tells Marlow, "destroys one's confidence."
scorn for mankind at large and for his victims in particular."
Marlow suspects Brierly's suicide connects to a secret
When the villagers of Patusan repulse his attempted invasion,
moment in the captain's past when he similarly failed the moral
Brown determines to punish them no matter the cost. Brown
code by which he lives; that as the captain judges Jim's case,
hates Jim without reservation, detesting "his youth and
he simultaneously holds "silent inquiry into his own case" and
assurance, his clear eyes and his untroubled bearing," along
cannot live with the verdict of "guilty."
with the unshakable moral code Jim exemplifies. Jim
represents everything Brown has despised and defied his
entire life. For Jim, a man like Brown is a shock and a danger to
Stein all he has worked to achieve on Patusan. He is a messenger
from the outside world—a world Jim has renounced; a white
Stein enters Jim's life three years after the Patna incident. Jim man from "out there" where Jim does not feel "good enough"
has been fighting a losing battle to restore his self-respect and to live. Brown makes up his mind: before leaving Patusan, he
pursue his heroic dreams. Stein immediately recognizes Jim to will destroy Jim. In this way, he becomes the catalyst for Jim's
be a romantic because he, too, once held and lived by romantic death.
ideals. At age 22, Stein fled his homeland after involvement in a
failed revolutionary movement. Within the Malay Archipelago,
he found work assisting a Dutch naturalist collecting insects
and birds. Four years later, Stein inherited a prosperous
trading business on the island of Celebes from a dying
Scotsman. Eight years of heroic exploits and adventures
followed, during which Stein married a native princess.
However, when she and their young daughter died of fever,
Stein left the country he could no longer bear. He started life
afresh in Samarang, becoming a successful trader and
renowned entomologist specializing in butterflies and beetles.
Stein has led the kind of life Jim has read about in books and
has dreamed of for himself. Stein knows what it is to chase a

Character Map
Marlow
English sea captain
Trusted
adviser
Jewel
Stein
Brave, passionate
Wealthy, respected merchant
European-Malay woman
Friends
Spouses
Employer Former
employer
Jim
Trusted Young idealist; denounced
allies by society; seeks redemption
Doramin Enemies Cornelius
Proud, aging chief Treacherous former
of the Bugis agent on Patusan
Trial
assessor Catalyst of
Jim's death
Accomplices
Brown
Brierly
Ruthless latter-day
Pious, principled English
buccaneer; brings ruin
sea captain
to Patusan
Main Character
Other Major Character
Minor Character

Full Character List Mohammed Bonso is the younger son of

the island queen of Celebes and Stein's
partner in many exploits in their youth.
Mohammed
The prince is assassinated, and Stein
Character Description Bonso
always speaks of him as "my poor
Mohammed Bonso." Stein married
Jim, an English clergyman's son, pursues Bonso's sister.
a career in the British merchant marine
Jim
and commits an act of cowardice that
Charley is the host of a dinner part
haunts him for the rest of his life.
attended by Marlow. Other guests are
Charley
the men entertained by Marlow's story
Marlow is a middle-aged, experienced about Jim.
English sea captain who takes an
Marlow
interest in Jim's life and fate and relates
Chester is a West Australian adventurer
his story to a gathering of friends.
with a scheme to hire Jim after he loses
his license. Jim would oversee native
Captain Brierly is the captain of the Chester laborers for Chester's guano (seabird
Ossa, the most highly rated ship of the manure) operation, which is nothing
Brierly Blue Star line and is, by reputation, a more than a pipe dream. Chester's
virtuous, courageous man with a perfect partner is Captain Robinson.
record of service.
The chief engineer is one of the crew
Stein is a merchant-adventurer and Chief members who desert the Patna. He is
owner of Stein & Co. trading posts engineer tall, thin as a broomstick, has a drooping
Stein throughout the East Indies, including a gray moustache, and drinks excessively.
post on Patusan, where he sends Jim to
act as his agent. Cornelius is a despicable Malacca-
Portuguese scoundrel working for Stein
Brown, a depraved buccaneer, comes to as his agent on Patusan. He despises
Cornelius
Brown plunder Patusan and becomes the and plots revenge against Jim for taking
catalyst for Jim's ruin and death. over his job and exposing his
dishonesty. He is Jewel's stepfather.
Sherif Ali is a wandering Arab stranger

who preys on the people of Patusan, Mr. Denver is a rice mill owner and
Sherif Ali Marlow's old friend. First to hire Jim on
disrupts the balance of power on the
island, and feeds on the resulting strife. Mr. Denver Marlow's recommendation, he likes and
trusts the young man and is bewildered
and hurt when he suddenly leaves.
Rajah Allang is the governor of
Patusan's river, appointed by his
nephew, the Sultan. Described as a dirty, Doramin is the old Malay chief of the
Rajah Allang Bugis tribe on Patusan and father of
little, used-up old man with evil eyes and
a weak mouth, he abuses his power and Dain Waris. Friend to Stein, he accepts
Doramin
plots to assassinate Jim. Jim and becomes his trusted ally.
Monumental in size, he is proud and
dignified in manner.
Blake is a ship chandler and partner in
Egström & Blake. Chandlers are retailers
who deal in equipment and supplies for The Dutch agent is a government official
Blake ships and boats. Blake is a small man in a port south of Patusan. He tells
with sleek black hair and unhappy, Dutch agent Marlow a rumor: Jewel is the keeper of a
beady eyes. He is one of Jim's priceless emerald obtained by the "white
employers for a time. vagabond," Jim.

Egström is a ship chandler and partner De Jongh is the last ship chandler to
in Egström & Blake. Chandlers are employ Jim before he retreats to
De Jongh
retailers who deal in equipment and Patusan, a little more than three years
Egström supplies for ships and boats. Described after the Patna inquiry.
as a raw-boned, heavy Scandinavian
with immense blonde whiskers, he is one
of Jim's employers for a time. Kassim is the "long-legged old
scoundrel" and diplomat who represents
Rajah Allang at the war council during
Kassim
Captain Elliot is the Master Attendant at Brown's invasion of Patusan. He plots
the harbor office where Captain Gustav with Cornelius to use Brown and his men
Captain Elliot makes his false report about Patna to overthrow Jim.
incident. He gives Gustav a loud and
blunt dressing down for his lies.
Alexander McNeil is the old Scotsman
Alexander who gave Stein his business start. He is
Emma is Stein's deceased daughter. McNeil "remembered for a roaring voice and a
She and his much-loved Malay wife, to rough sort of honesty."
Emma whom he refers as "the princess," died
of fever on the island of Celebes just
days apart. Captain O'Brien of the ship Sarah W.
Captain Granger recalls the story of the Patna in
O'Brien Jim's presence, causing him to flee his
The French lieutenant is one of two job at Egström & Blake's chandlery.
officers from the French gunboat that
French
rescues the Patna. He meets Marlow
lieutenant Captain Robinson is an ancient sea
two years after the incident and supplies
details of the rescue. captain with a notorious past and an
Captain evocative nickname: "Holy-Terror
Robinson Robinson." He has money and is
George is the third engineer on the Chester's partner in a scheme to harvest
Patna and dies from fear and exertion as and sell guano (seabird manure).
George
the crew members attempt to abandon
the damaged ship.
Archie Ruthvel is the principal shipping
Archie master in the harbor office where
Captain Gustav, the German captain of Ruthvel Captain Gustav delivers his false report
the Patna, is a huge, dull-eyed, of the Patna incident.
malevolent man who cares nothing for
Captain
the lives of the Patna's passengers. He
Gustav Schomberg is the Alsatian hotelkeeper
files a false report about the sinking and
then cravenly refuses to attend the and owner of a bar in Bangkok where
official inquiry. Jim and a drunk Danish seaman get into
Schomberg a brawl over the Patna incident. He is a
"retailer of all scandalous gossip" and
Jewel is the daughter of a Dutch-Malay directs Marlow to where Gentleman
woman and European father and is Brown is living out his final hours.
stepdaughter to Cornelius. Jewel saves
Jewel Jim from assassination and becomes his
wife, but her passionate love cannot The second engineer is among the crew
stop him when he feels honor bound to who desert the ship Patna. He breaks his
give up his life. Second arm in the process. He is a sallow-faced
engineer "mean little chap" who shows up at Jim's
first job with Mr. Denver, causing Jim to
Mr. Jones is chief officer of the Ossa abruptly quit and move on.
and serves under Captain Brierly. He
Mr. Jones
tells Marlow the story of Brierly's suicide
and its aftermath. Selvin is Marlow's chief mate who
suffers from "black imaginings" and fits
Selvin
of jealousy when he is too long without a
letter from his wife.

Lord Jim Study Guide Plot Summary 9
During this time at sea, his heroic self-image goes untested by

Bob Stanton is an insurance canvasser
who, years ago, tried to save a young any further crisis. Jim is free to cultivate his romantic fantasies
Bob Stanton lady's maid from a sinking ship. and to daydream of performing valorous deeds, like the heroes
Panicked, she would not budge, causing in his books.
both to go down with the ship.
Sultan of
Stein describes the sultan as "an
imbecile youth with two thumbs on his The Patna
Patusan left hand." The sultan appoints his uncle,
Rajah Allang, to govern Patusan's river. A leg injury lands Jim in a hospital in an Eastern seaport far
from home. Upon recovery, he signs on as first mate aboard
Sura is a sorcerer among the Bugis of the Patna, a decaying ship carrying 800 Muslims on a
Patusan and believes there is something
Sura pilgrimage to Mecca. The voyage is uneventful until one night
occult in Jim's successful attack on
Sherif Ali. the ship collides with something below the waterline. The lower
compartments begin to fill with water, and the Patna begins to
Dain Waris is the much-loved only son of list ominously. As if dark forces in the universe have conspired
Doramin. Jim finds him courageous, to worsen the situation, a squall starts. Captain Gustav judges
proud, intelligent, and "bearing a the Patna is in imminent danger of sinking. With only seven
Dain Waris temperament like a clear flame." The
two become fast friends. When Waris is lifeboats for 800 passengers, the chances of everyone
killed by Brown and his men, Jim's life surviving are slim. In a panic, he orders his crew of four to
becomes forfeit. lower a single boat without waking or alarming the pilgrims.
Siegmund Yucker is part-owner of Jim refuses to help, determined to do his duty and stay with
Yucker Brothers of Bangkok. They are the ship. The others curse him as they frantically struggle with
Siegmund charterers and teak merchants for
the craft, and one crew member dies from fear and exertion.
Yucker whom Jim works until a bar brawl over
the Patna incident sends him on the run Then the boat hits the water, and the men leap in. In some
again. manner Jim cannot explain, he finds he, too, has
jumped—betraying his own heroic expectations and the trust
of the sleeping passengers.
k Plot Summary When the ship Avondale picks up the deserters, Captain
Gustav falsely claims that the damaged Patna sank like lead
during the storm. Later on shore, however, the deserters learn
the Patna was towed safely to the port of Aden. Only Jim
Life at Sea remains to face the ensuing court of inquiry held in an Eastern
port. His actions are deemed unbecoming of an officer, and he
As a boy, Jim dreams of a life at sea full of romantic
is stripped of his license. He becomes "a seaman in exile from
adventures such as he has read about in books. The son of a
the sea." Worse still, his reputation is ruined, and he is a social
parson, Jim grows up in the idyllic setting of an English country
outcast. Jim's self-aggrandizing illusions shatter.
parsonage and then goes to a training camp for officers of the
mercantile marine. Along the way, Jim adopts strict, idealized
notions of moral behavior and shapes a noble, heroic self-
image. While in training, however, Jim fails the first test of his
Meeting Marlow
courage, hesitating in a moment of crisis and missing the
In the meantime, Jim has met Marlow, a middle-aged, widely
opportunity to act. Though he struggles with this failure, Jim
experienced, courageous English sea captain who takes an
eventually concludes he was simply caught off guard and will
interest in Jim's fate. He has trained young seamen like Jim.
know what to do in the future.
Jim's youth, fundamental innocence, and romantic ideals
Following his training, Jim becomes first mate on a fine ship. appeal to Marlow as they remind him of his own youthful days

and illusions. After the inquiry, Marlow senses how close Jim is the outside world that once judged and found him wanting.
to despair. He uses his influence to get Jim work, but Jim never
stays long in one place. Try as he might to escape his past, the
facts of the Patna scandal "follow [Jim] casually and inevitably."
At the first hint of his history coming to light, Jim quits his job
and moves on.
Realizing he is failing to truly help Jim, Marlow turns to his

friend Stein, a merchant-adventurer with trading posts
scattered throughout the East Indies. Hearing Jim's story, Stein
perceives the young man is a romantic who must have a
chance to live out his dreams if he is going live at all. Stein
suggests sending Jim to manage an outpost on Patusan, an
island so remote "it would be for the outside world as though
he had never existed." Here, Jim will have a fresh start and "a
totally new set of conditions for his imaginative faculty to work
upon."
Fresh Start
In Patusan, Jim is unknown and believes his past cannot find
him. However, settling into his new post is no easy task. On the
island, three forceful individuals struggle for domination: the
corrupt Rajah Allang, the predatory Sherif (honorable or noble)
Ali, and Doramin, chief of the Bugis tribe and Stein's old "war
comrade." With the help of Jim and an audaciously clever plan,
Doramin and his warriors drive Sherif Ali from the island and
subdue Rajah Allang. Jim becomes a legend and earns the title
"Tuan," or "Lord." More importantly for Jim, he gains the
people's trust. He works tirelessly to restore order and peace
on Patusan. Early on, he meets Jewel, a European-Asian
woman who becomes his wife. It seems the chasm between
Jim's illusions and reality has narrowed to a crack.
Then a vile buccaneer, who calls himself Gentleman Brown,

"sails into Jim's history," intending to raid Patusan. He and his
crew meet resistance, and the villagers corner them. Brown
pleads with Jim to allow him a fair fight or safe passage from
the island. On the promise that Brown will leave peacefully, Jim
arranges for him and his men to retreat. To satisfy Doramin,
Jim offers up his own life should any villager be harmed.
Brown betrays Jim's trust and launches a farewell attack,

killing many villagers, including Doramin's son. True to his word,
Jim forfeits his life bravely without flinching. In this final
courageous sacrifice, he lives up to his moral identity; illusion
and reality become one. He seems to prove himself worthy of

Plot Diagram
Climax
11
10
12
9
Falling Action
Rising Action 8
13
7
6 14
5
15
4
Resolution
3
2
1
Introduction
9. Pirate Brown and his criminal crew invade the island.

Introduction
10. Jim urges Doramin to let the raiders leave unharmed.
1. Adventure tales spark young Jim's dreams of a life at sea.
Climax
Rising Action 11. Brown launches a surprise attack, killing Doramin's son.
2. Jim is sent off to a training ship for officers.
3. Jim signs on as first mate on the pilgrim ship Patna.

Falling Action
4. Jim and others abandon the sinking Patna and 800 pilgrims.
12. Jim's life is now forfeit; he refuses to fight or flee.
5. Jim alone stands trial for actions unbecoming an officer.
13. Jim presents himself to Doramin and is shot dead.
6. To escape his past and shame, Jim moves from job to job.
14. Jim realizes his boyish vision to meet death unflinchingly.
7. Jim finds refuge at an island trading post on Patusan.
8. Jim brings order, peace, and prosperity to Patusan.

Resolution
15. Jim's wife and loyal servant flee Patusan to live in exile.

Timeline of Events
Late 1800s
Jim dreams of a life at sea and is sent to a training ship

for officers of the mercantile marine.
While in training
Jim fails to act swiftly during a crisis, foreshadowing a

later failure to live up to his ideals.
After two years of training
Jim goes to sea and becomes chief mate of a fine ship.
A while later
Left behind in an Eastern port because of an injury, Jim

signs on as the Patna's first mate.
During the voyage
The ship, carrying 800 Muslim pilgrims, collides with

something unseen in the night.
Shortly after
A squall threatens to sink the damaged ship, prompting

the crew, including Jim, to abandon it.
Next morning
The Patna, still afloat, is rescued by a French gunboat

and towed safely to the port of Aden.
Sunset, the same day
The Avondale picks up Jim and the other deserters, who

claim the Patna and its passengers are lost.
About two weeks later
The Patna's captain files a false report on the sinking and

then refuses to face an inquiry.
A month or so afterward
Jim faces the court inquiry alone; Marlow attends the

inquest and becomes interested in Jim.
After the inquiry
Stripped of his license, Jim works as a water clerk,

always on the run from rumors of his disgrace.
About three years later
Jim is given an opportunity to make a fresh start as a

trading post agent on remote Patusan.
Within a few days
On Patusan, Jim escapes a rajah's prison, allies with an

island chief, and takes over his new post.
Six weeks later
With the chief's help, Jim defeats Sherif Ali, subdues

Rajah Allang, and becomes Tuan Jim.
During this time
Jim meets and falls in love with Jewel, stepdaughter of

Cornelius, the former trading post agent.
Three years later
Gentleman Brown, a buccaneer on the run, is foiled in his

attempt to raid Patusan for provisions.
Several days later
Cornered, Brown persuades Jim to provide him and his

crew "a clear road" away from Patusan.
Soon after
Jim arranges safe passage for the raiders, ready to

forfeit his life if any islanders are harmed.
Next morning
Before leaving Patusan, Brown springs a vengeful attack

on the islanders, killing the chief's son.
That evening
Jim honors his promise, presents himself to be

sacrificed, and meets death unflinchingly.

Lord Jim Study Guide Chapter Summaries 15
impediment to action than either wind or sea. Next time, he will

c Chapter Summaries perform unflinchingly. Jim's thoughtful reserve makes him
seem superior to the "noisy crowd of boys."
Chapters 1–2 Chapter 2

After two years of training, Jim goes to sea but finds it
Summary "strangely barren of adventure." Nevertheless, he performs his
duties well and, while still quite young, is promoted to the
position of chief mate on a fine ship. Unfortunately, he is never
Chapter 1 again tested by a crisis at sea to "show in the light of day the
inner worth of a man."
Jim has a last name but is oddly "anxious that it should not be
pronounced." To one and all, he is just Jim. He is a tall, Only once does Jim glimpse the sea's unbridled anger. During
powerfully built young man, always meticulously dressed in a week of rough weather, Jim is injured by a falling spar—a pole
spotless white. Self-assured, he possesses "ability in the used to support a ship's sails. While he is confined below
abstract," or a knack for inspiring confidence in others. This decks, a brutal storm arises. Unlike most gales, this one seems
ability is valuable in his duties as a water clerk—a sales rep for to come "with a purpose of malice," intent on smashing
merchants who provide supplies and equipment to ship everything it touches. Jim, though secure in his cabin, senses
captains. In the various Eastern seaports where he has the "sinister violence of intention" in the storm and is filled "with
worked, Jim is always very popular, yet he is mysteriously a despairing desire to escape at any cost." However, as soon
prone to abruptly leaving a good position for a new port, each as the storm abates, Jim thinks nothing more about it.
time moving further east. Jim is running from "a fact" that
At an Eastern port, Jim is hospitalized until his leg heals. The
follows him "casually but inevitably." Eventually, it drives him
setting is idyllic and bewitching. Rather than seeking passage
away from seaports and white men to live in a Malaysian jungle
home when his leg heals, Jim takes a berth as chief mate
village. Here he becomes known as Tuan Jim, or Lord Jim.
aboard the Patna, a rusty local steamer. The Patna has been
Jim's father was an English country parson and his home an chartered by an Arab to carry 800 Muslim pilgrims on an
"abode of piety and peace." As a youth, Jim reads lightweight "errand of faith" to Mecca.
works of literature and from them develops a passion for life at
The Patna's voyage passes between two small islets and the
sea. He's soon sent off to gain experience on a merchant
Strait of Malacca, crosses the Bay of Bengal, and heads for the
marine training ship. During training, he excels and is generally
Red Sea. The ship sails beneath a scorching and unclouded
liked, but spends a great deal of time daydreaming about the
sky. Daily, the sun follows, catches up with, and beats down on
"stirring life in the world of adventure" he hopes to have. In his
the vessel. At the end of the searing, merciless days, night
imaginings, he heroically saves people from sinking ships,
descends on the ship "like a benediction," or blessing.
cleverly survives as a lonely castaway, and deftly quashes a
mutiny at sea.
At dusk one winter's day, Jim is jostled from daydreaming by a Analysis

real crisis. A hurricane-force gale threatens the nearby ships at
These chapters introduce Jim, describe his early years,
anchor and sends a coaster smashing into a schooner. While
establish the key aspects of his character, and finally set the
other men on the training ship leap to the task of saving victims
scene for a life-changing challenge in Jim's future. In this
of the collision, Jim stands still "as if confounded" until it is too
introductory phase, Conrad employs the traditional literary
late to join them. He later rationalizes that he has learned more
technique of an omniscient narrator. (Beginning with Chapter
from the experience than his fellow crewmates, who are now
5, he will shift his approach to tell Jim's story through Captain
celebrating the successful rescue mission. Having stayed back,
Marlow's first-person narration.)
he has observed and now understands that fear is a greater

An epigraph precedes the chapter, taking a quote from which changes the course of Jim's life. The setting for that
German romantic poet Novalis (1772–1801): "It is certain my event will be the pilgrim ship Patna. Jim signs on as first mate,
Conviction gains infinitely, the moment another soul will believe fascinated by rumors of the easy work as an officer aboard a
in it." Here, Conrad establishes the necessity for trust between local "country" ship. The idea of visiting exotic Eastern ports
storyteller and audience, which extends to trust between appeals to Jim, especially while lounging "safely through
characters within the story. Jim will need Marlow to believe his existence" with minimum danger and toil. Jim seems to notice
version of the key event that changes his life. In turn, Marlow no conflict here with his lofty dreams of adventure. He has
will need his listening audience to believe the story of Jim as he experienced the violent, unpredictable forces at work in the
tells it. world and is unconsciously drawn to "soft" skies, "eternal
serenity," and "smiling peace," alternatives the Eastern seas
In introducing Jim, the narrator describes him as "an inch, seem to offer.
perhaps two, under six feet." This uncertainty about his height
is an early indication that no one, not even Marlow, will ever The Patna, with its passenger load of pilgrims, takes a route
see Jim with precise clarity. The essence of the man will mirroring that of the historical ship Jeddah. Passing through
remain elusive. Jim is also described as always neatly dressed the Strait of Malacca, it crosses the Bay of Bengal, hooks
in immaculate white clothing. This appearance is a constant, around the southern tip of India, and enters the Arabian Sea,
despite Jim's circumstances, and is an outward expression of destined for the Red Sea. The grossly unflattering depiction of
the inner discipline and perfection to which Jim aspires. the Patna's German captain with his "blood and iron air"
reflects Conrad's hostility toward Germans. In the second half
Jim's upbringing in a safe, Eden-like environment does not of the 19th century, Germany was ruled by Otto von Bismarck,
prepare him for the realities he will face in the outside world. known as "the Iron Chancellor," who waged a series of bloody
Within the protected walls of the country parsonage, there is wars to unify the country. "Blood and iron" is an allusion to a
nothing to challenge the lofty dreams he entertains. At the famous speech Bismarck made in 1862 to the Prussian
core of his story is a question: what if a man's self-image and Parliament urging financial support for Prussia's military.
expectations are built on the highest and noblest ideals of his
time, but in a moment of crisis, he fails to live up to that grand The Muslims aboard the Patna are on a pilgrimage to the holy
vision? This is Jim's dilemma and the key to his character. city of Mecca. This pilgrimage, called a hajj, is a trip all adult
Muslims are expected to make at least once in their lives. They
His first encounter with harsh reality during a storm aboard the have left their homes and traveled far "at the call of an
training ship leaves Jim bewildered by his failure to fulfill his idea"—an exacting belief. In their devotion to a belief, the
romantic ideals. His imagination has been fertile enough to pilgrims are not so different from Jim. However, in a while, he
produce visions of valorous deeds but provides no clues for will betray them just as he also betrays the precise and
responding courageously to a crisis. Instead, it paralyzes him demanding moral code that governs his life.
into inaction. Nevertheless, Jim struggles with "the pain of
conscious defeat" until he convinces himself his inaction has
been for the best. As a bystander, he could observe the storm
and understand he overestimated its menace. He now knows
Chapters 3–5
"what to think of it," and is no longer afraid. He is, in fact, glad
he did not join the rescue mission. Participating in the mission
had been safely left to the lesser men while he "enlarged his
Summary
knowledge more than those who had done the work." In this
way, Jim restores his heroic illusions.
Chapter 3
The training ship episode is replicated some years later when
Jim is physically helpless and confined below decks. He seems It is night as the Patna crosses the Arabian Sea. The ship
no better prepared for nature's assault than he was before. moves steadily and serenely across the water "smooth and
Both episodes hint at the inherent flaws in Jim's nature. They cool to the eye like a sheet of ice." Beneath the roof of
foreshadow a future failure to act decisively and heroically, awnings, the pilgrims sleep. Jim, who is on duty, paces the

ship's bridge, his eyes hungrily roaming along the line of the aware of Jim's difficulty. The man's name is Marlow, and in the
unattainable horizon. He does not see "the shadow of the future, he will tell Jim's story "many times, in distant parts of
coming event." He lazily stretches and checks the navigation the world."
chart that has a surface "as level and smooth as the
glimmering surface of the waters." Under the spell of the
night's "high peace of sea and sky," Jim entertains his much- Chapter 5
loved dreams of gallant deeds.
Taking over the story's narration, Marlow explains some
At the end of Jim's watch, the German captain appears on devilish force seemed intent on bringing Jim into his life. He is
deck in pajamas to check the chart and ship's progress. Seen speaking to a small gathering of men who, at some time in the
through Jim's eyes, the man is obscene in his sloppy, sweating future, have settled down after a fine dinner to hear Marlow's
half-nakedness; "the incarnation of everything vile and base tale.
that lurks in the world we love." When the second engineer
comes up from below to complain about the hellish heat down As Marlow continues, he describes his first encounter with Jim
there, an ugly argument breaks out between him and the on the day Captain Gustav shows up in port. The captain
captain. Jim stands by, smugly smiling and "contemplating his "without a look right or left, [passes] within three feet of
own superiority." Abruptly the quarrel is interrupted by a jolt of [Marlow]" trailed by Jim and the Patna's two engineers. A
the ship. The men's quick glances at the sea and stars tell month or so has gone by since the incident aboard the pilgrim
them nothing. All looks serene, yet the ominous jolt has ship, and by this time, the story is well known. Public opinion
shattered the night's sense of safety and serenity. Then a has condemned what has occurred and finds the actions of the
thunderous shudder shakes the ship, and the hull seems "to white officers shocking.
rise a few inches in succession through its whole length." When

Captain Gustav heads directly for the shipmaster's office,
the quivering stops and the thunder ceases, the ship resumes
intending to explain the events from his point of view. He
its journey across the smooth surface of the sea.
meets first with Andy Ruthvel, the principal shipping master,
who is so repulsed by Gustav that he refuses to hear his report
and refers Gustav to Ruthvel's superior, Captain Elliot. What
Chapter 4
transpires behind closed doors is indicated by muffled roars
A month or so later, Jim describes the Patna's collision with an and cursing. Captain Gustav departs in a rage, loudly rejecting
underwater object as happening with the ease of "a snake the idea of answering for himself before a court of inquiry.
crawling over a stick." He does so before an official court of Wedging himself into the compartment of a horse-drawn
inquiry in an Eastern port. Jim stands in the witness box, giving carriage, the captain disappears down the road. No one sees
his version of events to the presiding judge and two assessors, or hears from him again.
naval officers who are assistants to the judge. Jim then

Throughout this performance, Marlow observes Jim, who
describes how he discovered the ship's bow compartment was
stands apart from the two engineers, with his back to the
half-full of water and so determined there must be a big hole
office. Marlow notes Jim's "clean-limbed, clean-faced"
below the waterline. The second engineer in the meantime had
appearance and his nonchalant manner, which seem to
concluded that at any minute the ship could "go down under us
indicate a composed, dependable character. He seems "the
like a lump of lead."
right sort," whom Marlow labels "one of us." This impression is
Jim describes to the court how the captain kept moving here at odds with Jim's reported actions, and in Marlow's opinion,
and there on the bridge, apparently calm. He wishes he could Jim "had no business to look so sound."
convey the sense of an unseen, malevolent force—the

The day before the court inquiry, Marlow chances upon the
"directing spirit of perdition"—that seemed at work during the
chief engineer, who is recovering from a prolonged bout of
horrific affair.
heavy drinking in a hospital. Intrigued by the events
As Jim testifies, a white man among the trial attendees draws surrounding the Patna case, Marlow tries to see what he can
Jim's attention. The man watches Jim attentively, seemingly learn from the engineer. He describes his curiosity as the
unconscious desire to find some redeeming feature of the

story, "some merciful explanation, and some convincing horror behind the appalling face of things." With the gift and
shadow of an excuse." The events have raised doubts about curse of his imagination, Jim recalls every detail, and beyond
whether or not the fixed rules governing men's conduct have things visible and tangible, he recalls the sense of evil directing
the ability to control behavior and counterbalance human the course of events. Facts alone are insufficient to convey this
weakness. truth. Facts alone will build a case guaranteed "to cut him off
from the rest of his kind." Once again, the malevolence of
The engineer tells Marlow he saw the Patna go down, which nature seems to play a role in Jim's woes, catching him off
Marlow knows to be a lie. He then reveals a hidden madness, guard and undermining his readiness to act.
saying of the Patna, "She was full of reptiles. ... Only my eyes
were good enough to see. I am famous for my eyesight." He As Chapter 4 closes, Marlow appears, and the narrative
then continues his observation, saying "Millions of pink toads. ... switches to the after-dinner setting in which Marlow tells the
The ship was full of them." The man becomes increasingly rest of Jim's story. As Marlow continues the narrative, his
agitated by memory of the toads until he breaks out howling, description of Jim outside the shipping master's office reveals
and Marlow quickly departs. The visit has proven the man's Jim is, in part, unchanged by his experience aboard the
testimony at the inquiry would be of no value. Patna—he still holds himself apart from the captain and two
engineers. The physical aspects of the corpulent captain,
sallow-faced second engineer, and lanky, mustached chief
Analysis engineer paint them as likely villains in the sordid incident of
the Patna.
In these three chapters, the event that will change Jim's life
begins to unfold. Crossing the Arabian Sea, the Patna is on a Knowing the story, Marlow dislikes Jim intensely on sight. He
steady course for Perim, an island located at the southern feels Jim has no business looking so innocent, honest, and
entrance to the Red Sea. Like the serenity of the parsonage in sure. He decides he wants to see him squirm "like an impaled
which Jim grew up, the apparent safety and peace of the sea beetle" for his misdeeds and for sullying the honor of his
this night lulls Jim into daydreams. Because he feels secure, he maritime profession. This image of a beetle is interesting since
dares to imagine maritime dangers and heroic exploits. an entomologist named Stein later describes general humanity
However, his books and daydreams have not prepared him for in terms of the common beetles—dull, clumsy, and best suited
life's unpredictability. In his romantic visions, Jim has control of for survival. However, Jim eventually proves to be nothing like
his fate. When manufacturing stories of his heroism, he the beetle.
concludes each with a triumphant outcome. Jim believes his
Once again, Conrad's deep dislike of Germans comes through
life's "secret truth, its hidden realities" are reflected in the
in the revulsion Archie Ruthvel, Captain Elliot, and Marlow feel
"success of his imaginary achievements." He falls under the
for Captain Gustav. The captain's subsequent refusal to face
illusion that he holds this same power in real life.
the inquiry and his disappearance from the port underscore his
As he has earlier during his years on the training ship, Jim cowardly nature.
holds himself apart from the captain and engineers of the
Finally, in Chapter 5, Marlow provides a glimpse of his past as a
Patna. In his romantic self-image, he is morally superior to
training ship captain. He has "turned out youngsters ... for the
these men. The captain sums up everything vile in the world,
Red Flag"—the British merchant service's flag. He fondly
and none of these men "belong to the world of heroic
remembers the boys whom he taught "the craft of the sea" and
adventure." Jim is aware he rubs shoulders with them and
watched grow into men. Jim reminds Marlow of these youths,
breathes the air they breathe, but he is different, and they
but Marlow also sees the dark potential for failure that
cannot touch him. However, he is no better prepared than they
threatens all men whose youthful days resemble Jim's youth.
when the ship collides with something unseen in the night.
Jim's case raises uneasy doubts about the ability of traditional
During the court of inquiry a month or so later, Jim is pained by moral codes of conduct to safely govern men's lives. His
the court's interest in hearing facts only. To fully understand weakness hints at "a destructive fate ready for us all." Marlow,
the events aboard the Patna, he feels the judges must in fact, admits his interest in Jim's case—"the secret motive of
appreciate the malevolent force at work that night—"the true my prying"—is personal. This admission suggests he has faced

a similar moment of weakness and sees in Jim the ghost of unable to go on living.
that past failure. Taken as a whole, this personal profile begins
to explain why Marlow becomes so deeply involved in Jim's life. In a conversation two years later, Brierly's first mate, Mr. Jones,
fills Marlow in on the details of the captain's suicide. The
suicide was carefully planned and executed. Brierly made sure
Chapters 6–7 the ship was safely on course and his much-loved dog kept in
the chart room before he disappeared into the sea. He left two
letters—one to the Company and one to Mr. Jones. Neither
explained why he had jumped. Marlow surmises Captain Brierly
Summary had left the world before "belief in his own splendor" could be
destroyed.
Chapter 6 Marlow accidentally makes Jim's acquaintance on the second

day of the hearing. Upon leaving the courtroom, a man next to
The court inquiry begins as scheduled but not with the goal of Marlow, stumbling over a dog, exclaims, "Look at that wretched
solving how the Patna came to be damaged. That would be cur." Jim, standing nearby, assumes the comment is directed at
impossible. The goal is to discover how the subsequent events him, since, in addition to a mongrel dog, the term "cur" may
occurred. The court ignores the psychological aspect of why refer to a contemptible human. He turns angrily to confront
they occurred as they are interested in only the consequences. Marlow while the actual speaker gets jostled away by the
crowds. The two nearly come to blows before the
However, the judge—Captain Brierly—appears deeply
misunderstanding comes to light. Realizing no insult was
disturbed by the proceedings. Also known as Big Brierly, he is
spoken or intended, Jim is mortified and "blushes to the roots
captain of the Ossa, the top ship of the Blue Star line. Brierly
of his curly hair." Then recovering his composure, he is deeply
has a sterling reputation and has risen steadily in the ranks of
apologetic. "I can't put up with this kind of thing," he explains.
his seafaring profession. He's never been known to make a
Thus thrown together, the two men go to dine at the Malabar
mistake, fail in his duty, or suffer from indecision. In recognition
House, where Marlow is staying.
of his excellent seamanship, he was once awarded a gold
chronometer, a valuable watch-like device used at sea to
determine the longitude of the ship at all times. It is a gift he Chapter 7
prizes.
While dining with Jim, Marlow observes once again that Jim
Brierly has contempt for Jim yet feels tormented by the inquiry.
"[is] one of us." Something in the young man's demeanor stirs
Captain Gustav and the other crewmates have disappeared,
Marlow's sympathies. As talk turns to the trial, Jim states he
leaving Jim to face accusations and punishment alone. "Why
can never go home to face his father afterward. Even so, he is
eat all that dirt?" Brierly demands while speaking privately with
terribly anxious to convince Marlow—and himself—he is not like
Marlow. He then offers to put up some money so Jim can run
the other deserters; he is not "one of them." Jim is desperate
away. Brierly places no value on Jim's courage in facing the
"to save from the fire his idea of what his moral identity should
charges against him, saying, "That sort of courage is of no use
be."
to keep a man straight."
In Marlow, Jim finds someone to whom he can describe events
Barely a week after the Patna inquiry concludes, Brierly jumps
on the Patna in a way the court's facts-only questions prohibit.
overboard while at sea. He leaves his prized gold chronometer
He begins by explaining that the captain, first and second
hanging under the rail by its chain.
engineers, and he were picked up by the Dale Line steamer
Avondale. The Avondale crew initially accepts Captain Gustav's
Marlow tries to piece together why Jim's case would affect
lie to account for their predicament as castaways, but they
Brierly so. The man had exhibited only scorn for Jim during the
soon begin to suspect "something fishy" about the tale. Once
examination. Nevertheless, as Marlow speculates, Brierly may
ashore, Jim spends a fortnight (two weeks) in the Sailors'
have been silently weighing Jim's case against some event in
Home, keeping to himself and awaiting the inquiry.
his professional past. Reaching a verdict of guilty, he was

For a moment, Jim mulls over the chance he has missed to be and men could never act ignobly. Jim's case causes Brierly to
the hero of his visions. Marlow notes that Jim mourns the glory question the certainty of such a world and shakes his "belief in
he failed to obtain instead of regretting what he has lost. He his own splendor."
still believes in his "impossible world of romantic
achievements." Marlow suggests Brierly's outer contempt for Jim masks an
inner "silent inquiry into his own case." In other words, there
Since abandonment of the Patna, Jim has been struggling to may be an undiscovered failing in the captain's past. Forced to
come to terms with his actions. He insists to Marlow his review his failure, Brierly may fear it will somehow come to
evaluation of the ship's damaged bulkhead was correct. light.
Knowing it could have given way to the sea at any minute, his
fear for the crowd of sleeping passengers had been paralyzing. In keeping with this line of thought, Brierly's disdain for Jim's
courage in facing his accusers seems at odds with the
As he listens, Marlow concludes Jim was not afraid of death, captain's upright character. Unlike the other Patna officers, Jim
but "afraid of the emergency." There were only seven lifeboats doesn't run from justice; he faces it alone—a brave and noble
for 800 people. Horrific visions "of panic, the trampling rush, act. However, Brierly mocks Jim's courage as worthless. It has
the pitiful screams, boats swamped" filled Jim's head as he led to the public airing of his crime, which Brierly finds "too
"imagined what would happen perfectly." Standing on the shocking." It would be better if Jim simply runs away. Here,
upper deck and looking at the sleeping pilgrims, Jim believes Brierly seems to have experience with "disappearing" without
nothing can save them. "They were dead [already,]" he says. money, which suggests Brierly has a skeleton in his past that
he fears will catch up with him.
Analysis The manner in which Jim meets Marlow reveals a key aspect
of Jim's character. In his reaction to the comment, "Look at
In these two chapters, more of the Patna incident and its that wretched cur," Jim exposes his deepest doubts about his
aftermath arise, in particular the suicide of Captain Brierly. Also actions during the Patna incident. The single misunderstood
appearing is the chance meeting that brings Marlow into Jim's word "cur" strips him of his good judgment and carefulness.
life. Jim loses his temper. Paradoxically, he has to be honest with
himself, acknowledging the possible truth to hammer Marlow
Like Marlow, many who attend the inquiry hope to learn the into denying it.
"why" of the situation—to glimpse "the strength, the power, the
horror of human emotions" that caused Jim and the other In Chapter 7, as Jim settles into telling Marlow his version of
officers to desert the Patna. However, the inquiry's intent is to events on the Patna, he says, "I would like somebody to
gather only facts, which can never reveal the heart of the understand ... one person at least." This sentiment echoes the
disaster. Marlow likens the inquiry to "tapping with a hammer epigraph: "It is certain my Conviction gains infinitely, the
on an iron box" to find out what's inside. moment another soul will believe in it." Jim deeply desires to be
understood and senses in Marlow a sympathetic listener. He
Captain Brierly, the nautical magistrate at the hearing, needs the older man to know that, while he abandoned the
represents everything Jim aspires to be. Like Jim, he considers ship, he is not "one of them" in the lifeboat. Marlow has already
himself "vastly superior" to others and is "acutely aware of his decided Jim is "one of us," and repeats this idea as he
merits and of his rewards." Unlike Jim, however, he has never describes the setting for their talk and the young man who sits
had a moment of doubt, hesitation, or dishonorable failure to before him. Jim still appears to be "the right sort."
act. His record has been impeccable, and by all accounts, he
has lived up to the moral code of his profession. At this point, exactly what has happened aboard the Patna is
still unclear. The reader knows the ship was somehow
The gold chronometer Brierly carries memorializes his history damaged, Jim and the others abandoned her and were picked
of saving lives at sea and rescuing ships in distress. This up in a lifeboat, and something is wrong with the explanation
heroism is the stuff of Jim's dreams. The device also Captain Gustav offers. In addition, Jim clearly has discovered
represents a world in which a man like Jim would not exist. In something about himself with which he is trying to cope.
this ordered world, desertion of the Patna would never happen, Moreover, his concern is something more than abandoning a

sinking ship. Jim doesn't try to minimize the importance of this By now, the captain and three engineers are lowering a boat.
self-discovery, but, as Marlow remarks, Jim spends a great One attacks Jim, thinking he is a passenger, but Jim fights him
deal of time trying to justify it to the one person—himself—who off. Then Captain Gustav sees Jim and growls, "Ah! it's you.
can appreciate "all its tremendous magnitude." Lend a hand quick." Jim soon realizes the captain means to
save himself and abandon the passengers. Hopeless plans for
At one point, Jim describes his stubborn refusal to speak to shoring up the rusty bulkhead flit through Jim's mind. Recalling
anyone before the hearing. Marlow comments sarcastically on this idea to Marlow, Jim insists "to do a thing like that you must
Jim's success in keeping silent: "So that bulkhead held out believe there is a chance. "He is certain "nobody would have
after all." Marlow uses verbal irony here to draw a parallel believed" and helped him. Alone, he could save nothing and no
between Jim's unbroken silence and the damaged bulkhead on one. "What would you have me do?" he asks Marlow.
the Patna. This comment is the first hint the Patna did not sink
as the crew had predicted. As Marlow listens, he understands Jim is speaking of moral
issues beyond the limitations of the court inquiry. Within
On a more sympathetic note, Marlow points out the curse of himself, Jim is wrestling with an essential question of life and
Jim's imagination as he envisions the dreadful death awaiting engaging Marlow in the process as "an ally, a helper, an
the Patna passengers on that fateful night. Marlow states Jim accomplice." To Marlow, it seems the answer to this question
"imagined what would happen perfectly" and believes even in could "affect mankind's conception of itself."
telling the story, Jim relives the horror of it. As it has twice
before, Jim's imagination has betrayed him. This time, however, Briefly, Marlow halts his tale to relight his cigar and measure
the consequences appear to be far more devastating. the interest level of his audience. Encouraged to continue, he
fleshes out what he had gleaned of Jim's character. He is
In describing the conditions on the ship the night of the crisis, especially amazed at Jim's unaltered belief: "he wouldn't be
Jim says the crew kept Kalashee watch. A Kalashee is a Malay afraid to face anything." In fact, Jim insists confidently, "there
seaman. Kalashee watch is scheduled rotation of watch times was nothing he couldn't meet." He has been preparing since
delegated to a small group instead of to the general crew. This childhood, "expecting the worst, rehearsing his best." He
description of the watch underscores the lack of vigilance and blames his failure to act heroically aboard the Patna on having
complacency of the Patna's crew due to the sea's deceptive been taken unawares and betrayed by everything.
calm and the uneventfulness of the voyage.
Jim scornfully describes his shipmates' struggle to release a
lifeboat though he swears to Marlow he never even glanced at
Chapters 8–9 them. His attention was riveted on the threatening slant of the
ship. Once again, imagination takes hold, and Jim pictures
precisely how it will be to die when the ship goes down.
Summary However, as Marlow reveals, the ship did not go down, as if

some supreme power had intervened. The rusted bulkhead
held, and two Malay helmsmen steadfastly manned the ship's
Chapter 8 wheel. At the trial, the two men testify their trust in the white
men never wavered during the crisis. They believed they would
Marlow resumes Jim's tale of the growing crisis aboard the
not desert the ship in fear but might have had secret reasons
Patna. Desperate to save lives, Jim decides to cut the
for leaving.
restraining ropes on the lifeboats, so, when the ship goes
down, the boats will float free. Running toward the bridge As for Jim, he was determined to go down honorably with the
where the boats are secured, he is stopped by a hand catching ship. He tells Marlow that he hit the first engineer when the
hold of his coat. A pilgrim repeats the word "water" several man pushed him to help get the lifeboat into the sea.
times in his own language, but Jim misunderstands and thinks
the man is going to start trouble. After a brief scuffle, Jim
realizes the man only wants water for his sick child, gives him
his own water bottle, and continues to the bridge.

growing crisis aboard the ship, Jim assumes the word "water"
Chapter 9
means the man is aware of the situation and will soon raise an
While all attention has been on the lifeboat, a squall has alarm. He interprets the man's plea in the context of his own
sneaked up from the southwest. Already its darkness has fearful imaginings rather than in the context of the reality
eaten up a third of the sky. The Patna is still afloat but lying outside his mind. This mistake is similar to his interpretation of
aslant on a sea that is "still as a pond." Once the squall hits, she the "cur" comment outside the courthouse. Jim imagines every
seems sure to go down. white man holds him in contempt and interprets the comment
in the context of that belief. Even after he realizes his mistake
Remembering the reason he first ran to the bridge, Jim quickly and takes Marlow into his confidence, he cannot help bringing
cuts the restraining ropes on the other lifeboats. He then up the "cur" reference—"You think me a cur for standing
stands apart from the others, refusing to help as they try there"—showing how deeply it has worked its way into his
desperately to make their escape. There is an appalling mind.
element of mockery about their repeated attempts and failures
to release the boat. To Jim, it seemed like mocking the As for saving the sleeping passengers, Jim describes his
approaching death and dishonor with comic faces. Marlow dilemma: He could wake them, making them crazy with fright,
notes that these are the things Jim could never explain to the or let them sleep, blissfully unaware of the danger they were in.
court. Either way, he alone could save no one. He pleads with Marlow,
"What would you have done? What would you have me do?"
Preparing for the end, Jim closes his eyes, but then the ship
moves. Her bow dips and then rises slowly with the first storm- Marlow realizes Jim is not speaking to him but debating with
triggered ocean swell. The movement "knocks over" something some "antagonistic and inseparable partner of his
in Jim's mind though his feet remain "glued to the planks." His existence—another possessor of his soul." Jim had made a
eyes fly open, and he sees an engineer named George conscious decision not to join the others, to cling to his moral
collapse from a weak heart. Then Jim is assailed by "a tumult code as they prepare to abandon the ship. Remaining separate
of events and sensations": the grinding jar of the lifeboat at last from men he despises was a valiant effort, yet Jim's instincts
swinging free; a heavier swell lifting the Patna as the squall and the moral code by which he tries to live are at odds with
approaches; panic-stricken screams of the crew as the lifeboat reality. The situation with which he grapples is not black and
drops; the rising yelps of the passengers as they at last white. In listening to Jim, Marlow admits, "I was made to look at
awaken to their danger. Jim stumbles toward the ship's rail the convention that lurks in all truth and on the essential
while calls for George, the dead man, float up from the freed sincerity of falsehood." In other words, truth and falsehood are
lifeboat. The men call for George to jump. With no recollection no longer starkly separate. The reality of Jim's dilemma blurs
of having done so, Jim finds himself in the boat looking up at the line, bringing to light the idea of moral relativism in which
the ship "loom[ing] like a cliff." Jim realizes he has jumped, and circumstances create moral shades of gray.
there is no going back.
Abruptly, this line of thought makes Marlow uncomfortable. He
suddenly distances himself from its examination, saying, "one
has no business really to get interested." A following break in
Analysis Marlow's narration reminds readers he is telling a story to a
gathering of friends.
In these chapters, Jim describes in detail events aboard the
Patna, including his own personal crisis and ultimate life- As the narrative resumes, Jim once again blames forces
changing disgrace. As Marlow listens to Jim, he detects the outside of himself for his inability to act. He claims to have
subtle unsoundness of Jim's character. Jim is overly anxious to been "taken unawares"—echoing his excuse for the training
be believed and for Marlow to know his readiness to meet a ship failure. It seems as if he was the victim of "a malevolent
crisis. practical joke." Even the squall was an infernal thing that had
sneaked up in the night. However, the two Malay helmsmen
Jim's encounter with the pilgrim wanting water for his child
who remain at the ship's wheel provide a different and
demonstrates how Jim's imagination distorts his understanding
unflattering perspective on Jim's performance. The two men
of the world. Having fully imagined the outcome for the

remain at their post, bravely performing their duty without with a boat hook and pulled me over." As a result, Jim has
conscious thought of being heroic. In contrast, Jim holds an become "one of them."
unwavering belief in his potential to be heroic, but his failure to
act reflects a baser quality to his nature. Jim soon perceives the motive behind his mates' friendliness:
when they are picked up by a passing ship, it's important their
The close of Chapter 9 reveals how Jim comes to jump from stories match.
the Patna and the heart of his disgrace. In a bewildering
moment of cowardice, Jim violates the moral code he aspires Throughout the mercilessly hot day, the boat drifts. While the
to live by. In describing it to Marlow, he seems "dumbfounded captain and two engineers sleep under protection of a canvas,
and hurt" by this self-betrayal. Jim's leap becomes the Jim remains at the other end of the craft. To Marlow, he
"everlasting deep hole" out of which he tries to crawl for the asserts he was considering whether or not to die. It would have
rest of his life. been easy to let himself slip over the edge into the sea. He
then anxiously asks, "Don't you believe it?"
Chapters 10–12 Chapter 11

Jim steps back from his story to thank Marlow for listening,
Summary saying, "You don't know what it means to me." Marlow takes a
moment to mention he then glimpses in Jim something of his
young self and of the youthful illusions he thought had been
Chapter 10 extinguished like a flame. In Jim, he sees youth on the brink of
life, full of magnificent expectations.
The squall descends, and, for several minutes, the men in the
lifeboat are "blinded and half-drowned with rain." While some Memory of these youthful illusions leads Marlow to reflect on a
distance separates the boat from the Patna, Jim can still see career at sea, in which illusions swiftly fall short of reality.
the high, yellow gleam of the masthead light. The ship is still Disenchantment soon follows. With this realization comes a
afloat. Then the light disappears and someone says, "She is measure of sympathy for Jim, yet Marlow curses him privately
gone." for contemplating suicide. It was an option Jim could entertain
simply because his life had been saved.
The squall passes, leaving behind blackness and dead silence.
In the boat, nobody stirs for a time. Then all at once, the Marlow continues the story, describing how Jim debates the
survivors begin to discuss their lucky escape, repeating over truth behind his leap. Jim claims a cowardly intention to stay
and over the ship is gone and could not have been saved. No alive was not behind it. It just happened, and he wasn't going to
one mentions the 800 passengers lost with her. leave people thinking otherwise by committing suicide. Then he
further justifies his ignoble desertion by declaring, "There was
In a while, the men become dismayed to discover Jim is not not the thickness of a sheet of paper between the right and
George—the third engineer—as they had assumed in the wrong of this affair." Still, he knows the world will not see
darkness. They become abusive, hating him for being in the things as he does: his jump will be judged as cowardly. By
boat after refusing to help them. They make loud threats facing the world, telling the truth, and living with the
against him, and for the six hours until sunrise, Jim stands in consequences, he will prove he is not afraid. "I knew the truth,"
the bow, clutching the boat's wooden tiller—or lever—to defend he explains, "and I would live it down—alone, with myself."
himself. Ending his life would have solved nothing and would have cut
off a future chance to "find out"—to learn who had judged him
The day dawns calm and clear. The men's anger has
correctly, himself or the world.
dissipated, and they call out for Jim to put down the tiller,
saying they had done him no harm. Jim feels they could have
done no worse to him than make him jump. He has convinced
himself, "it was their doing as plainly as it they had reached up

for facing up to his crime.

Chapter 12
Marlow observes that, by jumping, Jim "had tumbled from a
Jim continues his story as an emotionally weary Marlow listens.
height he could never scale again." This idea refers to Jim's fall
He and the other three crew members are picked up by the
from grace and foreshadows the court's decision to strip Jim
Avondale just before sunset. Jim keeps quiet as the others tell
of his license to serve on a ship. This consequence will close
their agreed-upon story, claiming they had released only one
the door on Jim's romantic dreams of seagoing adventure.
lifeboat when the squall hit and sank the damaged ship.
Once the squall passes and the Patna's lights disappear, Jim's
Later on shore, when they learn the Patna has been towed
imagination again becomes more curse than blessing. It
safely to the port of Aden, Jim is relieved to know the shouts
torments him with appalling visions of suffering and despair
and screams echoing in his head day after day are only
among the ship's doomed passengers. He fights the urge to
imagination. As for the ship's vanishing masthead light, it
slip from the lifeboat, swim back to the spot where the ship
appears the Patna had swung around in the storm, and the
most likely sank, and then allow himself to drown.
change in her position had hidden all lights from the lifeboat.
In an aside, Marlow muses that the deserters' lifeboat, alone
The Patna is rescued by a French gunboat about nine o'clock
and adrift on the ocean, is a metaphor for the "shipwrecks" in
in the morning. Three years after the event Marlow learns the
life that cut people off from the rest of mankind. He sees the
details of the rescue from a French lieutenant he happens to
isolation of the deserters as more wretched than most. Their
meet in Sydney, Australia. Marlow remarks upon how the
act of villainy has cut them off completely from humanity
peculiar nature of the Patna incident keeps it fresh in the minds
because they will be judged by men whose code of conduct
of men years afterward, and how it continues to turn up in
has not been similarly tested. Within the lifeboat, Jim is more
conversation, just as it has on this night as he sits with his
isolated still by the fact he abhors the entire situation. The
friends.
others merely despise him for not helping them. The struggle
The lieutenant is one of two sent aboard the damaged ship to to separate himself morally from these scoundrels will be a
assess the situation. He tells Marlow their arrival stirred the driving force in Jim's life.
passengers, who gathered around them in a mob. Some circled
Jim is keenly aware that aboard the small boat, he could easily
the dead George. "These people," says the lieutenant, "were
slip overboard and be lost without a trace. When he tells
beginning to agitate themselves." Nevertheless, the officers
Marlow of this revelation, he sets the stage for Marlow's
got to work hooking the ship up to the gunboat for towing.
concern when he learns Jim is considering suicide after the
They then stayed aboard for the next 30 hours until the two
court hearing. Jim then asks Marlow, "Don't you believe it?"
vessels reached the nearest English port. The lieutenant
which echoes once again the sentiments of novel's epigraph.
recalls one notable drawback to the task: he had no wine to
Marlow realizes he is now ready to believe anything Jim tells
drink at meals. In the end, "one has done one's possible," he
him.
explains, meaning he performed his duty the best he could.
Contemplating Jim's leap into the lifeboat, Marlow sees that all
Once the Patna is safely delivered to the port authorities, the
the man held dear—all that had given his life meaning—is
passengers are quickly brought ashore, except for George, to
seemingly lost with the ship. In Jim, he glimpses the illusions of
whom the lieutenant refers as "the interesting corpse." Two
youth, especially the glamour of adventurous dreams and the
hours later, the gunboat resumes its original journey.
nobility of heroic ideals. His sympathy is aroused, but at the
same time, he is angry with Jim for failing to live up to his self-
image and potential. Marlow feels cheated of "a splendid
Analysis opportunity to keep up the illusions of my beginnings."
This section details events in the lifeboat after Jim's leap as Finally, the French lieutenant provides the last pieces of the
well as the presumed sinking of the Patna, its actual rescue by puzzle concerning the Patna's rescue. His conversation with
a French gunboat, and the fate of the deserting crew Marlow marks the end of Jim's flight to escape his past.
members. Jim also reveals his state of mind and his reasons

he explains, "but I don't run away." For Jim, it is vital he stay and
Chapters 13–14 accept the consequences.
The two men part after an awkward moment in which Jim is

Summary unsure Marlow can bear to shake his hand. Marlow's gruff
reassurance ends the matter, and Jim disappears into the
night. Marlow listens to him break into a run, sadly aware Jim
Chapter 13 has nowhere to flee to "and he was not yet four-and-twenty."
Having shared what he knows of the Patna incident, the French

lieutenant asks Marlow, "What was there at the bottom of this
Chapter 14
affair?" As Marlow answers, the lieutenant listens passively
Feeling unexpectedly depressed, Marlow makes his way to the
with downcast eyes, and at the end of the tale murmurs,
court the next day to hear the verdict in Jim's case. He sums
"That's it. That is it." Following a pause, he says more clearly,
up Jim's crime as "a breach of faith with the community of
"And so that poor young man ran away along with the others."
mankind" and Jim as a traitor to the moral standards by which
His observation sums up exactly Marlow's diagnosis of Jim's
the community lives. He describes the proceedings as coldly
problem.
vengeful and "infinitely worse than a beheading." The officers
As the lieutenant observes, fear "is always there" in a man's of the Patna are judged guilty of "utter disregard of their plain
heart. It waits for "a certain combination of circumstances" to duty" and "abandoning ... the lives and property confided in
show itself. "There is somewhere a point," he says, "when you their charge." In consequence, their certificates, or licenses to
let go everything. ... And you have got to live with that truth." He serve as officers, are revoked. Only Jim is present to hear and
further explains while man is born a coward, he copes with it bear the shame of the judgment.
by habit and necessity, keeping up a good front for "the eyes
Upon leaving the court, Marlow is approached by a man named
of others." Around him are men no better than he who set a
Chester, a West Australian who has been "anything and
good example. The lieutenant then concludes Jim "had none of
everything a man may be at sea, but a pirate." He is soon joined
these inducements" during events aboard the Patna. He was
by his business partner, an elderly captain named Robinson,
surrounded by cowards.
whose infamous past has earned him the nickname Holy-
For one bright moment, Marlow thinks this idea may relieve Jim Terror Robinson. Chester and his partner have a business
of some guilt in the matter. Then the lieutenant adds, while man scheme and are looking for men desperate enough to join
has no control over the cowardice in his heart, his honor is them. Jim seems ripe for the job. The scheme involves
another matter. When honor is gone, what may life then be gathering bird guano (manure), which can be used for fertilizer.
worth? The guano is to be harvested from the island of Walpole, where
Jim will be in charge of the native workers.
Marlow explains to his gathered friends that at the time of this
conversation, more than three years had elapsed since the Walpole is a hot, arid island of rock surrounded by dangerous
Patna incident. He had just recently run into Jim working as a currents with no place for a ship to safely anchor. Marlow,
water clerk in Samarang, a port city on the coast of Java. Jim is certain that working conditions would be dreadful, pictures Jim
working for De Jongh, a ship's chandler and Marlow's friend. "perched on a shadowless rock, up to his knees in guano."
Worse still, he knows Chester and his partner are far from
The French lieutenant goes his own way, leaving Marlow to sit trustworthy. When Chester asks Marlow to talk Jim into joining
and think about his evening with Jim at the Malabar House their scheme, Marlow protects Jim by indignantly refusing.
three years previously. Knowing Jim would hear the court's
verdict the following day, Marlow is moved to suggest to him
Brierly's plan of escape. Jim refuses and, in fact, is eager to Analysis
face "the ceremony of execution." The idea of "clearing out"
like the others is repugnant to him. "I may have jumped ship," Together, these chapters highlight what Jim has lost by

choosing life over honor and provide a bleak picture of the utterly aimless piece of devilry" aimed at destroying Jim. He
future he faces. describes things of the sea seemingly intent on causing
mischief—maritime ghouls "on the prowl to kill ships in the
Marlow's conversation with the French lieutenant shows the dark." It is likely Jim would have agreed with Marlow's
latter to be a seasoned professional, too, and his scars prove assessment. Time and again, he feels certain dark forces in the
his devotion to duty. The lieutenant has served long and well, universe have conspired to catch him unaware and bring about
but without particular note, and will retire without fanfare. Still, his doom.
he is a steady, trustworthy sort with whom Marlow feels he can
share Jim's dark secret. Upon hearing the story, the lieutenant Finally, the character of Chester provides yet another
pinpoints the essence of Jim's disgrace: he ran away with the perspective on Jim. Like Jim, Chester is a dreamer. However,
others. his dreams are unprincipled. He is always looking for the next
scheme and is not above some shady dealing. Marlow
The French lieutenant expresses sympathy for any individual suspects Chester's latest guano scheme is little more than a
who experiences fear. He says there is a point for even the pipe dream, and the ship he claims to have purchased is only
bravest man when fear comes and "you let everything go." the ghost of a steamer. Chester judges Jim as damaged goods
Though some may believe such a point does not exist for them, and an excellent candidate for his plan. However, he
"there is fear all the same—fear of themselves." In other words, indignantly asks Marlow why Jim should take the loss of his
these men fear an undetected weakness. The lieutenant license to heart—it's only a bit of "ass's skin," or parchment. By
seems to know what he talking about. He begins to share a Chester's own questionable moral code, Jim is overreacting.
personal story but reconsiders and breaks off. The truth of his Personally, he is indifferent to Jim's crime. Interestingly, like
observations point back to Captain Brierly and adds another Brierly or Marlow, Chester belongs to the world that Jim feels
layer to the mystery of the impeccable captain's suicide. Did he cannot forgive or forget his failure. Chester is the first of many
fear himself? Did he see in Jim the potential for failure? who will be indifferent or ready to forgive, yet Jim's inability to
forgive himself will blind him to their mercy.
Hearing Jim's version of the Patna story from Marlow, the
French lieutenant concludes that, surrounded by cowards, Jim
could not help giving in to his fear. However, in his view, Jim's
moment of fear is not the issue. "Man is born a coward," he Chapters 15–18
says and explains this very human impulse is held in check by
habit, necessity, or the example of others. Jim's situation was
devoid of those influences of training and discipline, leaving Summary
him vulnerable to failure. "One does not die ... of being afraid,"
he observes. On the other hand, the shame of losing one's
honor may be too much to overcome, and Jim chooses life Chapter 15
over honor. For this choice, the lieutenant can offer Marlow no
advice, for he is an honorable man and, lacking Jim's In a while, Marlow finds Jim down at the waterside, "leaning
imagination, cannot conceive of acting dishonorably. over the parapet of the quay," staring down into the rippling
depths. Startled by Marlow's sudden presence, Jim stammers,
Marlow next recalls Jim's rejection of Brierly's plan to run away "I was looking." Sensing Jim's dangerous mood, Marlow takes
from the court inquiry. Marlow admits it is an ignoble plan, him back to his room where he can fight his way clear of utter
made more so by Jim's refusal to engage in it. He is resolved to hopelessness "with all possible privacy." Marlow occupies
face the consequences of his actions and inaction during the himself with writing letters while Jim stands motionless, facing
Patna incident. "I may have jumped," he tells Marlow, "but I the glass door to the upstairs verandah. In the silence of the
don't run away." Jim is still guided by the moral sense he has room, Marlow's own anxiety and irritation builds. He senses
managed to retain. how deeply Jim feels the loss of his license and all it signifies.
As expected, the court strips Jim of his officer's license. As Suddenly, Jim utters a low sound "wrung from a wracked body,
Marlow listens to the proceeding, he forms the opinion there from a weary soul." He pushes through the glass door and
was a particular malevolence behind the Patna's collision; "an

stands facing the night's darkness "on the brink of a vast Marlow persists and impresses on Jim that he is willing to trust
obscurity, like a lonely figure by the shore of a somber and him, which should mean a great deal. In fact, he has already
hopeless ocean." From his stillness, Marlow senses Jim has prepared a letter recommending Jim in the highest terms to an
lost the battle with himself. old friend who might employ him. "I make myself unreservedly
responsible for you," he tells Jim. Marlow then asks him to think
This scene is hard for Marlow to witness, knowing what it how this action reflects on his regard for Jim.
means. He half wishes he could be done with Jim, that the only
thing left to do was to pay for his funeral. "To bury him," Marlow The effect on Jim is transformative. Overwhelmed with
explains, "would have been such an easy kindness." He toys renewed hope, Jim gratefully exclaims, "Jove! You have helped
with and rejects the idea of telling Jim of Chester's offer. He me." Marlow is almost frightened by how much significance Jim
knows whatever action he takes will have long-term effects, attaches to his simple act of providing "the means to carry on
and there is nothing but himself between Jim and the dark decently the serious business of life." Jim feels he has been
ocean. handed a clean slate—a chance to make good. With the letter
in hand, he walks out into the night with "the unhesitating tread
of a man walking in broad daylight."
Chapter 16
Marlow is left behind, saddened by Jim's elation. While Jim
As the chapter opens, Marlow alludes to a time in the future believes he's been given a clean slate upon which to write his
when Jim will be "loved, trusted, and admired" and his desires destiny, Marlow believes the destiny is predetermined, "graven
and dreams will be realized. Jim's ability to "drink deep" from in imperishable characters upon the face of a rock."
life's "golden cup" will eventually earn him the honor and
happiness he seeks. Still, Marlow is troubled by Jim's current
fixation on his disgrace when it is his guilt that really matters. Chapter 18
He is suffering from the consequences of his failure, not the
failure itself. Marlow is certain this latter imperfection is Six months later, Marlow receives a letter from his old friend,
something Jim will never fully face. Mr. Denver, praising Jim's virtues. Owner of a rice mill, Mr.
Denver is a bit of an eccentric and a recluse, but he has taken
A sudden storm rolls in, and Jim retreats back into the room. a liking to Jim and greatly enjoys his company. He also finds
Tensely, Marlow waits to hear what Jim will say. To Marlow's Jim's youthfulness refreshing and has invited him to stay in his
relief, Jim asks for a cigarette and then says simply of his house and join him at meals. He mentions he suspects Jim has
struggle, "That's over." Thanking Marlow for his kindness, Jim something dark in his past, and someday he will have to ask
says quietly now he is nothing but a vagabond, yet in time, he's but not too soon. He wants to benefit from Jim's presence a
bound to have a chance to get back what he has lost. little longer.
Needing a friend but uncertain of Marlow's feelings, Jim Marlow is greatly pleased by the letter and the news Jim is
prepares to leave. Marlow is fearful of letting him "slip away "shaping so well." It comes as a shock some time later when
into the darkness." Nevertheless, Jim is nearly out the door another letter from Mr. Denver states Jim has abruptly left his
before Marlow can persuade him to stay. employment and disappeared. A subsequent letter, this from
Jim, explains the Patna's second engineer showed up at the
mill looking for work. Jim could not bear having his secret being
Chapter 17 revealed to Mr. Denver, who had become "more like a father"
to him than an employer.
The violence of the rainstorm plays a helpful role in detaining
Jim. He and Marlow talk as the downpour gradually subsides. A similar story comes next from the ship's chandler firm of
Marlow questions Jim on his plans for the future, knowing how Egström & Blake, where Jim has been working as a water clerk
quickly poverty, ruin, and despair can close in on a man who is based on a referral from Marlow. When the Patna incident
homeless and friendless. When Marlow states the wish to help comes up in casual conversation, Jim abruptly resigns his
him, Jim replies simply, "You can't," as if the kind of help he position and disappears.
needs is beyond Marlow's ability to understand. However,

Jim is certain if his respected employers, Egström or Blake, The rising storm gives Marlow time to talk Jim into staying. For
learn of his involvement in the incident, they will not want him once, the forces of the universe seem to have a benevolent
around. However, learning this belief later from Marlow, purpose. Marlow then is able to throw Jim a lifeline—an offer to
Egström responds, "And who the devil cares about that?" help him find work. With his noble dreams, aspirations, and
future in shambles, Jim's life is saved literally by an idea: the
idea of second chance. Jim now sets his sights on a new
Analysis goal—to prove himself and to prove Marlow's help is not
wasted or undeserved.
These chapters reveal how Marlow comes to take
responsibility for Jim. They also relate Jim's struggle to accept The contrast between Jim's elation and Marlow's gloomy
his new status as a "seaman exiled from the sea" and establish opinion of Jim's future points to a key question explored in the
his pattern of discovery-and-flight from port to port as the novel. Who or what determines a person's fate? Judging from
Patna scandal pursues him. the consequences of Jim's conduct during the Patna incident, a
person's fate is governed by commonly held beliefs and shared
With responsibility comes concern for Jim's well-being. moral codes of behavior. In striving to adhere to those
Something about Jim's bearing as he peers into the ocean behavioral codes, the individual is driven toward a
below the quay sets off alarms for Marlow. Jim seems to be predetermined destiny. Jim's joy at being handed a second
contemplating suicide. For Jim, his lost license is more than "a chance indicates he believes he is in control of his fate and can
bit of ass's skin," as Chester describes it, and its loss is more still attain his long desired romantic ideals.
than "an empty formality." The license represents the life Jim
has dreamed of; its loss represents being stripped of his As Jim settles into his new life, he finds he is still haunted by
dreams as well as his honor. Jim can never regard the court's the Patna incident. He begins a pattern of discovery-and-flight
judgment with indifference as Chester would. that will continue for the next three years. However, as Mr.
Denver and Mr. Egström demonstrate, Jim is far more
Sensing all of this loss, Marlow talks Jim into returning to his consumed with his failure than are others. Before Jim's abrupt
room, where he can come to terms with things in private. Once departure, Mr. Denver suspects some dark deed in Jim's past
more, Marlow expresses mixed feelings as he witnesses the but wisely recognizes he, too, has "sinned" in his time, so he
painful battle. His fear and sympathy for Jim are mixed with the does not pry.
wish for the whole thing to be over so he could just bury Jim.
Jim is harder on himself than anyone else is likely to be. They
At this point, Marlow makes his fateful decision to help Jim if see his worth when he cannot see it for himself. In Jim's self-
he can. Once and for all, he rejects the idea of giving Jim up to judgment, being a valued employee and well-liked by others
a man like Chester, knowing it would confirm all is lost and put cannot cancel out the disgrace of his failure. He is certain once
an end to him. people know the truth they will no longer want him. In the case
of Mr. Denver, an unexpected emotional attachment makes
As if to reassure his listening audience and the reader, Marlow
Jim's departure more difficult, painful, and necessary. Mr.
states a time will come when Jim is loved, trusted, and a
Denver has become a surrogate father to Jim, treating him like
legend. At the moment, however, Jim is on the brink of suicide.
a favored son. Jim cannot bear to disappoint him any more
His struggle to accept "the consequences of his failure"—not
than he could bear to disappoint his real father.
his guilt, but his disgrace—is agonizing. It pushes him to the
edge, but to his credit, he finds his way back from the brink. He
finds something to live for in the hope of recovering all he has
lost.
Chapters 19–20
Even so, he feels tainted and distrusts Marlow's motives. He
will allow no one to throw the shame of the court verdict back Summary
at him. Therefore, it seems best to avoid the company of those
who know. This action foreshadows Jim's behavior when he
tries to settle down and work in anonymity.

unbearable to him." His days of adventure are over. However,

Chapter 19
he starts life afresh and, in time, acquires a considerable
To his circle of friends, Marlow explains these two incidents fortune as a trader. Still, his passion for collecting and
represent Jim's "manner of dealing with himself under the new cataloging beetles and butterflies remains.
conditions of his life." Jim becomes known for his eccentric
Stein explains to Marlow a butterfly is a "masterpiece of
habit of moving on suddenly from job to job. However, the
Nature—the great artist." In its fragility and strength, its
"nature of Jim's burden" also becomes well known. This fact
harmony with Nature, the butterfly represents perfect balance
eventually leads to an unfortunate barroom brawl in Bangkok
in the universe. "Man," he says, "is amazing, but he is not a
with a Dutch officer in service to the King of Siam. Afterward,
masterpiece." He is imperfect and out of harmony with nature,
Jim is left with few options for future employment.
going where he is not wanted and making a lot of noise about
Marlow can see Jim is in serious danger of becoming it. Stein tells the tale of the day he caught the exquisite
unemployable. He places him next with a ship's chandler butterfly he now examines and concludes, on that day, he held
named De Jongh but soon becomes aware of Jim's deep something dreamed of in his hands. He then had everything he
dissatisfaction with the work. Jim himself can see no remedy ever desired: wife, child, friendship, youth, and strength.
for it. He is looking for an opportunity to prove his worth—not Suddenly, with the ease of a match being blown out, all of it
just to "earn his bread"—and working as a water clerk will not was gone.
supply it.
Conversation turns to Jim and Marlow's concerns. Upon
At a loss as to how to help Jim further, Marlow turns to his hearing the whole tale, from the Patna to the present, Stein
friend, Stein, the wealthy, respectable owner of a large inter- immediately pinpoints the underlying issue. "He is a romantic,"
island trading company. An adventurer and merchant, Stein is says Stein, and then declares one thing alone can save Jim
also a renowned entomologist, a person who studies insects. from himself: learning how to live as he is. Jim's dreams for
He is famous for his collections of beetles and butterflies. himself are so idealized as to be unattainable. Painful reality will
Marlow describes him as "one of the most trustworthy men I always intrude, robbing him of his illusions. "It is not good for
[have] ever known." He judges Stein to be extremely capable you," says Stein, "to find you cannot make your dream come
of advising him on Jim's difficulties as well as his own. true." Stein advises the best thing will be for Jim to immerse
himself in his dream—this thing that will destroy him if he tries
to escape it—and to follow it to the end.
Chapter 20
Stein suggests he and Marlow should find a practical remedy
Later that evening, Marlow visits Stein in his study, where Stein for Jim's problem.
is examining a particularly rare and beautiful butterfly
specimen. Marlow muses over Stein's long and interesting
history, which begins in Bavaria. In 1848, when Stein is 22, he is Analysis
forced to flee his homeland after his involvement in a failed
Jim is going through the final phase of his life in the outer world
revolutionary movement. He finds work as an assistant for a
where he is known. He is losing his battle to escape the shame
Dutch naturalist collecting insects and birds in the Indonesian
of his past. Settling down in anonymity and starting over is
Archipelago. Four years later, Stein goes to work for an old
increasingly impossible. Witnessing Jim's struggle, Marlow
Scotsman on the island of Celebes and subsequently inherits
thinks back to the recommendation sourly offered by Captain
the man's prosperous trading business. During a period of
Brierly during the court inquiry: "Let him creep 20 feet
political unrest on the island, Stein allies himself with
underground and stay there." Marlow cannot say if this would
Mohammed Bonso, the youngest son of the queen. Together,
be any better than "waiting above ground for the impossible."
over the next eight years, they engage in heroic exploits and
Confounded by the dilemma, he decides to turn to Stein.
have many wonderful adventures. During this time, Stein
marries Bonso's sister, and they have a daughter. When Bonso
Conrad draws inspiration for the character of Stein from Alfred
is assassinated and Stein's wife and daughter die of fever,
Russel Wallace, a British naturalist and author of The Malay
Stein leaves the country which "cruel loss had made

Archipelago, one of Conrad's favorite reference books. Stein is he envisions when he dreams. Interestingly, Stein's bronze,
much like Jim in appearance and nature—tall, with slightly white, and yellow prize butterfly bears much the same
stooped posture, an innocent smile, and a courageous, coloration as Jim, who is bronzed by the sun, is always clothed
adventurous spirit. However, unlike Jim, his physical courage is in white, and has golden yellow hair. Stein's prize specimen is
not self-conscious or forced; it is natural, not adopted. Stein preserved in its perfection by death. Jim will be transfigured by
does not try to prove himself; he simply is. death into the romantic perfection he pursues.
Like Brierly, Stein has lived the life Jim envisions for himself, full
of adventure and heroics. Stein is also a romantic, a dreamer,
possessing ideals he will fight for. He has followed the strange
Chapters 21–23
path of his life "without faltering ... without shame or regret."
Moreover, he knows the pain of losing those dreams: "the heart
pain—the world pain." He also realizes "it is not good for you to
Summary
find you cannot make your dream come true."
By virtue of his nature, Stein understands Jim perfectly. They Chapter 21

are not so different. Jim desires to fulfill his romantic ideals, to
live up to the standards he has set for himself. As Stein Marlow asks his listening friends if they have heard of Patusan.
explains to Marlow, Jim sees himself as a very fine fellow, yet As they have not, he explains it is a place that is known in the
there is a rift between his heroic self-image and his human market city of Batavia, on the coast of Java, and to men in the
imperfections. Knowledge of this rift is the source of "the heart mercantile business. Still, even these people have never been
pain—the world pain" for Jim. there. Stein arranges to send Jim to this remote island nation,
knowing it will allow him to leave behind "his earthly failings." It
For the romantic, there is no escaping the pain of this will provide the clean slate he needs—"a totally new set of
condition. The dreamer cannot survive the loss of his dreams. conditions for his imaginative faculty to work upon."
The trick, according to Stein, "is not how to get cured," but
"how to live" with the condition. He advises immersion in "the Marlow and Stein meet on the morning following their evening
destructive element." That destructive element is the life of talk. In an offhand remark, Marlow repeats Captain Brierly's
dreams into which each person is born. "A man that is born recommendation: Jim should "creep 20 feet underground and
falls into a dream," he explains to Marlow, is "like a man who stay there." Stein replies, "This could be done," and suggests
falls into the sea." Engulfed by the dream, the man will die if he Patusan. Stein's trading post on the island is currently run by
fights to free himself from it—"to climb into the air." If he strikes an agent named Cornelius, from the Portuguese colony of
out with hands and feet—if he swims—the dream, like the deep Malacca. However, his performance has been unsatisfactory,
sea, will uphold him. In Stein's opinion, Jim must swim, must and Jim could replace him.
pursue his dreams, and not fight to escape them.
The chief settlement on the island is also named Patusan and
Marlow questions whether Jim is truly a romantic, to which lies up a river 40 miles from the sea. By the time Marlow visits,
Stein replies it is evident in the pain Jim's imperfections bring Jim is living there in a fine native-style house and has settled
him. "What is it that by inward pain makes him know himself," wonderfully into his new life. This situation pleases Marlow,
Stein asks Marlow. He then expands this proof to include Jim's who intends to go home soon and wants to leave with a clear
effect on others. "What is it that for you and me makes conscience knowing he has done all he can for Jim. He is, after
him—exist?" In other words, Jim is an expression of the all, "one of us."
idealistic notions he holds dear, and those notions are what
Marlow tells his listening friends his "last words about Jim shall
others see and feel; they are the essence of the man.
be few." He affirms Jim achieves his desired greatness, though
Finally, in Stein's opinion, the butterfly is nature's masterpiece, he fears that in the telling, its intensity and glamour will be
flawless and living in harmony with the world. In this way, the diminished. Marlow distrusts his friends' imaginative ability to
butterfly represents a romantic perfection man can never be amazed.
achieve. Unlike the butterfly, he can never be the fine specimen

As Jim shares this information with Marlow, his admiration for

Chapter 22
Stein is apparent. Stein has led a life of adventure, once saved
In Patusan, utterly isolated from the outside world, Jim pursues a man's life and earned his eternal friendship, and now has
his heroic dreams, triumphantly winning love, honor, and men's granted Jim the fresh start he has been dreaming of. It's a
trust. However, he is not the first to chase a dream and find "magnificent chance" to "slam the door" on the past.
glory there. In the 17th century, Patusan was the destination of
For Marlow, Jim's elation is unsettling: "not a proper frame of
merchant-adventurers willing to risk disease, hunger, despair,
mind to approach any undertaking." His reproach, however,
and even death to obtain her valuable pepper. When the
leads Jim to retort that Marlow's doubts stem from knowing
pepper trade fell off, Patusan fell back into obscurity.
and remembering his past. It is no wonder, Jim asserts, "he
At the time of Jim's arrival, the island is under the distant rule wanted to get out, meant to get out, meant to stay out." He
of a sultan who Stein describes as "an imbecile youth" wants to forget everything and everyone—except Marlow.
surrounded by a number of greedy, dishonest uncles. The
Suddenly, Jim realizes he must pack; his ship is leaving for
worst of these is Rajah Allang, the governor of the river. He is
Patusan in just two hours. Marlow supplies him with a
an evil, dried-up, opium addict who, in later years, receives
watertight tin trunk, a revolver, and two boxes of cartridges.
Marlow and Jim on a ceremonial visit in a filthy, decrepit hall.
Stein's brigantine (a two-masted vessel) will take Jim to the
The hall is packed with the rajah's downtrodden subjects, dark-
village of Batu Kring but no further. The town of Patusan is
faced native men dressed in rags. Among them, fair-haired and
about 30 miles upriver from there, but recent attacks on
in his fine, white apparel, Jim appears like "a creature not only
vessels have made river travel quite dangerous. In fact, the
of another kind but of another essence."
ship's half-caste captain holds out little hope for Jim's survival
Marlow recalls Jim's reaction when he first hears Stein and if he continues up the river, judging him already "a corpse."
Marlow's Patusan scheme. In his joy and gratitude, he becomes
At the ship, the two men say goodbye. As Marlow is struck by
clumsily inarticulate though sincere and boyishly eager to
the reality of the dangers Jim now faces, his resentment
accept the proffered chance. Marlow assures him the thanks
regarding the man's fate vanishes. He urges Jim to take care
for this good turn really should go to an old Scot who died long
and not to take any risks, to which Jim replies he will not—he
ago. Stein is simply passing on to Jim "the help he had received
means to endure—and "wouldn't spoil such a magnificent
in his own young days." The success or failure of this
chance!"
arrangement—this "experiment"—will be Jim's responsibility.
For this reason, Marlow stresses, there is every chance for Jim Then the brigantine is pulling away, and Jim calls back to
to make life intolerable for himself. He will be going into a Marlow, "You—shall—hear—of—me." Like a bad omen, the little
wilderness; Marlow remarks, Jim had shown a desire to half-caste captain appears at Jim's side and raises his arm "as
disappear from the world—"to go out and shut the door after if for a downward thrust."
him." Patusan is just the place for this. Marlow avows, "It would
be for the outside world as though he had never existed."
Analysis
Chapter 23 These chapters set the stage for the second half of Jim's
story, establishing the history of Patusan, current conditions on
Jim returns the next morning from his meeting with Stein full of
the island, and the danger of Jim's venture. They also provide a
enthusiasm for the upcoming venture. In his pocket is a letter
tantalizing glimpse of Jim's success.
for Cornelius, whom he is replacing. Stein also has given Jim a
silver ring to present to Doramin—one of the principal natives. Marlow notes Stein apparently knows more than most about
He is an old friend, a "war-comrade" who owes his life to Stein. Patusan. He has no doubt Stein has been to the remote island.
When the two parted, Doramin gave Stein the ring as a token He has visited most places in the Archipelago "in the original
of eternal friendship. The ring will serve as Jim's introduction to dusk of their being, before light ... had been carried into them
Doramin and ensure he is well-treated. More importantly to for the sake of better morality and ... greater profit." This
Jim, it means he will have a friend. descriptive comment alludes to the expansion of European

countries into the East Indies. The objective was to spread the sure his hands are clean with regard to Jim. Here again,
benefits of civilization and morality as well as to make a Marlow's assessment of his motives indicates his shifting,
handsome profit. ambivalent feelings toward Jim and his troubles.
In describing the trade history of Patusan, Conrad offers Nevertheless, at Jim's moment of departure for the island,
insight into his view of the merchant-adventurers who in Marlow reveals his heart is "freed from that dull resentment
bygone days risked everything "for a slender reward." He which had existed side by side with interest in" Jim's fate. He is
describes how they defied death, dared to sail unknown seas, suddenly uneasy about that fate. Patusan is a wilderness. The
chanced hunger and disease, and "left their bones to lie journey will be dangerous, and Jim is on his own. The
bleaching on distant shores." More than "agents of trade," they brigantine's captain has added his own dire predictions to
became instruments of exploration, pioneers "pushing out into Marlow's worry, describing Jim as already "a corpse." These
the unknown" and "ready for the wonderful." hints of the "unwholesome situation" in Patusan foreshadow
events Marlow soon will relate.
These men have responded to the "spirit of the land" that rules
"great enterprises"—the ideals calling men to adventure and
acts of courage and heroism. Stories like theirs have shaped
Jim's dreams, but he has fallen short of the ideals and become
Chapters 24–27
"a straggler," as Marlow terms it. Lagging behind the rest, Jim
is struggling to catch up, yearning to take "his humble place in
the ranks" of his heroes.
Summary
While weighing the benefits of sending Jim to Patusan, Stein
makes a mysterious comment about the Dutch-Malay wife of Chapter 24
the current trading post agent, Cornelius. "And the woman is
dead now," he remarks cryptically. Why this should matter, Marlow's only visit to Patusan comes two years after Jim takes
Marlow can only surmise. He knows the woman was once wife over the trading post. Stopping at the fishing village of Batu
to a European who then abandoned her and their daughter. Kring, he learns Jim's arrival initially caused great anxiety. Jim
While it's hard for him to believe Stein could be that European, was the first white man many had ever seen, and his inflexible
it remains a possibility. The daughter, now stepchild to demands to be taken upriver to Patusan were alarming. Such a
Cornelius, will play a vital role in Jim's new life and success. thing was not done without permission of the rajah, and they
couldn't imagine the punishment of doing so without it. Later,
Upon meeting Stein, Jim recognizes in him all the qualities he Jim's arrival would be seen as a blessing, and he would come
admires. He romanticizes his benefactor and attributes to him to be known as Tuan (Lord) Jim. However, at the time, they
only the highest motives and finest characteristics of a hero. hatched a plot out of fear and suspicion to deliver Jim into the
Jim is deeply grateful for the chance Stein has offered, which hands of the corrupt rajah.
he labels "magnificent," and is determined to use well. Marlow
drops several hints that Jim succeeds while making clear that Jim starts upriver in a wobbly, leaky canoe manned by three
success was far from easy. Jim has been given the chance he natives from the village. He sits hour after hour on the tin trunk
has been dreaming of but at the cost of real danger. with the revolver—unloaded—in his lap. Then, unexpectedly, the
boatmen bank the canoe and run off, leaving Jim to face a
Marlow confides to his audience his primary goal in dropping crowd of armed men. Defenseless, Jim calmly asks them to
Jim into Patusan was "to dispose of him" before going home to explain the problem and learns the rajah wants to see him.
England. He wanted to return with a clear conscience, knowing
he had done everything possible for Jim. In his view, when Recalling these events for the visiting Marlow, Jim states if he
going home, individuals must render a full account of their had been killed then, "it is this place that would have been the
activities while away. Only then can they receive their just loser." The two men relax outside Jim's house, watching the
rewards of kinship, love, opportunities, and pleasures that moon ascend above the chasm between Patusan's twin hills
home represents. Figuratively speaking, individuals' hands like a "spirit out of a grave." The villagers' houses are "black
must be clean to collect their rewards. Marlow wants to be masses of shadows" lining the still river. Within those houses,

Jim confides, he has the trust of every man, woman, and child.
Chapter 26
On Patusan, Jim has found what he has been
In Jim's opinion, Doramin is "one of the most remarkable men
seeking—conquests, trust, fame, friendship, and love. Because
of his race" he has ever seen. He is monumental in size with
he has proved himself so worthy, Marlow has come with a
proud eyes and a dignified bearing. He speaks in a powerful
message from his employer. Stein intends to turn over the
murmur, never raising his voice, and moves ponderously, like
Patusan house and stock of trading goods entirely to Jim.
the physical expression of "a mighty deliberate force." His wife,
Deeply moved, Jim stammers out his gratitude for the healing
in contrast, is "light, delicate, spare, quick," and motherly. Late
work which had restored his confidence.
in life, they had a son, "a most distinguished youth," who soon
becomes Jim's trusted friend. His name is Dain Waris.
Chapter 25 Having found Doramin, produced the ring, and been welcomed
into the heart of the Bugis community, Jim sees clearly how the
On the ceremonial visit by Jim and Marlow to the filthy hall of
islanders' unrest can be settled. With a great show of
Rajah Allang, Jim points out it was here he was imprisoned
leadership, Jim devises a plan and convinces Doramin and his
after his canoe ride up the river. The rajah held him in the
people it can succeed. Dain Waris, the first to believe in the
courtyard for three days while he and his counselors debated
plan, not only trusts Jim but understands him.
what the white man's sudden appearance meant and what to
do with him. To continue the story, Jim takes Marlow up one of the twin
summits that dominate Patusan's landscape. "It all started
This indecision saves Jim from immediate death, and on the
here," he says. Across the way, on the opposite peak, are the
third day, he breaks from his prison, successfully jumping the
charred remains of Sherif Ali's camp—the target of Jim's plan,
stockade wall. However, he flounders in a nearby muddy creek
which had been to destroy it. Using rope cables, Jim explains, a
and is sure he is done for. Firm higher ground is about six feet
war party "pulled and shoved and sweated" to haul two rusty
away. Finally, with a supreme effort, he wriggles free of the
brass cannons up the hillside. They were unmolested by Sherif
slime and, covered head to toe in mud, runs "like a hunted
Ali, who did not perceive his camp to be in any danger from the
animal" through the nearby village. The villagers scatter,
Bugis.
terrified by the sight of Jim as he swerves between two
houses, clambers over a barricade, bursts through a fence, and
blunders up a path "into the arms of several startled men." He
Chapter 27
gasps out, "Doramin! Doramin!" before he collapses. When Jim
is brought before Doramin, he produces the ring. The next Jim's successful attack on Sherif Ali's stronghold makes him an
thing Jim knows, the chief's people are barricading the gate island legend "gifted ... with supernatural powers." The people
against Rajah Allang's men and someone is pouring water trust him unconditionally, and his word decides everything. On
down his throat. He is safe. the day of the attack, once the cannons are in position, the war
party waits in hiding on the hillside below the stockade. At
Jim describes Doramin as "the chief of the second power in
sunrise, the guns go off simultaneously, and the stockade
Patusan." His people, the Bugis, are immigrants from Celebes
fence explodes into splinters. The war party storms the
and, as a group, oppose the rajah. Their disputes are over
stronghold with Jim leading and Dain Waris close behind,
trade, and the rajah burns villages and kills people who dare
followed by Jim's servant, Tamb' Itam. There is "a hot five
trade with anyone but him. The only thing curbing the rajah's
minutes of hand-to-hand inside the stockade," and then
greed and cruelty is his fear of the organized power of the
someone sets a fire that quickly spreads, forcing everyone to
Bugis men. Adding to the conflict is a third faction on the island
flee.
led by a wandering Arab half-breed named Sherif Ali. He has
incited tribes from Patusan's interior to rise up and lay waste to The rout of Sherif Ali and his men is complete. Dain Waris
the open country. Neither Rajah Allang nor Doramin can leads the pursuit while the villagers of Patusan celebrate the
fathom whose holding Sherif Ali most hopes to plunder. He is victory with gongs and drums. For Jim, the moment is summed
"like a hawk over a poultry yard," biding his time. up in the word "immense." While a victory for the villagers, it is

also a personal triumph. He has been decisive and has stood forest, the secular gloom, the old mankind." On this remote
firm, has earned the trust of men and regained belief in himself, island just emerging "from the original dusk" of its being, he is a
and has achieved it all on his own. Marlow notes this "total and symbol of power and timeless virtues. Nevertheless, the
utter isolation" adds to his stature, as "there was nothing within memory of Jim's weakness foreshadows future problems like
sight to compare him with." Word of his greatness does not "a shadow in the light."
spread through brash and brazen trumpeting, but quietly "with
wonder and mystery on the lips of whispering men." In describing the day of the battle, Jim mentions Doramin, who
is seated on the hillside in an armchair, "a pair of immense
flintlock pistols on his knees." These pistols were a gift from
Analysis Stein in exchange for the ring, and they once belonged to
Alexander McNeil, the old Scotsman who gave Stein his
Beginning with Jim's arrival in Patusan, the chronology of business start. Here their appearance foreshadows tragedy, as
events is more easily followed, and Jim's tale becomes more one of them will put an end to Jim's life.
like the adventure stories he treasures. These chapters cover
After the battle, the resounding success of Jim's plan earns
Jim's imprisonment by Rajah Allang, his escape to Doramin's
him the trust of the people of Patusan. The villagers revere him
encampment, the alliance with the Bugis chief, and the
and "his word decide[s] everything." The disgraced first mate
planning and execution of a daring plan to defeat Sherif Ali.
of the Patna is now the venerated Tuan Jim.
Marlow hears the tale start-to-finish nearly two years later
when Jim is firmly established in his new life on Patusan.
Retelling it, Marlow begins with Jim's trip up the river in the Chapters 28–30
leaky dugout. In front of Jim stands the fresh start, the clean
slate, he has been looking for. The future is his to write. Marlow
describes this opportunity in terms of a "veiled Eastern bride" Summary
riding at his side in the canoe. What she looks like is a mystery
to be discovered by the groom who unveils her.
As Marlow listens to Jim recount his attack on Sherif Ali,

Chapter 28
Conrad uses figurative language that likens the rising moon
In defeat, Sherif Ali flees the country. Jim, with the help of Dain
and Jim's victory to "an ascending spirit out of a grave." Briefly,
Waris, appoints new headmen in place of the villagers who had
Jim appears to Marlow as solid and stalwart. He sees him
been Sherif Ali's allies. In keeping with his idea of fairness, Jim
clearly in this "moment of immobility." It is a picture of Jim at
allows Rajah Allang to live and retain a measure of his old
the peak of his success. Still, Marlow perceives, "all these
authority in spite of the Bugis's desire to "pay off old scores."
things that made him master had made him a captive, too." On
Patusan, Jim's steadfast belief in his heroic potential has been Doramin later confides to Marlow he hopes to see his son
confirmed. It is a potential, however, tied to this land and its appointed ruler of Patusan. He has observed white men never
people. stay—"they come to us and in a little while they go"—so
expects Jim someday will leave and there will be need for a
Jim's daring escape from Rajah Allang involves yet another
new ruler. He is not pleased when Marlow assures him Jim
unplanned leap into the unknown. In contrast to his damning
intends to stay.
leap from the Patna, this jump leads him to freedom, safety,
and a new start in Doramin's camp. It is symbolically a spiritual The next phase in Jim's journey toward his final destiny grows
leap out of the moral abyss into which his first jump landed him. into a story of love. Marlow begins the tale at a lonely gravesite
he comes upon during an early morning stroll. It is the grave of
To tell the next part of his story, Jim takes Marlow up the
the wife "of the unspeakable Cornelius." Surrounding it is a
hillside opposite the destroyed stockade. To Marlow, as he
rustic, circular fence, garlanded with leaves and flowers. Jim
listens, Jim appears larger than life. Standing on the hilltop,
has built this structure for love of the woman's daughter, whom
"high in the sunshine," Jim seems to have "dominated the
he calls Jewel.

Marlow muses it is likely the dead woman was one of the to take up his new position at Stein's trading post. Doramin
extraordinary types who possess a quality or spirit almost warns Jim he is beyond Doramin's protection, but Jim is
heavenly in nature. This type of woman is rare, and her determined to get to work. He must room with Cornelius, who
adventurous soul is willing to risk the emotional perils of life. welcomes him with an outward show of abject joy. In fact, the
However, she is vulnerable to the common fate of men: to man is abject—or self-abasing and without pride—in everything
love—to be "'in the fullness of possession" by someone—and to he says and does. The house and trading post are in a
be ultimately abandoned. Cornelius's wife no doubt had shared wretched condition, trading goods and money are missing, and
her regrets, fears, and warnings with her daughter. But the Cornelius—by way of an apology—tries to blame everything on
young woman did not fully understand until her mother was his late wife.
dead "and Jim came along."
Over the next six weeks, Jim presses on, trying to put things
When Jim took her as his wife, he called her Jewel—a name right. However, he has another growing concern. The rajah has
that means precious, like a gem. Stories of Jewel reach Marlow made it known he intends to have Jim killed.
on his way to visit Patusan while he is still 250 miles away. It is
rumored "a white vagabond" living there has come into
possession of something very valuable: an extraordinary Chapter 30
emerald "of an enormous size, and altogether priceless." This
growing "Jim-myth," as Marlow calls it, claims the white man As the "'beastly" weeks pass, Jim finds himself hanging on
has a woman whom he treats "with great respect and care," mostly because of Jewel. She is defenseless against her
and who wears "the white man's jewel concealed upon her stepfather's endless cruelty and vile abuse of her dead
bosom." mother's memory. Cornelius seems to feel "the sacrifice of his

honorable name" to marry the girl's mother had earned him the
right to "steal and embezzle ... the goods of Stein's Trading
Chapter 29 Company." Losing his position has been a grinding
disappointment that he takes out on Jewel. Jim is moved to
On Patusan, Marlow sees the romantic quality of the "Jim- protect her, to thrash Cornelius "within an inch of his life."
myth" is real, but the jewel is not something Jim wishes to hide. Jewel has only to give the word. She will not do it, however, as
Marlow recalls her loveliness, her grace and charm, and her she is satisfied that Cornelius is punished enough by his own
attentiveness—a "vigilant affection." Marlow sees Jim is intense wretchedness.
jealously loved—"as though he were hard to keep." Throughout
Marlow's visit, she never goes to sleep until he and Jim have Meanwhile, Jim is aware that danger around him is growing.
separated for the night. Doramin continues to warn him he should return to the
protection of the Bugis. People come in the dead of night to
Also devoted to Jim is Tamb' Itam, his "faithful and grim" warn Jim of assassination plots. Finally, Cornelius offers to
servant. Tamb' Itam is Jim's uncompromising guardian. He also smuggle Jim safely out of Patusan for the price of 80 dollars.
shadows Marlow throughout his visit, sleeping on the verandah He will stay behind to face the deadly consequences, as "proof
outside Marlow's room once he and Jim have said goodnight. of his devotion to Mr. Stein's young friend."
Tamb' Itam detests Jewel's stepfather, Cornelius, whom Jim does not fall for the trick, but it sets him thinking of ways to
Marlow compares to a repulsive beetle. After Jim replaces him fix the intolerable political situation on the island. That night, he
as Stein's trading post agent, Cornelius stays in Patusan. He is conceives the plan for defeating Sherif Ali and correcting the
a secretive, unsavory man who creeps about the village and balance of power while weakening the rajah. Excitedly, he
Jim's house, "passing before the verandah with upward jumps from bed and goes to the verandah where he comes
stealthy glances." Jim seems undisturbed by the implied threat. upon Jewel. Trusting her, Jim proceeds to share his plan, until
This carelessness about Cornelius confounds Marlow. The suddenly she presses his arm and disappears. A moment later,
man already had been involved in a failed plot against Jim's life. Cornelius appears and mumbles a feeble excuse for wandering
about at two o'clock in the morning.
This story begins soon after Jim's escape from Rajah Allang
and his arrival at Doramin's encampment. Jim crosses the river Back in his room, Jim is in bed, thinking, when he hears stealthy

footsteps and a voice at his door whispers, "Are you asleep?" quality—"an extraterrestrial touch"—that renders them
Jim answers briskly, "No! What is it?" There is no reply. extraordinary. The common fate of men in loving women is to
Annoyed, Jim steps onto the verandah and finds Cornelius, be possessed by them but then deserted. Marlow's
who asks if he has reconsidered the offer to smuggle him out. extraordinary women share this ability to love and this common
When Jim flatly refuses to leave Patusan, Cornelius tells him if fate. His view is not very complimentary or realistic. However,
he stays, he will die. Jim's temper flares at last, and he he places Jewel's mother within its boundaries, and his initial
unleashes a tirade against Cornelius—ceasing only when Jim description of Jewel marks her ethereal qualities and sketches
notices the other man's deathlike silence. Ashamed of his her with careful delicacy.
outburst, Jim retreats to his room and soon falls deeply asleep.
Jewel does not sleep, however; she keeps watch. As the love story unfolds, love evidently becomes one of the
invisible restraints imprisoning Jim "within the very freedom of
his power." He is watched, guarded, loved, cherished, and given
Analysis authority, but all within the boundaries of his "prison." Not only
Jewel, but Jim's servant Tamb' Itam also keeps a watchful eye
Marlow now introduces the love story between Jim and Jewel, on him.
intertwining it with the growing danger that surrounds Jim.
The final sentences of Chapter 30 sum up Jewel's possessive
Following the successful rout of Sherif Ali and capitulation of love and show she fears Marlow has come to take Jim away.
Rajah Allang, Jim makes a mistake. He trusts in a European Jim has told Marlow how he berated Cornelius and then retired
code of honor which says you do not kick an enemy when he is to his room to sleep. Here Jewel interjects, "But I didn't sleep."
down. While the Bugis wish to take revenge on the defeated She adds, "I watched," and then fastens her eyes on Marlow,
Rajah Allang, Jim allows him to retain his position of authority. who represents the outside world that may call Jim back. This
To Jim's way of thinking, this action is only fair. He naively foreshadows a showdown between Jewel and Marlow.
supposes the rajah will behave honorably and be content to
live in peace. Similarly, Jim ignores the threat posed by
Cornelius, who is hateful, cunning, and resentful of Jim's Chapters 31–33
presence in Patusan.
Interestingly, Marlow describes Cornelius as resembling a

repulsive beetle. This description recalls Stein's collection of
Summary
these "horrible miniature monsters" and heightens the
differences between Cornelius, a beetle, and Jim, a rare
butterfly.
Chapter 31
Jim spends the next day in Doramin's camp, explaining his plan
Jim tolerates Cornelius and ignores warning signs of treachery
and "preaching the necessity of vigorous action." He pledges
for the sake of Jewel. He cannot leave her to live safely in
to take full responsibility for the plan's success or failure and is
Doramin's village. As Marlow introduces their love story, he
elated when the Bugis agree to follow it. That night, back at the
cautions his audience: like everything about Jim, "to tell this
trading post, Jim is awakened by torchlight and the voice of the
story is by no means as easy as it should be." Jewel is the
girl pleading, "Get up! Get up! Get up!" She slips Jim's loaded
daughter of a Dutch-Malay woman and European man. Like her
revolver into his hand and leads him swiftly into the courtyard,
mother, she is no ordinary woman but one whose life path
explaining that four men have been sent to assassinate him
shares men's common fate: to love someone or something that
while he sleeps. They now are in the main storeroom, which
is ultimately lost. As time will tell, this is indeed Jewel's fate.
faces the agent's house, and are waiting for a signal.
Here Marlow touches on his view of women—a view which
Standing there in the quiet cool of the courtyard beneath a sky
suggests a broken romance in his past. He suggests there is
glittering with stars, Jim learns Jewel has been watching over
an ideal against which women can be measured. Most fall
him night after night, knowing he is in danger. The knowledge
short, but those who measure up possess an ethereal
hits him like a blow to the chest. He is "touched, happy, and

elated." When she tells him to run, to make his escape, Jim will Malay mother may have told her. All she knows of it are a
not do it. He feels certain he cannot outrun the utter loneliness betrayed woman (her mother), an untrustworthy white father,
that magnifies all his dangers. Unexpectedly, the young woman and an evil buffoon (her stepfather). However, this is the world
herself seems to be his only refuge. from which her lover comes and "which might claim Jim for its
own at any moment." It is also Marlow's world, and he may well
Jim resolves to enter the storehouse and meet the danger be the agent who, with a word, will "whisk Jim away out of her
head on. Jewel tells him to wait while she circles behind the very arms." Driven by "a real and intolerable anguish," she
building to listen for her voice. When she cries out, Jim bursts comes to Marlow seeking assurances he cannot give.
through the door. "The low dungeon-like interior" is now faintly
illuminated by the torch Jewel has thrust through the bars of a
back window. The place seems empty except for piles of rags, Chapter 33
mats, and litter. Then Jim catches the gleam of eyes in one
heap of mats. In the next moment, an assailant charges out Marlow begins to grasp that Jewel fears the unknown: her
from his hiding place. Jim coolly uses his gun. Seeing their ignorance makes it "infinitely vast," and he represents all of it.
comrade fall dead, the other three men quickly surrender. Still, Jim also belongs to "this mysterious unknown of her
fears." In her experience, white men from the outside world
always leave.
Chapter 32
She tells Marlow that on the night Jim escaped assassination,
With Jewel at his side, Jim marches the three would-be she had tried to make him leave her and to leave the country.
assassins down to the river. He tells them to take his greetings She had been afraid for him and, like many others, had
to Sherif Ali and makes them jump into the water and swim for underestimated his chances of defeating Sherif Ali. Perhaps
their freedom. Then turning to Jewel, he is suddenly struck unconsciously, she had wanted to save herself, too. She tells
speechless by a surge of emotions. There is surprise and Marlow, "I didn't want to die weeping. ... Like my mother." Jewel
wonder at discovering she cares for him. In time, he will come then explains on the day of her death, her mother wept bitterly
to understand his "existence is necessary—absolutely while Jewel barred the chamber door to keep out Cornelius
necessary" to her. He finds he loves her dearly in return. In who raged to be let in. Knowing the origins of her mother's
Jim's view, their love affair is deeply meaningful, "idyllic, a little grief, the girl fears she cannot trust Jim when he swears never
solemn, and also true." to leave her. "Other men had sworn that same thing," she tells
Marlow, adding softly, "My father did. ... Her father, too."
Now, Marlow's narration shifts to a conversation on his last day
with Jim. Marlow recalls quite clearly how the sun was setting Marlow tries to reassure her Jim is different, somehow better
as they walked along the riverbank. Jim tells him he cannot than these others, but Jewel remains unconvinced. She knows
conceive of ever leaving Patusan. The idea of returning to the there is a mystery—a calamity—in Jim's life; he has told her he
world outside is unnerving, as he can never quite forget why he has been afraid. However, this remembered thing has no face
came to the island in the first place. He has found what he or voice for her, nothing she can grasp. She fears Jim will see
desired here. He is trusted and revered; he is Tuan Jim. Still, it or hear it, perhaps when he is asleep and cannot see her. Then
is an unhappy fact that the people could never be made to he will "arise and go."
understand the real truth about him. Nevertheless, Jim knows
it, and when he remembers, his confidence falters, until he also Marlow tries to soothe her, knowing she can never understand
recalls what he has accomplished here. When Marlow agrees the outside world does not want Jim. In losing himself in
Jim has done well, Jim retorts, "But all the same, you wouldn't Patusan, Jim has found what he has desired, and "his very
like to have me aboard your own ship—hey?" existence probably had been forgotten by this time." Jewel
then asks Marlow, "Why did you come to us from out there? ...
Accompanied by Tamb' Itam, Jim goes off to attend to his Do you—do you want him?" Marlow replies, no, he doesn't want
evening duties. On his own, Marlow heads for the house, but he Jim, the world doesn't want him, and it is she who holds Jim's
is unexpectedly intercepted by Jewel. In her innocence, she heart in her hand.
knows nothing of the outside world beyond what her Dutch-
For a moment, Jewel seems satisfied, and then abruptly asks,

"Why?"—why is Jim not wanted. In utter frustration, Marlow Marlow represents and ascribes to him the power to draw Jim
replies brutally, "Because he is not good enough." The young away, back to where she cannot follow. She is unshakable in
woman's response is bitter and despairing, yet contemptuous: her belief that he has this power over Jim.
"This is the very thing he said. ... You lie!" In defeat, Marlow
leaves her. Marlow's mixed emotions about Jim are evident in his outburst
at the close of Chapter 33. Jewel pushes and prods him into
explaining why the outside world would not want Jim. In
Analysis exasperation, he responds brutally, "Because he is not good
enough." Marlow admires Jim and perceives in him much that is
The intertwined stories of romance and danger continue. Jim good but must acknowledge his significant flaws. In the past,
confronts his would-be assassins and comes through Marlow has said Jim's youth and idealism were appealing and
unscathed. Simultaneously, he learns he is watched over and reminded him of his own youthful potential. He has also felt
loved by Jewel. The realization he loves her in return nearly anger when Jim failed himself and his ideals so miserably and
chokes him. When she begs him to leave her—to save destroyed the illusion they were achievable. Jim reminds
himself—he cannot. The romance of the situation is perfect for Marlow of his own failings, which prompts Marlow to add,
Jim, like a story in a book, with danger, daring deeds, and the "Nobody, nobody is good enough." In other words, he feels
unexpected love of a beautiful young woman. nobody can live up to the ideals set by society. They are noble
standards out of reach for most mortal men, even righteous
Marlow reminds his audience this is a love story, and his men like Brierly, who once seemed so perfect.
description of events reveals an eye for detecting romance in a
situation, but there is nothing lighthearted about it. Ominously, For her part, Jewel refuses to believe Jim is not good enough
their love blooms "under the shadow of a life's disaster," for the outside world, though Jim and now Marlow have said
suggesting the romance will not end well. so. Her exclamation, "You lie!" applies not only to Marlow but to
Jim and the entire world that has rejected him.
There is foreshadowing in the darkness that falls on the last
day of Marlow's visit to Patusan, which is the last time he will Finally, Jewel's story about her mother illustrates the bitterness
see Jim. It is late in the day, and, as they walk along the of being abandoned. Her tragic situation harkens back to
riverbank, Marlow recalls quite clearly the sunset. It seemed to Marlow's reflection on "men's common fate" and the
rob the world of "the illusion of calm and pensive greatness." extraordinary women who share it: to love someone or
He noticed clearly at the time "the gradual darkening of the something that is ultimately lost. This sheds new
river, of the air, of the irresistible ... night settling silently on all understanding on Jewel's fear Jim will similarly leave her.
visible forms ... like black dust." On this visit to Patusan, Marlow
has found Jim at the peak of his success, standing on a hilltop,
"high in the sunshine." The falling darkness seems to portend a Chapters 34–35
darkening of Jim's fate.
On this same day, Marlow discovers he still represents to Jim

the unforgiving world that can never forget Jim's moral failing.
Summary
Furthermore, his accomplishments on Patusan will not weigh in
his favor. Even Marlow, who has witnessed greatness of his
achievements still would not, in Jim's words, "like to have me
Chapter 34
aboard your own ship." In contrast, here on Patusan, Jim need
Marlow reviews that Jim has told Jewel his story, and she will
not fear the past because the villagers will never believe in it.
not believe him. Likewise she believes he, Marlow, has lied. He
He is safe.
concludes there was nothing to do but let time and fortune
reveal the truth.
Like the villagers, Jewel will not believe Jim is anything less
than he appears to be. She cannot grasp this thing that haunts
Marlow leaves Jewel just as Jim is arriving and makes his
him but fears it deeply. She also fears the outside world
escape down a path through a stretch of newly cleared land.

Now he comes upon the grave of Jewel's mother. It is a beach backed by a low wooded cliff draped in heavy vines. The
peaceful but lonely place, and Marlow lapses into vast sea spreads before it. Jim is immediately approached by
thoughtfulness. He muses that, upon leaving Patusan—this lost two villagers from a nearby group of squalid dwellings. They
and forgotten place—will "slip out of existence, to live only in want his help in some matter concerning the rajah, who does
my memory." not yet understand he can no longer abuse the villagers.
Cornelius interrupts Marlow's reverie by the grave. Marlow Marlow points out the changes Jim has made on the island,
finds the man contemptible and describes him as vermin-like stating he has had the opportunity he desired. Jim admits this
and "perpetually slinking away." In his most ingratiating manner, is so, but opportunity has its limits in a place like Patusan. While
Cornelius tries to excuse his role in the plot to assassinate Jim. he has gotten back his self-confidence, he is trapped by
He claims he was tragically ruined by dismissal from his post, knowledge of the chaos that would descend on the island if he
and this great misfortune twisted his thinking. Now he would were to leave. As things are, he must "go on forever" in this role
most humbly ask Marlow to intercede with Jim on his behalf, to and never betray the villagers' belief in him. It is the only way,
persuade Jim he should be given "a suitable present" in Jim explains, for him to feel safe and to feel connected to—"to
exchange for his stepdaughter. It will cover his cost for keep in touch with"—those people he will never see anymore,
keeping her after Jim leaves the island. When Marlow tells him especially Marlow. "I shall be faithful," he says quietly. Still, his
bluntly Jim will never leave, Cornelius drops all traces of eyes wander upon the sea turned "a gloomy purple under the
humility, accusing Jim of coming to Patusan for the purpose of fires of sunset."
trampling and robbing him. Cornelius then spews threats and
curses as Marlow walks away. A schooner arrives to take Marlow away. The two men part,
knowing they'll not see each other again. At the last moment,
Marlow informs Jim of this encounter as they are being rowed Jim seems about to impart a final message to the outside
to the mouth of the river. It is time for Marlow's departure. Jim world, calling out to Marlow, "Tell them." Then he stops. As a
refuses to worry about the likes of Cornelius. He considers him small boat takes Marlow out to the schooner, twilight darkens
too insignificant to be dangerous. In fact, if a man may be to night. On the shore, Jim is a motionless, white-clad figure
judged by his foes as well as his friends, Jim views Cornelius's with the blackness of the cliffs at his back. As the schooner
enmity as a favorable sign. departs, that pale figure shrinks with distance to a white speck.
It seems to Marlow the speck stands "at the heart of a vast
enigma." Then suddenly, it is gone.
Chapter 35
Marlow explains the Patusan he leaves behind the next Analysis
morning is frozen in memory. All the people who populate that
memory—Doramin and his wife, Rajah Allang, Dain Waris, The events in these chapters reveal the depths of Cornelius's
Jewel, Tamb' Itam, and Cornelius—remain distinct and hatred of Jim and the pain inherent in Jim's self-imposed exile.
unchanged by time as if enchanted. Only Jim, "the figure round In addition, Marlow relates his final moments with Jim and
which all these are grouped," is indistinct and somehow lasting impressions of Patusan.
intangible.
As Marlow reflects upon leaving Patusan, he mulls over the
The trip down the river cuts through untouched wilderness, connections between reality, dreams, and illusion, realizing that
where the superheated air is sweltering and oppressive. Then, once he leaves Patusan, the island—and Jim—will "slip out of
a last bend in the river releases them. The sky overhead existence," to live on only in his memory. Speaking directly to
widens, the air freshens, and the horizon opens up with the his audience, he says this notion about Patusan is the reason
vastness of the sea. Marlow now understands what Jewel he shares the story of Jim's life. He needs to pass on its
fears. This is the outside world—this is freedom—and it is existence—its reality—encapsulated in the tale: "the truth
calling to him. disclosed in a moment of illusion."
Jim sits in the boat, "his head sunk on his breast;" his eyes Also at the gravesite, Marlow's verbal exchange with Cornelius
downcast. Soon they land the vessel on a stretch of white

alerts Marlow to the growing threat the former agent poses to Marlow's life.
Jim. Marlow discovers Cornelius is "as full of hate as he could
hold." When the "vermin-like" man vows he will not be trampled
on, his muttered "Patience, patience" seems to be a thinly Chapters 36–37
veiled threat. The implication is that he is biding his time,
seeking another chance for revenge and foreshadows more
trouble for Jim.
Summary
Marlow is not convinced Cornelius's threats truly matter.
Marlow believes that, on Patusan, Jim has at last mastered his
fate and he is out of Cornelius's reach. This idea contradicts Chapter 36
Marlow's earlier opinion about Jim's future found at the end of
Marlow ends his narrative, and his audience drifts on the
Chapter 17. At this time, Marlow gloomily suggests a person's
verandah deep in thought and without remark. However, Jim's
fate is carved in stone and unchangeable, and Jim's fate is no
story is incomplete. Two years later, one listener who seemed
exception. Yet now, it seems Jim has proven him wrong.
particularly interested in Jim's tale receives a packet from
Handed a second chance, Jim has taken control, imagined a
Marlow containing a written account of its ending. The
new life and made it a reality while holding on to his romantic
contents of the packet include several pages pinned together,
ideals.
a single gray sheet in an unknown hand, an explanatory letter
Finally, Marlow's description of the boat ride to the sea from Marlow, and another letter, "yellowed by time and frayed
contrasts the two worlds that have shaped Jim's life—Patusan on the folds."
and "outside." The first wants Jim; the other has rejected him.
In his explanatory letter, Marlow tells this friend he recalls his
The first, Jim needs; the second, he has renounced. Still, both
statement that a life given up to "all of mankind with skins
call to him in some way. The path of the river is narrow and
brown, yellow, or black in color" is only endurable on one
claustrophobic, as oppressive physically as the island is
condition: a belief in the necessity of such sacrifice. The belief
spiritually for Jim. As the river opens up to the sea, it is as if "a
must be shared with all who "fight in the ranks." Without the
great hand ... had lifted a heavy curtain." With the sea before
core belief, the sacrifice is pointless and the life doesn't count.
them, Marlow describes breathing deeply the freshened air
Marlow continues, Jim had only himself against which to
and reveling "in the vastness of the opened horizon." In that
measure the worth of his actions. The question is: Did he
moment, he sees Jewel was right: the outside world does call,
ultimately live up to an ideal more splendid than the codes that
and deep inside him, there is the yearning to answer.
govern society? He, himself, cannot say. Perhaps what
Jim's suppressed love of the sea appears in the way he sits happened to Jim was "that supreme opportunity, that last and
with downcast eyes, afraid to look up; he does not want to be satisfying test" for which he had been waiting.
reminded of the romantic visions he once entertained. More
The single gray sheet of paper, Marlow explains, was written
than "a seaman exiled from the sea," Jim is a prisoner on an
by Jim—a last message to the outside world. Two lines in
island paradise of his making. However, he is a prisoner who
particular stand out. The first is "An awful thing has happened."
holds the key to his freedom and has only to use it. That key is
The second reads, "I must now at once." Then it seems Jim
self-forgiveness. He remains convinced of his own
gave up on it.
unworthiness to rejoin the world. He mistakenly imagines it as
a far better place than it is, peopled by individuals far nobler The old, yellowed letter is the last correspondence Jim
than he. received from his father, dated before the Patna affair. From
the safety of his "quiet corner of the world," the parson advises
Twilight falls like a portent on the final scene of departure on
Jim to remain faithful and virtuous at all times wherever he
the beach. Then the schooner is taking Marlow off to the
goes. "Virtue," he tells Jim, "is one all over the world, and there
outside world. From Marlow's viewpoint, Jim becomes little
is only one faith, one conceivable conduct of life, one manner
more than a white speck in the darkness before disappearing.
of dying." Marlow remarks that these ideas are held by people
Just as Jim disappears from his sight, he will disappear from
living free of danger or strife who will "never be taken

unawares or be called upon to grapple with fate." While she judges Jim as unforgivably "false," Stein has assured
her Jim has been "true." Still, she cannot understand, and her
The pinned pages contain the last of Jim's story. It is "an heart has been turned to stone. The two Malay men are also
astounding adventure" more romantic than Jim's wildest changed by the bewildering disaster that drove them all from
dreams could have imagined. Marlow explains he has pieced Patusan. The inexpressible wonder and mystery of events have
bits of information together "to make an intelligible picture" of left them awestruck and humbled.
the events. He wonders how Jim might have told the story
himself, and finds it hard to believe he will never see Jim or
hear his voice again. Analysis
A sense of finality permeates this section as Conrad sets up a
Chapter 37 mystery to be revealed in the final chapters. Something has
happened to Jim, but precisely what is not clear, except that it
Marlow's letter continues, explaining the conclusion of Jim's
involves Jim and death.
story begins with a pirate and scoundrel named
Brown—"Gentleman Brown." Marlow finds the man in Bangkok Conrad uses the recipient of Marlow's packet to pose a key
a few hours before Brown dies. Brown is eager to tell how he question for the reader. The "privileged man" has been a
took revenge on Jim, "the stuck-up beggar," for letting him go wanderer and adventurer like Marlow. His dwelling is described
free following an undisclosed event in Patusan. Brown's tale in terms of the sea. Though his wandering days are over, the
also reveals "unsuspected depths of cunning in the wretched opened packet recalls "the sounds, the visions, the very savor
Cornelius." of the past." This man was among those who gathered to hear
Marlow relate Jim's story. At that time, he had asserted Jim's
Marlow explains this information will fill the gaps in Jim's
apparent mastery of his fate was an illusion. Without the
story—a story he has been piecing together for eight months,
support of others who shared his European values, Jim was
ever since paying Stein a visit in Samarang. While visiting Stein,
sure to weary of his self-appointed task on Patusan and grow
Marlow is mystified to find a Malay man he recalls from
disgusted with his acquired honor. From the man's very
Patusan. Then he discovers Jim's Malay servant Tamb' Itam at
Eurocentric viewpoint, only working "in the ranks" with like-
the door of Stein's room. When he greets the man and asks if
minded men can advance "the laws of order and progress" in
Jim is inside, Tamb' Itam hangs his head and replies cryptically,
remote places like Patusan. The question is: does the final
"He would not fight. He would not fight."
stage of Jim's story contradict this theory? Has Jim not
Inside, Marlow knows something is terribly wrong. Stein "confessed to a faith mightier than the laws of order and
explains the Malay men and Jewel arrived there two days ago. progress?" The answer, of course, remains to be seen and is
He asks Marlow to speak with Jewel. He himself is unable to up to the reader to decide.
help her. Stein then asks if Jim loved her very much. Marlow
The yellowed letter at last clarifies Jim's firm refusal to go
affirms this with a nod, and Stein urges him to do what he can
home after the court hearing. He had told Marlow his father
to make her understand and make her forgive Jim.
would never understand why he had failed and this letter offers
Jewel sits gloomily at the end of a mahogany table in one of proof. The old man writes from the "shelter of his book-lined,
Stein's cavern-like rooms. She recognizes Marlow at once and faded, comfortable study." His letter underscores Jim's belief:
says quietly, "He left me." She then tells him everything that in a safe, ordered existence, such as a parsonage, the rules of
has happened (which will be detailed later), bitterly asking, morally correct behavior are perfectly adequate and
"What makes you so wicked?" Marlow sees she cannot grasp applicable. Here, nothing untoward would ever come to the
how Jim could be "torn out of her arms by the strength of a occupants; "they would never be taken unawares." However, as
dream." She laments he became blind to her face and deaf to Jim's experience proves, these standards can be inadequate to
her grief, and went away from her as if she "had been worse the challenges outside that safe sphere. Jim's father
than death." For this transgression, there can be no represents all the "placid, colorless forms of men and women"
forgiveness. sitting in judgment on Jim in their world "free of danger or strife
as a tomb." He cannot bear to return in shame and see the

uncomprehending reproach in his father's eyes. loyal men, steals a schooner, and heads through the Straits of
Macassar. Brown's idea is to reach Madagascar, where he can
Still, Jim's stubborn adherence to noble dreams and a moral sell the stolen schooner, "no questions asked." However, the
code of behavior seems to have brought about another form of ship is short on provisions, especially water, and something
disaster on Patusan. When Marlow discovers Jewel at Stein's must be done as the crew is becoming mutinous.
home, she says Jim "had been driven away from her by a
dream." Whatever Jim has done, Jewel believes it stems from Marlow supposes Brown chose Patusan as a safe place to get
some "curse of cruelty and madness ... within him." Jim had provisions because of its remoteness and the fact it is not
promised to never leave her but has proved himself to be under the rule of a European power. Brown anchors his ship at
"false." the river's mouth, within pistol range of the fishing village, Batu
Kring. Two men remain with the schooner while the rest paddle
Overhearing Jewel's accusation, "He was false," Stein a longboat up the river to the village of Patusan, intending to
exclaims, "No! no! Not false! True! true! true!" The two see Jim take the villagers by surprise. Passing Rajah Allang's stockade,
from opposing perspectives. For Jewel, it is personal. "The they see no sign of life and "a profound silence reigns." Then
strength of a dream" has torn Jim from her arms, and he has Brown's surprise plan is turned on its head. The longboat is
betrayed her trust. In contrast, Stein understands Jim has suddenly bombarded with cannon shot and gunfire from all
behaved honorably in true accord with his beliefs and his sides. A din of war cries, clanging gongs, drums, and yells of
vision. Jewel can neither grasp nor respect these values. Jim's rage add to the confusion. It seems the head villager from Batu
actions are, from her perspective, unforgivable. Kring had sent a timely warning ahead.
This ends Marlow's explanatory letter, preparing his friend and Eventually, the invaders are driven up a stream where they land
the reader for the closing chapters of Jim's life. their boat and retreat to safety on a little knoll about 900 yards
from the rajah's stockade. When night falls, the men are left
curiously alone, though boats belonging to the rajah are now
Chapters 38–40 strung across the stream, blocking that route of escape. The
invaders seem forgotten, "as if they had been dead already."
Summary
Chapter 39
It is Dain Waris, son of Doramin, who directs the resistance to
Chapter 38
Brown's invasion. Jim is away in the island's interior. Jewel has
been Dain Waris's ally, taking charge of the women and
Marlow begins his narrative with a description of the man
children to keep them safe, and releasing Jim's store of
called Brown, whose life will intersect Jim's. Brown is the
gunpowder to the men. During the war council following the
rumored son of a low-ranking English baronet. Early in life, he
invaders' retreat, she backs Waris's advice for "immediate and
jumped ship in Australia during the gold-mining days and, in a
vigorous action." However, the council, led by Doramin, decides
few years, became known as the terror of the neighboring
against driving the intruders out at once. They will be watched
island groups collectively called Polynesia. He became a
from the houses nearest the stream and the longboat. Only if
modern-day buccaneer, kidnapping natives, robbing traders,
the invaders move to escape, will they be shot. In the
and murdering for sport. He had "a vehement scorn for
meantime, Dain Waris is to take an armed party of Bugis down
mankind at large and for his victims in particular." In time,
the river ten miles below Patusan and block the waterway with
Brown's luck went sour and he was driven from the South Seas
canoes. Messengers are dispatched to locate Jim.
toward the Philippines to eventually "sail into Jim's history."
The situation remains unchanged until Jim's return. Meanwhile,

Captured by a Spanish patrol cutter off the coast of the large
a conspiracy against Jim is being hatched involving Cornelius,
Philippine island of Mindanao, Brown faces certain
Brown, and Kassim, Rajah Allang's representative and
imprisonment—something he fears more than death. In
confidant. Using Cornelius as his interpreter, Kassim opens
desperation, he pulls off a daring escape with the help of 15

negotiations with Brown, whom he assumes commands a big Cornelius eagerly advises, "and you shall frighten everybody so
ship with many guns and men. On the basis of this assumption, much that you can do anything you like with them."
Kassim proposes to assist Brown and his men in ridding the
island of Jim and taking control. Brown grimly enjoys Kassim's
ignorance of his real situation. Privately he plans to double- Analysis
cross Kassim, join forces with Jim, and squeeze the country
dry before moving on. Patusan will become his prey. Brown's invasion of Patusan threatens the peace and order
Jim has worked to establish on the island. These chapters
Meanwhile, Kassim deliberately neglects to tell Brown about reveal how deep the hatred and resentment of men like
the blockade set up by Dain Waris and his warriors. He Cornelius and the Rajah Allang runs. To bring Jim down, they
strongly urges Brown to send a messenger ordering his ship to are willing to ally with the treacherous pirate and destroy the
come up the river. To keep Kassim happy and buy some time, island's peace. They want power at any price.
Brown allows a note to be sent revealing, "We are getting on.
Big job. Detain the man." Though Marlow was unaware of it, by the time he last saw Jim,
the stage had been set for the tragedy to come. Jim, in the
name of fairness, had allowed Rajah Allang to stay on as
Chapter 40 governor of the river. Nevertheless, three years later, the man
still yearns to see Jim dead and to regain his lost power.
Though Brown's plan to plunder Patusan includes Jim, he has Ambitious Kassim, in service to the Rajah Allang, seeks to
"already settled in his own mind the fate of the white man." He return the rajah's power, which he has vicariously enjoyed.
intends to use Jim and then kill him. Brown's deeper desire, During the war council to decide what to do with Brown and his
however, is to inflict havoc on the people who had the gall to men, Kassim smiles and listens, but he offers no help. He in
defy him and defend themselves. He means "to tear to pieces, fact announces the rajah's boats must be removed from the
squeeze, and throw away" their land. stream. Last but not least, Cornelius continues to feel cheated,
nursing a poisonous grudge.
Brown is impatient to start his takeover of the island. "Images
of murder and rapine" fill his head. When an unfortunate native For his part, Brown is a cunning student of men and their
shows himself in the distance, Brown tells Cornelius, who is weaknesses. Once he is approached by Cornelius and Kassim,
armed with a rifle, to shoot him. Cornelius grins and complies, he sees how to use this situation to his advantage. The ease
and the man falls dead. To Marlow, Brown says, "That showed with which he formulates his sly, double-crossing plan
them what we could do." illustrates the shrewd thinking that has served him well in his
vocation.
Thanks to Kassim's scheming, Jim's carefully constructed
"social fabric of orderly peaceful life" on the island is on the Brown's fury over being thwarted in his plans to plunder
brink of disintegrating. The restless, fearful men are beginning Patusan exemplifies his arrogant temper. From his perspective,
to take sides: Brown and the rajah's men against Jim and the native people had no right to defend themselves. Brown's
Doramin's forces. When darkness falls, an uneasy silence falls utter scorn "for mankind at large and for his victims in
over Patusan. Then one of Brown's men foolishly decides to particular" is evident in his plan to squeeze the country dry
retrieve some tobacco from the longboat and is shot for his before moving on. However, he misjudges the person called
effort. Moments later, a messenger from Doramin calls out in Tuan Jim. With no clear picture of the man, Brown assumes he
the darkness, telling the invaders they can expect "no faith, no is much like himself, though not as effective in taking over the
compassion, no speech, no peace" from the Bugis nation living island. He is sure Jim will eagerly work with him to exploit
on Patusan. The messenger is a relation of the native Patusan to the fullest extent. At this point, what he desires
murdered earlier that day. most is "to play havoc with that jungle town which had defied
him." This desire will change once he has met Jim.
However, just as all seems lost from Brown's point of view, the
"bark" of a brass cannon, a "muffled roaring shout," and the Marlow describes Cornelius's visit to the pirates' encampment
pulsating sound of drums signal Jim's return. Cornelius assures on the knoll in terms of beetle-like movements. He sidles up to
Brown that Jim will come straight to talk to him. "Just kill him,"

the knoll. He clambers clumsily over a downed tree trunk. He that I find skulking here?" He then asserts that he and his men
creeps sluggishly back down the hill after the meeting. came to Patusan for food. "And what did you come for?" he
Everything, from his physical dirtiness to his insectile demands of Jim.
movements, reflects a weak but sinister and darkly dangerous
man. Dodging the questions, Jim asks Brown what he had done "out
there." Brown couches his reply in charitable terms, stating his
Years ago, the Patna incident threw Jim's inner world into story is probably no worse than Jim's. "I've lived," he tells Jim,
chaos, destroying his self-illusions and confidence. It seemed "and so did you, though you talk as if you were one of those
dark forces had conspired to catch Jim off-guard, denying him people that should have wings." He then explains he is here
the chance to act honorably and prove his heroism. Now, "because I was afraid once in my life"—afraid of a prison. And
through these three men—Brown, Kassim, and fear has brought him to "this infernal hole."
Cornelius—those dark forces once again seem to target Jim.
Like the mysterious submerged wreckage that harmed the Brown gleefully tells Marlow he then found a way to get around
Patna and turned Jim's inner world upside down, another "that confounded, immaculate, don't-you-touch-me" fellow and
"floating derelict" is slyly preparing to destroy Jim's outer shake up his soul.
world.
Chapter 42
Chapters 41–43 Marlow's letter continues. For Jim, Brown is a shock and a
danger to his work. He is a messenger from the outside world
Jim has renounced; a white man from "out there" where he did
Summary not feel good enough to live.
As for Brown, he still cannot grasp who Jim is. Jim remains
Chapter 41 elusive; his character hard to make out. However, Brown is a

master at pinpointing "the best and the weakest spot in his
Jim arrives to meet Brown, just as Cornelius predicted. The victims," and he perceives that he should present himself to
two men come face-to-face across the stream, perhaps near Jim as a man dealing bravely with persistent ill luck. He paints a
the very spot where Jim landed years before when escaping picture of coming to Patusan with the intent to beg, and then
the rajah's stockade. Brown hates Jim at first sight. He hates defending himself from the natives' unprovoked attack. It's a
"'his youth and assurance, his clear eyes and his untroubled brazen lie, for he intends to terrorize the population with
bearing." Jim is not the type of man Brown expected to meet, mayhem and murder. Only Dain Waris's "energetic action" has
and he instinctively knows there is nothing Jim wants or needs prevented this calamity. As Brown continues his version of
from him. All hopes of plundering Patusan vanish. Jim events, he assumes the weariness "of a man spurred on and on
represents everything Brown has despised and defied his by ill luck till he ceases to care where he runs." Then, as if a
entire life. demon is whispering in his ear, Brown asks Jim if he
understands how "when it came to saving one's life in the dark,
Nevertheless, Brown suspects that a man like Jim lives in a one didn't care who else went—three, thirty, three hundred
place like Patusan for some hidden reason. He admits to Jim people." He asks Jim if he has "nothing fishy in his life to
that he and his men are caught like rats in a trap, but suggests remember." He subtly refers to their common European blood
Jim is "too white" to keep them holed up until they die of and suggests they share a common experience and a
hunger and thirst. He challenges Jim to either allow them to die common, secret guilt.
fighting or to let them go and take their chances in the open
sea. Being set free in the forest is out of the question. They will The two are silent for a time while village life goes on around
drop from starvation, and the ants will go to work on them them, stabilized by Jim's return. Jim asks, "Will you promise to
before they are dead. When Jim suggests they don't deserve a leave the coast?" Brown says he will, but then rejects Jim's
better fate, Brown lashes out, "And what do you deserve ... you request to give up his weapons. After some thought, Jim
states, "You shall have a clear road or else a clear fight." Then

he leaves, and Brown never sees him again. the water. As the boat pulls into the river, Jim's voice comes
out of the fog, telling Brown he will try to send down provisions
On returning to the knoll, Brown is confronted by Cornelius, for the ship. Jim himself stands somewhere invisible on the
who is profoundly disappointed Brown did not kill Jim when he shore.
had the chance. Brown explains he has something better in
mind. In the boat is Cornelius, ready to guide the craft along the
backwater route behind Waris's camp.
Jim meets with Doramin to gain approval for his plan. Then he
summons all of the principal Bugis and Patusan natives, who
are eager to hear what Jim intends to do. To the assembled Analysis
headmen, Jim explains the invaders were "erring men whom
suffering had made blind to right and wrong." He then reminds In these chapters, Brown at last meets Jim, takes his measure
the men he has fought side-by-side with them, and they know of the man, and plans his destruction. In his innocence, Jim
his courage and his great love for the land and its people. In fatally miscalculates Brown's nature and intent.
light of this, he asks that they allow the evildoers to live and to
have clear passage back to the sea. Jim vows to "answer with Significantly, the two men meet at the site of Jim's second life-
his life" if any harm comes to the people as a result. When changing jump and stand on opposite sides of that stream as
Doramin offers no objection, Jim requests Dain Waris be they talk. The two do not appear so different: They are both
notified, explaining, "For in this business I shall not lead." men of the sea and Europeans leading uncommon lives of
adventure far from home. Both are outcasts, exiled from a
world that has judged them not good enough. They have guilty
Chapter 43 pasts. Nevertheless, just as they are positioned on opposite
banks of the stream, the two men occupy opposite ends of the
The council agrees to Jim's plan primarily because they trust spectrum of human decency. Jim's exile is voluntary while
him. Their ignorance, fear, and anger yield to "the sheer Brown's is compulsory. Jim is seeking redemption in Patusan
truthfulness of his last three years of life" on Patusan. Naively while Brown is bent on mayhem and revenge. Jim loves and
unaware of Brown's malevolent nature, Jim mistakenly trusts respects the people; Brown holds them in contempt. Finally,
him. He does not understand the depths of Brown's "indignant Jim's intentions toward Brown are honorable. Brown intends to
and revengeful rage" at having his evil plans foiled. destroy Jim. Naively, Jim attributes to Brown his own noble
Nevertheless, Jim recognizes things still can go wrong. Feeling instincts and human failings, never understanding that Brown
responsible for every life on the island, he keeps watch over and he occupy opposite ends of the good and evil spectrum of
the knoll and the creek through the night from the rajah's human nature.
stockade.
Brown has no better understanding of Jim and has trouble
Early in the evening, Jim sends word to Brown that he will "get getting a grip on what drives the man. However, as he probes
the clear road." He and his men are to start as soon as the him for some weakness to exploit, Brown inadvertently taps
morning tide floats their longboat. Cornelius, who delivered the into the core reasons for Jim's presence in Patusan. Marlow
message, still means to use the situation for his own good. He says "it was as if a demon had been whispering advice in his
tells Brown about Dain Waris's forces waiting down the river ear." Brown tells Jim he is here in Patusan because "I was
and confides there is a backwater behind Waris's camp broad afraid once," echoing Jim's reason. He then asks Jim if he has
enough to let Brown's boat sneak past unseen. nothing "fishy in his life"—something that would harden his
heart against a man "trying to get out of a deadly hole." Jim
When the time is right, Jim send Tamb' Itam down the river to
finds himself forced to revisit his past and the dark path he has
alert Dain Waris Brown is coming and to let him pass. As proof
walked. He fails to see the difference between Brown and
these orders truly come from Jim, Tamb' Itam carries Stein's
himself, and instead accepts their "common experience of guilt
silver ring, which Jim habitually wears.
and secret knowledge." Here Jim's idealistic imagination
Two hours before dawn, the "white robbers" come down to betrays him once again. He decides Brown is simply a luckless
their boat. A heavy mist cloaks the silent shore and lies low to soul, much like himself, who would welcome a second chance.

He excuses Brown's wrongdoings and offers him safe passage Tamb' Itam discovers Cornelius running along the riverbank
out of Patusan. among the corpses, desperately trying to get one of the native
canoes into the water. Certain Cornelius played a role in
Out of respect, Jim reports first to Doramin and advises him to Brown's treachery, Tamb' Itam kills him with his spear. Then he
let Brown and his men go in safety. The villagers anxiously heads back to Patusan, knowing the importance of being first
await the final decision. Thanks to Jim, everybody now has to deliver the awful news to Jim.
something to lose. When his wishes are made known, they
assent. He is Tuan Jim. His truth is their guiding principle, and
he has never deceived them. Plus, Jim is prepared to make the Chapter 45
ultimate sacrifice should his plan go wrong. He will take
responsibility for any lives lost by forfeiting his own life. Tamb' Itam goes directly to Jim's quarters at the fort. Inside the
gates, he encounters Jewel and blurts out, "They have killed
Dain Waris and many more." Immediately, she orders him to
Chapters 44–45 shut the gates. Moments later, she cries in despair, "Doramin."
Understanding what she fears, Tamb' Itam replies, "Yes. But we
have all the powder in Patusan."
Summary Jim receives the news of treachery and, rising to the occasion,
prepares to pursue Brown and his men. He is stopped short
when Tamb' Itam balks at leaving the safety of the fort to carry
Chapter 44 out his orders. "It is not safe," he explains, "for thy servant to go
out amongst the people." Jim suddenly understands the far-
Brown's boat slowly approaches the spot along the backwater
reaching consequences of Brown's vile attack and Dain Waris's
nearest Dain Waris's camp. Brown orders his men to load their
death. The new world which he had built up by his own hands
weapons and vows, "I'll give you a chance to get even with
"had fallen into ruins upon his head." Marlow states this
them before we're done." The gloomy fog is still thick from the
realization was likely the turning point for Jim. With no way to
water to the treetops.
salvage the situation, he now decides how best to end the
story—how best to defy the disaster.
In the meantime, Tamb' Itam has delivered Jim's ring and
message to Dain Waris. As he listens to Tamb' Itam, Waris slips
Jim sits alone for a time in silence. Marlow ponders the
the ring on the forefinger of his right hand. Then, satisfied with
thoughts and memories that must pass through his mind.
the message, Waris sends out orders for a return to Patusan in
People had trusted him with their lives, and now that trust is
the afternoon. The men in camp lower their guard.
gone.
Now, in "an act of cold-blooded ferocity," Brown and his men

Tamb' Itam reports to Jim that outside the fort, the people
attack. With Cornelius's help, they have crept up close to the
weep, and there is much anger. He tells Jim, "We shall have to
camp and are hiding in the underbrush. They have a clear view
fight." However, Jim can see nothing to fight for; his life is gone.
of the entire camp, and no one looks their way. At Brown's cry
Even Jewel fails to stir his desire to live as she wrestles with
of "Let them have it," his 14 men fire off three volleys into the
him "for the possession of her happiness." He is inflexible and
crowd of panicking natives. Tamb' Itam understands with the
seemingly without hope. In the face of this hopelessness, he
first volley what has happened. Untouched, he falls down as if
has determined to "prove his power in another way" and
dead, his eyes open. In this way, he sees Dain Waris die with a
somehow "conquer the fatal destiny itself."
bullet in his forehead.
As the sun is "sinking toward the forests," the body of Dain
Brown breaks off the attack after the third volley, having
Waris is brought to his father. The people gathered in his camp
settled his account and taught Jim and the people of Patusan a
are silent as Doramin looks down at his son. His anger is
lesson. He and his men depart in the longboat and their
touched with "a great awe and wonder at the suddenness of
schooner vanishes from the island's shores.
men's fate." Someone stoops and removes the silver ring from
Waris's hand and holds it up for Doramin to see. The old man

Lord Jim Study Guide Quotes 47
stares at the familiar token and releases a roar of pain and imminent physical danger. Worse, "he has lost again all men's
fury. confidence." He tells Jewel, "I have no life," and refuses to fight
"the dark powers" that would "rob him twice of his peace."
Back at his fort, Jim tells Tamb' Itam, "Time to finish this." Jewel However, he also refuses to "jump." Jim is driven "to prove his
tries a last time to hold him, passionately recalling his promise power in another way and conquer the fatal destiny itself." He
to never leave her. Clasping her arms about his neck, she gives himself up to Doramin, his friend's grieving father. In this
refuses to let go. Jim frees himself and leaves without looking final act of self-sacrifice, Jim's romantic ideals and self-image
back. The woman screams after him, "You are false!" He cries, become one with reality. In dying honorably, he is able at last to
"Forgive me," to which she replies, "Never! Never!" leave his place of exile on Patusan and rejoin the world that
once judged him "not good enough." He will do so through his
At Doramin's camp, Jim approaches the old man, gently saying,
story shared by Marlow. Those who hear or read it will then
"I come in sorrow. ... I am come ready and unarmed." As
judge him, as did Marlow, Brierly, the French lieutenant, Stein,
Doramin stands, the ring drops from his lap and rolls to Jim's
and the rest, through prisms of their own values and moral
feet. The old man eyes Jim with pain and rage, raises one of
codes.
Stein's flintlock pistols, and shoots "his son's friend through the
chest." With one hand to his lips, Jim sends a "proud and Marlow closes his narrative by noting that, in Jim's wildest
unflinching glance" to the gathered crowd before falling dead. boyhood dreams, he could not have imagined the life he led. In
the end, he faces certain death as he always yearned to: with
unflinching courage. All his life, such opportunity had remained
Analysis elusive, "a shadowy ideal of conduct" veiled like "an Eastern
bride," her face hidden before the wedding. Now he has seen
These final chapters recount Brown's cold-blooded attack,
her unveiled and has celebrated "his pitiless wedding."
Dain Waris's death, and the disaster that befalls both Jim and
However, in doing so, he has left behind life and a living woman.
the people of Patusan.
Marlow muses as Jim is "one of us," it should be easy to
On the occasion of Marlow's visit, Jim once laughingly says it
determine if he is now satisfied with his choice, yet it is not. Jim
would have been a tragedy for Patusan had he been "wiped
remains elusive. Sometimes the reality of his existence is a
out" by the rajah upon his arrival. "It is this place" he rightly
tangible force. At other times, he is only a passing shadow.
says, "'that would have been the loser." Jim has lavished on
Nevertheless, like Stein's prize butterfly, Jim is a captured
Patusan the gifts of his lofty dreams and noble ambitions. In a
memory, sealed up and preserved by his story. Now the
final sacrifice, he surrenders his life to atone for a fatal mistake
listener—and the reader—must decide how close Jim came to
in judgment. In the end, as Marlow observes, Patusan "will
realizing his dreams, and whether his lifelong struggle was
never give him up ... to a world indifferent to his failings and his
meaningful or futile.
virtues." He is their Tuan Jim.
Brown's treachery springs from a savage craving for revenge.

The natives have "received him with shot." Jim has refused to g Quotes
be his ally. Brown judges Jim's guarantee of "a clear road" to
indicate Jim thinks he has rendered him harmless, which grates
on his pride and inflames his arrogant temper. However, the "He became chief mate of a fine
attack on Dain Waris's camp is not the massacre it could have
ship, without ever having been
been. It is disciplined and cut off after the third volley. Brown
intends it as a departing message—a lesson—that will most tested by those events of the sea
effectively destroy Jim.
that show ... the inner worth of a
Jim's life collides with the "floating derelict" of Brown's
man."
betrayal. Once again, as on the Patna, he has indulged in his
illusions, naively misjudged the presence of danger, and been
caught unaware. The attack and Dain Waris's death put him in — Narrator, Chapter 2

While in training to be an officer of the mercantile marine, Jim stands trial is mysteriously separate from the Jim who exists
fails his first test of courage. He hesitates to act, missing his outside court.
opportunity to live up to his noble, heroic self-image. No harm
comes from it, and Jim rationalizes his actions, preserving his Throughout their relationship, Jim's true nature remains
illusions. His early assignments as an officer present no similar similarly elusive to Marlow. He is with Jim from the court
challenges, allowing Jim to indulge his fantasies of greatness hearing through his retreat and triumph on Patusan. Still,
even further. This indulgence leaves him deluded and utterly Marlow's impression of Jim is never clear and hard-edged, but
unprepared for events aboard the Patna. always shifting and often veiled. "I am fated," he says, "to never
see him clearly." There are times when he can see him only
through the eyes of others. There are also times when, in his
memory, Jim barely seems to have existed at all.
"He was the kind of fellow you
would, on the strength of his looks,
leave in charge of the "He was there before me, believing
deck—figuratively and that age and wisdom can find a
professionally speaking." remedy against the pain of truth."
— Marlow, Chapter 11
Jim has been relating to Marlow the events in the lifeboat

Marlow's first impression of Jim is based on outward
following his leap from the Patna. He desperately needs to
appearances. Jim looks as if he comes "from the right place,"
"make a clean breast" of things and for Marlow—an elder man,
that he is one "whose existence is based upon honest faith,
experienced at sea—to believe and understand him. Marlow
and upon the instinct of courage." His youthful, "clean-limbed,
does. His heart goes out to Jim because he knows what it
clean-faced" appearance inspires trust. Marlow repeats this
means to be drawn to a life at sea by grand dreams of
statement later, adding "but it wouldn't have been safe." He
adventure. He also knows "in no other kind of life is the illusion
understands a weakness in Jim renders him unreliable despite
more wide of the reality," and that disenchantment is swift. Age
his noble impulses and best intentions.
and wisdom cannot alter the truth, and Marlow has nothing to
offer Jim to ease the pain of his disillusionment.
"I don't pretend I understood him.

The views he let me have of "I had jumped—hadn't I? ... That's
himself were like those glimpses what I had to live down. The story
through the shifting rents in a thick didn't matter."
fog."
— Jim, Chapter 12
Jim explains to Marlow why he decided to go on living and to
face the inquiry and its aftermath. To commit suicide would
During the court hearing, Jim humbly withstands humiliation
have solved nothing. The "proper thing was to face it out" and
and accusations of cowardice for his misdeed as an officer. He
wait for another chance to prove himself.
does not fight back. However, he later makes clear to Marlow
that, despite his guilt, this shaming will not be endured outside In this statement, Jim reveals an obsession with his failure to
the courthouse. Marlow is confounded. It is as if the Jim who live up to his romantic notions of heroism. It overshadows the

actual consequences of his actions. Whether the Patna did or

himself a glorious racehorse, and
did not sink, or whether the passengers did or did not die, is
eclipsed by the fact that, in a moment of fear, he betrayed a now he was condemned to toil
personal code of moral standards and shattered his self-
without honor like a
illusions.
costermonger's donkey."
"This affair ... had an extraordinary — Marlow, Chapter 13
power of defying the shortness of

More than three years have elapsed since Jim's court hearing,
memories. ... It seemed to live ... in but the story of the Patna still follows him, driving him from port
the minds of men, on the tips of to port. His latest job is water clerk—or a clerk from a
shipowner's office—for a firm in Samarang. On a business trip
their tongues." to the port, Marlow notes Jim's job lacks any hint of glamour or
excitement. Though Jim does his job well, Marlow believes his
— Marlow, Chapter 12 "adventurous fancy" is "suffering all the pangs of starvation."
Jim plods through each day like a street merchant's donkey,
tormented by his dreams of something finer and more fitting of
After more than three years, Marlow meets a French lieutenant
his heroic nature.
in Sydney, Australia, who remembers the Patna incident well.
He was one of two officers from a French gunboat sent aboard
the abandoned ship to help guide her safely to the port of
Aden. In relaying the lieutenant's contributions to the story, "Strictly speaking, the question is
Marlow notes how persistently the Patna story remains fresh in
not how to get cured, but how to
people's memories. As Marlow's narrative reveals, these
stories doggedly follow Jim from place to place. It seems the live."
world will neither forget nor forgive Jim's failure.
"Man is born a coward." Marlow is restating Stein's remedy for Jim's troubles. Stein has
correctly diagnosed the root of Jim's problems: he is a
— French lieutenant, Chapter 13 romantic whose self-image is so idealized it can never align
with reality. Stein recognizes that danger for Jim lies in finding
The French lieutenant is speaking to Marlow, telling what he he cannot make his dreams come true. Salvation, however,
knows of the Patna incident. Hearing Jim's side of the story, he does not come from ridding himself of his old illusions but in
says with some sympathy, "There is a point—for the best of learning how to live with them. Stein believes Jim must
us— ... when you let go everything. ... And you have got to live immerse himself in this potentially "destructive element" and
with that truth." He goes on to explain "man is born a coward," "follow the dream, and again follow the dream."
but this weakness is kept in check by habit, necessity, or "the
example of others who are no better than yourself." Jim, he
says, has none of these influences at the moment of his jump. "He left his earthly failings behind
Nevertheless, a man can live knowing his courage is weak. It is
him ... and there was a totally new
the loss of honor that may make Jim's life impossible.
set of conditions for his
imaginative faculty to work upon."
"He had loved too well to imagine

— Marlow, Chapter 21 paradise he has created.
For three years, Marlow has witnessed Jim repeat a pattern of

discovery-and-flight. He has found work for Jim only to have "You take a different view of your
him flee before the looming shadow of his past. Marlow turns
actions when you come to
to Stein in desperation. Based on a keen assessment of Jim's
nature, Stein sets Jim down in remote Patusan—a place fit for understand ... that your existence
romantic adventure. Jim is far from the world that has judged
is necessary ... to another person."
him, cut off from reminders of his shame. On Patusan, he has
the clean slate for which he has looked and a place to prove
his worth and live out his noble dreams. — Jim, Chapter 32
Jim describes to Marlow how his love of Jewel has changed his
"My heart was freed from that dull perceptions. He feels an obligation to her— a need to uphold
her trust in him. He assures Marlow he is equal to the task.
resentment which had existed side
This sense of obligation extends to the people of Patusan. Jim,
by side with interest in his fate."
however, will ultimately betray Jewel's trust and abandon the
people, demonstrating his overriding devotion to his exalted
— Marlow, Chapter 23 ideals. With Dain Waris's death, Jim feels all is lost; his
existence is no longer necessary. He can help no one, yet he
Marlow is bidding Jim goodbye before Jim sails off for Patusan. remains committed to his romantic concept of himself and his
Marlow's statement sums up his recurring ambivalence toward moral code, which dictates the only path to redemption is
Jim. While wanting to help him, Marlow nevertheless is meeting death with courage.
frequently angry that, by failing so badly, this fine but fallible
young man has snuffed out the last flicker of his own
(Marlow's) youthful illusions and robbed everyday life "of the "One wonders whether this was ...
last spark of its glamour." Initially glad Jim at last will be off his
hands, Marlow unexpectedly finds watching him go difficult.
that last and satisfying test for
which I had always suspected him
"He was imprisoned within the to be waiting, before he could
very freedom of his power." frame a message to the

impeccable world."
Marlow describes Jim's situation on Patusan. He is now "Tuan,"

or "Lord," Jim, and his word is law. He has brought peace and Marlow refers to Jim's final sacrifice, forfeiting his life as
order to the island, found a wife, and settled into a new life. penance for Dain Waris's death. In retreating to Patusan, Jim
However, he is guarded and jealously loved by the people, has the opportunity he has long desired to start over and
especially his wife, Jewel. Her affection is vigilant, and she achieve greatness to match his storybook heroes. His
hovers around him "like a flutter of wings." Though Jim has extraordinary success exceeds his boyish visions, but Jim
been granted authority over Patusan, its people are continues to believe the outside world can neither forget nor
determined to never let him slip back into the outside world forgive his conduct—choosing life over honor—during the
from which he came. In this way, he is a prisoner in the Patna incident.

Lord Jim Study Guide Symbols 51
Therefore, the fresh confidence Jim gains in Patusan is fragile, "tumbled from a height he [can] never scale again," and his life
and at heart, Jim feels certain that he still has not fully proven will never be the same.
himself worthy of the world he has left. In presenting himself to
Waris's grieving father to face certain death, Jim makes a clear Jim tries to explain his disgraceful behavior to Marlow. With a
and conscious choice of honor over life. It seems to be his way squall descending on the damaged ship, his shipmates'
to send a message to the unforgiving world that he has passed panicked cries to "Jump! ... Jump! Oh, jump!" were
a final test and is worthy at last. overwhelming. Jim claims his mindless leap is the fault of these
fellow officers "as plainly as if they had reached up with a boat
hook and pulled me over." Nevertheless, in the view of the
court and in Jim's own secret judgment, his jump is "a breach
"I am come in sorrow. ... I am come
of faith with the community of mankind." Furthermore, its
ready and unarmed." cowardice flies in the face of Jim's heroic self-image, violates
his inflexible code of ethics, and leaves him a social outcast.
Jim later confides to Marlow, "I had jumped, hadn't I?" and
— Jim, Chapter 45
adds, "That's what I had to live down."
Gentleman Brown has betrayed Jim's trust by slaughtering Jim's leap symbolizes his loss of honor and the collapse of his
innocent villagers while leaving Patusan. Dain Waris is among self-aggrandizing, heroic fantasies. At the same time, it alters
the dead. the course of his life forever. The undeniable fact of the jump
and its consequences follow Jim from port to port, driving him
These are Jim's last words to Doramin before the chief of the eventually to remote Patusan. Though Jim for a while will
Bugis and father of Dain Waris shoots him dead. In sharp believe himself free of its shadow, eventually the shame of the
contrast to his wordy attempts many years ago to explain his incident will overtake him one last time.
desertion of the ship Patna to Marlow, Jim refrains from any
explanation for his actions during the current crisis. His
statement is a brief and direct expression of his heart. As Jim
falls mortally wounded, he puts "his hand over his lips" in a Butterflies
gesture to indicate there are no words for this moment. Its
meaning rests in the quiet, unflinching courage of his final
deed.
Stein is Marlow's friend and a successful merchant-adventurer.
He is also well known for his study of insects, specifically
butterflies and beetles. In Stein's judgment, the butterfly is a
l Symbols flawless creature; a "masterpiece of Nature" that lives in

harmony with its world. He likens the capture of his prize
butterfly specimen to the capture of a dream he at last held in
his hands. For Stein, butterflies are the embodiment of
Jim's Jump idealism, a dream made real. Stein enshrines his prize
butterfly—"the splendor of motionless wings"—in a glass case.
Stein draws a comparison between man and butterfly, stating

The ship Patna, sailing along on a perfectly calm sea, suddenly "man is amazing, but he is not a masterpiece." Unlike the
collides with and scrapes over submerged debris. The captain butterfly, he can never be the fine specimen he envisions when
and crew fear the ship is in imminent danger of sinking, and he dreams. Furthermore, he is at odds with the world, going
with only seven lifeboats to serve them and the 800 "where he is not wanted, where there is no place for him" and
passengers, the situation seems hopeless. Jim is the last of running about "making a great noise about himself ... disturbing
these men to abandon the ship in a leap he later describes as the blades of grass." For Stein, the butterfly represents an
jumping "into a well—into an everlasting deep hole." To Jim this ideal state man can never achieve.
leap is both a physical descent and a fall from grace. He has

Lord Jim Study Guide Symbols 52
In an effort to help Jim, Marlow turns to Stein for advice. Stein deserted by his fellow officers, accepts all blame and abuse for
quickly recognizes Jim's idealistic nature and concludes it is abandoning the Patna. In general, he finds "the infernal
best he pursue his romantic yet impractical dreams. Though he publicity is too shocking" and "enough to burn a man to ashes
recognizes the inherent futility of this pursuit, he also believes with shame." Regarding the case, he tells Marlow "a decent
"it is not good for you to find you cannot make your dreams man would not have behaved like this to a cargo full of old rags
come true." Like Stein's prize specimen, preserved in its in bales. ... Such an affair destroys one's confidence."
perfection by death, Jim ultimately will be transfigured by
death into the romantic perfection he pursues. His heroic Following Brierly's death, Marlow surmises Jim's case had
dream will become real. touched a secret nerve, that when Brierly exclaimed, "Why are
we tormenting that young chap?" he was thinking of himself.
He surmises Brierly may have been "holding silent inquiry into
his own case," found the verdict to be "unmitigated guilt," and is
Brierly's Gold Chronometer unable to live with that.
The chronometer represents the civilized virtues that order

Brierly's life—virtues denied by Jim's actions aboard the Patna.
Captain Montague Brierly is one of two nautical magistrates If Brierly also has had an undisclosed "jump" in his past, Jim's
overseeing the inquiry concerning the Patna's abandonment. case has raised its specter, and Brierly's illusion of an ordered,
His record of service is unblemished; he "had never in his life civilized life can no longer exist. He cannot reconcile the reality
made a mistake, never had an accident, never a mishap." To of what he is with the ideal he has tried to embody. Figuratively
Marlow he seems to possess a "complacent soul" that nothing speaking, he is "at sea" and no longer knows his place in the
can disturb and presents to the world "a surface as hard as world.
granite." However, within days following the inquiry, Brierly
commits suicide.
In a leap not unlike Jim's leap from the Patna, Brierly jumps The Ship Patna
over the side of his ship. However, the act is not impulsive. He
makes careful preparations to ensure the ship remains safely
on course and his dog is safe in the chart room. Then he goes
aft (to the rear of the ship) and jumps. Before jumping, he The Patna carries 800 Muslims from an East Indies island port
carefully hangs his gold chronometer—a highly accurate, to the Red Sea and a pilgrimage to the holy city of Mecca.
pocket watch-sized timepiece—under the rail by its chain. Their journey is described as the "path of souls [toward] the
holy place, the promise of salvation, the reward of eternal life."
The chronometer represents an enormous technological leap The Patna itself is compared to "a crowded planet speeding
forward in European navigation—the ability to determine through the dark spaces of ether." The ship's passage is free
longitude at sea. No longer were ships on long voyages at the of storm; the sea appears serene. However, beneath the
mercy of errant ocean currents, unfavorable winds, and water's still surface, danger is lurking. Lulled by appearances,
navigational errors. With the chronometer, navigators could the passengers and crew sleep or, like Jim, drowsily daydream,
figure precisely where the ship was in its course. In this way, while occasionally checking the ship's course against
the chronometer symbolizes progress, order, precision, and navigational charts.
European dominance over the capricious natural world.
Brierly's gold chronometer was awarded to him for saving lives Viewed as a "crowded planet" filled with souls on a journey
at sea and rescuing ships in distress—the very actions Jim toward "the reward of eternal life," the Patna becomes more
dreams of doing. The device also represents an ordered world than a ship on a voyage. It becomes symbolic of the world
in which events like desertion of a ship do not happen, and men teeming with humanity, and its voyage represents the
like Jim—"one of us"—do not fail in their duty. Therefore, it pilgrimage of all souls through life. The dangers and
becomes a fitting symbol for Brierly's departure. uncertainties of this physical and spiritual journey are
represented by the sunken debris that damages the Patna and,
Brierly is deeply disturbed by Jim's case, particularly when Jim, in the blink of an eye, transforms the serenity of the voyage

Lord Jim Study Guide Themes 53
into panic. As in all situations in life, response to the crisis by message and slips the ring on his finger. When Brown launches
everyone aboard reflects the strengths and weaknesses of a vicious, surprise attack on the camp, Waris is killed. For
their individual characters. Doramin, the ring on the hand of his dead son becomes a
symbol of unforgivable treachery.
Using this symbolism, the voyage of the Patna mirrors Jim's
spiritual odyssey through life. Like the pilgrims, his journey
begins with "the call of an idea" leading him far from home and
all he knows. As first mate on the Patna, Jim views himself as
m Themes
separate and superior to the passengers and crew. He may rub
shoulders with them, but they cannot touch him. He may share
the air they breathe, but he is different. This lofty self-image
assures him he is a better man than any among them, which Lost Honor
reflects Jim's view of his place in the world at large. He fails to
see that in life, as on the ship, he is on the same journey as the
rest of humanity and just as subject to its lurking dangers. The Modernist literature frequently explores the theme of loss. In
crisis aboard the Patna mirrors the crisis in Jim's life. He tries Lord Jim Joseph Conrad probes Jim's loss of honor, his acute
to save himself by jumping just as he tries to escape his shame awareness of that loss, and the related consequences. Jim is
by running. His behavior, while morally disgraceful, is an idealist and romantically imagines himself capable of great
understandable in its humanness. He is afraid. When Jim jumps heroism in the face of danger. His personal moral code
to save his life, he joins the men he has scorned, becoming one demands perfection in duty, responsibility, and ethics.
of them in nature and action. He will spend the rest of his However, he fails these ideals when he abandons the ship
journey through life as a tormented soul, striving to prove this Patna and her passengers. His self-aggrandizing illusions are
place in the world is not so. shattered, his reputation as a seaman is wrecked, and he
becomes a social outcast.
Nevertheless, Jim refuses to give up on his idealized heroism

Stein's Silver Ring and inflexible moral code. The incident of the Patna haunts him
as he runs from his past, moving from seaport to seaport,
seeking a second chance by which to recover his lost honor.
Stein is a successful German trader and head of the trading This wandering quest ultimately brings him to the island of
post Stein & Co. He is also Marlow's friend and offers Jim a Patusan, where he makes a final, heroic attempt to live life
fresh start as manager of his Patusan outpost. To help Jim honorably as dictated by his romantic idealism. He leaves "his
work his way into society on the island and gain the trust of earthly failings behind him and what sort of reputation he had,"
Doramin, chief of the Bugis people, Stein gives Jim a ring. It is a and immerses himself in "a totally new set of conditions for his
long-ago gift from Doramin, a Bugis chief Stein calls a "war- imaginative faculty to work upon." On the island, he becomes
comrade." The ring represents a promise of eternal friendship. Tuan, or Lord, Jim—a heroic figure whose honor is not
In Jim's hands, the ring becomes "a sort of credential," much questioned. Nevertheless, Jim remains burdened with the
like a letter of introduction to his new post. It is also a symbol knowledge of his dishonorable past.
of trust. Stein's trust in Jim assures Doramin that he, too,
should trust the man and "do his best for him."
This trust is violated by the death of Doramin's son, Dain Waris, Exile
a result of Jim's foolish decision to let the vile buccaneer
Brown and his crew exit safely from Patusan. By way of a
messenger, Jim sends the well-known ring to the encampment Exile from society is another theme common in modernist
guarding the river. It accompanies his order to let Brown and literature. In Lord Jim Conrad examines Jim's self-imposed
his men pass. Dain Waris, in charge of the camp, receives the exile following his loss of honor. In shame, Jim breaks off

Lord Jim Study Guide Themes 54
contact with anyone he knew before the Patna incident, even the pilgrim ship Patna and her 800 passengers.
his father. Furthermore, he becomes "a seaman in exile from
the sea," having lost his license to serve as a ship's officer. Jim cannot square his romantic notions of heroism with what
Seeking somewhere to start over with a clean slate, he he sees as cowardly actions aboard the Patna. A chasm has
wanders from job to job, always on the move east, "[toward] opened up between his illusions and reality. Driven by shame,
the rising sun." However, try as he might to become a man Jim ultimately flees to remote Patusan, where he is unknown
without a past, the facts of the Patna scandal "follow him and believes his past cannot find him.
casually and inevitably."

Here, he rebuilds his romantic self-image, managing to match
Jim firmly believes the European community cannot forgive his his behavior with his heroic imaginings. In this new world, he
human failing because he cannot forgive himself. In exile, he becomes Tuan, or Lord, Jim, and the gap between heroic
pursues a second chance to atone and prove his essential illusions and reality no longer exists. He at last realizes the
worthiness. This lonely pursuit leads him to Patusan, a place so success he has always imagined. On Patusan, Jim's idealistic
remote "it would be for the outside world as though he had view of heroism is both the catalyst for his greatest moments
never existed." He carries with him his moral standards as well and the agent of his death. When he allows the scoundrel
as the old illusions of potential greatness and dreams of Brown to exit safely from the island, it leads to the death of his
heroism. Though he successfully rebuilds his romantic self- Malay friend and ally, Dain Waris. In his deep desire to live up to
image and earns the respect of the native people of Patusan, his heroic standing as Lord Jim, Jim sees martyrdom as his
Jim remains isolated by the knowledge of his past, the reason only path to atonement. He stoically presents himself to Dain
for his exile. Waris's grieving father, Doramin, to be shot dead. At this
moment, illusion merges completely with reality, but the tragic
Within this guilty secret lie the seeds of Jim's tragic end, outcome is the death of the hero.
cultivated by the arrival of Gentleman Brown to the island of
Patusan. Jim has sympathy for Brown, who has been similarly
exiled from civilized society. However, in contrast to Jim's exile
which is voluntary and well-intentioned, Brown's is compulsory, Trust and Betrayal
the result of willful criminal behavior. Brown discerns that some
dark mystery lies behind Jim's exile and plays upon it to gain
his confidence. He then betrays Jim's trust, costing the life of Issues of trust and betrayal underlie several key events in Lord
Jim's closest native friend, Dain Waris. Jim's long exile abruptly Jim. The novel opens with an epigraph by the German
ends when he offers up his own life as penance. Romantic poet Novalis: "It is certain my Conviction gains
infinitely, the moment another soul will believe in it." In other
words, trust between storyteller and listener is required for the
story to be believed.
Illusions versus Reality
Trust is also a necessary element in the relationship between
the English sea captain Marlow and Jim. Only when Jim is
As a boy, while reading "a course of light holiday literature," Jim convinced Marlow believes in him will Jim trust Marlow's
discovers a love of the sea. Later, while in training to be an friendship and accept his help. This trust is mutual—Marlow
officer of the mercantile marine, he imagines himself like the views Jim as "one of us"—and that trust is later shared by
heroes in his books, performing courageous deeds, "saving Marlow's reliable friend Stein, the merchant-adventurer who
people from sinking ships, cutting away masts in a hurricane," introduces Jim to the island wilderness of Patusan.
and "quelling mutinies on the high seas." However, this heroic, Nevertheless, Jim is always painfully aware that Marlow knows
unflinching self-image is not matched by his behavior. When and remembers, just as he does, the reason he has retreated
called upon during his training to act quickly in a crisis, Jim to Patusan from the outside world. Jim never trusts the world
hesitates, and the opportunity to fulfill his fantasies is lost. This to forgive his grievous failure to perform honorably during the
missed chance foreshadows his later cowardice in abandoning Patna incident.

Lord Jim Study Guide Suggested Reading 55
The clash between trust and betrayal continues as the story Marlow's understanding grows of the moral quagmire into
progresses. In abandoning the damaged pilgrim ship Patna, Jim which Jim has literally jumped. As a result, his belief that Jim is
betrays his own heroic expectations and the trust of the "one of us" takes on a darker tone. He sees how steadfastly
sleeping passengers. On the island of Patusan, Jim works Jim holds on to his traditional, high-minded notions of heroism
tirelessly to win the trust of the Malay villagers. He tells and moral conduct. Still, he has been proven fallible and has
Marlow, "I must feel—every day, every time I open my fallen short of these noble ideals. Jim has been reduced to "an
eyes—that I am trusted." He succeeds only to inadvertently individual trying to save from the fire his idea of what his moral
betray that trust—as a result of his own misplaced trust in the identity should be." Marlow's label "one of us" becomes
"latter-day buccaneer" Gentleman Brown. In going to his death, troublesome. Now the phrase binds Jim to him—and others of
Jim betrays the love and trust of his European-Malaysian wife, the "right sort"—as one fallible human being to another. This
Jewel. However, Jim faces his death courageously. In this way, connection makes Jim's recurring questions "What would you
he is true to the trust he has placed in his heroic self-image have done?" and "What would you have me do?" far more
and the appropriateness of this final act of atonement. personal and significant. Jim's failure suggests any individual of
the right sort can suffer a hidden character flaw, and given the
right catalyst, any weakness might emerge.
"One of Us" Finally, on Patusan, Jim aligns himself with the Malay villagers,
embracing them as his people. Jim's rules of conduct appeal to
them and engender trust. It is when he is lured into believing he
is morally equivalent to Gentleman Brown—that Brown, as a
On nine occasions, Marlow observes Jim is "one of us." The
European, is also "one of us"—that Jim is destroyed. Marlow
phrase assumes different meanings as Jim's story unfolds.
wonders whether Jim, in sacrificing his life for "a shadowy ideal
Marlow's first impression of Jim is that he is "one of us." Jim of conduct," at last satisfies himself that he is worthy to be
has accompanied Captain Gustav and two other shipmates to "one of us."
the harbor master's office to report the Patna incident. Marlow
observes the other disheveled and disreputable men seem to
fit the sordid tale of the Patna's desertion. However, Jim is
"clean-limbed, clean-faced, firm on his feet," and looks to be a e Suggested Reading
promising lad. By all appearances, he is a man defined by
traditional European ideals of faith, courage, honor, and Baines, Jocelyn. Joseph Conrad: A Critical Biography.
morality. He knows the "rules of conduct." Weidenfeld, 1993.
During the official inquiry, Marlow's conviction deepens. He Conrad, Joseph, and Ross C. Murfin. Heart of Darkness.
begins to know Jim and judges him "the right sort." He is taken Palgrave, 2011.
by Jim's youth, fundamental innocence, and romantic ideals
Jasanoff, Maya. The Dawn Watch: Joseph Conrad in a Global
that recall his own youthful days and "the illusion of my
World. Penguin, 2017.
beginning." Again he says, "he was one of us." Nevertheless,
the Patna incident causes Marlow to wonder: If Jim is "one of
Sherry, Norman. Conrad's Eastern World. Cambridge UP, 1966
us," how then could things have gone so wrong?
Stape, John Henry. The Several Lives of Joseph Conrad.
Jim is anxious for Marlow to see him as the right sort. He has
Vintage, 2009.
always viewed himself in a superior light. While serving aboard
the Patna, he holds himself apart from and superior to the fat,
greasy captain and the rest of the crew. At the moment of his
jump, however, he joins them physically in the lifeboat and
morally in their cowardice. By this "breach of faith with the
community of mankind," Jim becomes "one of them." He
spends the rest of his life trying to prove he is not.

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Lord Jim

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Lord Jim

Study Guide by Course Hero

Lord Jim is written in the past tense.

a Author Biography ..................................................................................... 3

h Characters .................................................................................................. 4 d In Context

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Copyright © 2018 Course Hero, Inc.

powerless the noble code by which he lives. Jim's failure to act

h Characters role of benefactor and father figure. He is someone Jim can

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dream and capture it. He also understands the devastation an

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Other Major Character

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Full Character List Mohammed Bonso is the younger son of

Sherif Ali is a wandering Arab stranger

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Copyright © 2018 Course Hero, Inc.

During this time at sea, his heroic self-image goes untested by

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Realizing he is failing to truly help Jim, Marlow turns to his

Then a vile buccaneer, who calls himself Gentleman Brown,

Brown betrays Jim's trust and launches a farewell attack,

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9. Pirate Brown and his criminal crew invade the island.

1. Adventure tales spark young Jim's dreams of a life at sea.

2. Jim is sent off to a training ship for officers.

3. Jim signs on as first mate on the pilgrim ship Patna.

8. Jim brings order, peace, and prosperity to Patusan.

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Copyright © 2018 Course Hero, Inc.

Jim dreams of a life at sea and is sent to a training ship

Jim fails to act swiftly during a crisis, foreshadowing a

After two years of training

Jim goes to sea and becomes chief mate of a fine ship.

Left behind in an Eastern port because of an injury, Jim

During the voyage

The ship, carrying 800 Muslim pilgrims, collides with

A squall threatens to sink the damaged ship, prompting

The Patna, still afloat, is rescued by a French gunboat

Sunset, the same day

The Avondale picks up Jim and the other deserters, who

About two weeks later

The Patna's captain files a false report on the sinking and

Jim faces the court inquiry alone; Marlow attends the

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inquest and becomes interested in Jim.

After the inquiry

Stripped of his license, Jim works as a water clerk,

About three years later

Jim is given an opportunity to make a fresh start as a

Within a few days

On Patusan, Jim escapes a rajah's prison, allies with an

Six weeks later

With the chief's help, Jim defeats Sherif Ali, subdues

During this time

Jim meets and falls in love with Jewel, stepdaughter of

Three years later

Gentleman Brown, a buccaneer on the run, is foiled in his

Several days later

Cornered, Brown persuades Jim to provide him and his

Jim arranges safe passage for the raiders, ready to

Before leaving Patusan, Brown springs a vengeful attack