Lord Jim in Review

Lord Jim is an incredible adventure, leading its readers through the lives of ship dwellers. Jim can be characterized as an individual that beats to his own drum, that finds pleasures in life that suits him, and that is easy to please. He takes great pleasure in life and the work that he provides to service the ships that he sails upon. He is often revered by his peers, specifically the narrator who chooses to support Jim. Yet, Cornelius despises Lord Jim for his free-spirit and intentional ways. Lord Jim is described by the narrator as "one of us" which provides inclusion to the reader about Jim's life. He is in the end, human. Despite his silliness or his awkwardness in dealing with others - he still has the capacity to love, to yearn for achievement, and to gain acknowledgement from others in regards to his hard work. "His loneliness added to his stature. There was nothing within sight to compare him with, as though he had been one of those exceptional men who can only be measured by the greatness of their fame..." (Conrad, 220).

The narrative in the story is considered nested with a variety of characters. Specifically, since the story is told from the perspective of the narrator, as the reader, there is almost a standing wall that is keeping us from internalized thoughts from Lord Jim. We are kept at a distance from having the opportunity to get to know Jim; as Conrad has chosen to tell his tale through his narrator. Personally, I felt this was true of all of the characters except the narrator. It is more difficult to engage with the characters in the story since all of the details are told through one individual's thoughts and actions. "All of this, I've warned you, gets dwarfed in the telling. I can't with mere words convey to you the impression of his total and utter isolation." (Conrad 220). There is a disconnect on my part for the male characters, since I am not able to put myself in their shoes without understanding their personal thought processes. The effect of the story itself as being true in nature is more highly accurate due to the fact that more "voices" are heard throughout the tale. There is more chance for individualized interpretation of events, rather than just one person's perception.

Works Cited

Conrad, Joseph. Lord Jim. 2004. Barnes and Noble Classics. New York.