My immediate question: "Wait, what does this modernist thing mean?"
Modernist lit generally concerns the "isolation of consciousness" (Seeley, "Conrad's Modernist Romance"), subjective narrators, possibly a nonchronological structure, and a theme of indeterminacy. Georg Simmel elaborates on the central concern "to preserve the autonomy and individuality of [the character's] existence in the face of overwhelming social forces, of historical heritage, of external culture, and of the technique of life" ... i.e., how to make sense of the world.
Modernism tends to be pessimistic, but Conrad's "Lord Jim" is also vividly romantic-- pirates! heroism! adoring natives! So, keeping this in mind, back to the actual book.
As far as Marlow and the fragmented storytelling structure go: On Lord Jim by Adam Roberts
Though parts of the book leap around in time and place, the story's bound tightly with Jim and the Patna incident, in which he abandons what he thinks is a sinking ship. Embarrassingly, the ship doesn't sink-- and Jim must face his cowardly act in court, as well as through the rest of his life. Thus, "Lord Jim" deals with his sense of self and "problems of conduct" (see Thorburn "Conrad's Romanticism"). As Thorburn notes, the story begins and ends with external disasters provoking psychic collapse, or illustrating the "antipathy of the world toward human aspirations" (Matin's introduction). Marlow, the seasoned narrator, seems to grasp this idea- after all, he's witnessed Colonel Kurtz in "Heart of Darkness."
Jim is alternately portrayed in great detail, down to his posture, and also remains vague as some kind of almost secondary character (recall the theme of indeterminacy) -- Jim's presumed lines of thought are told through Marlow, so the reader is never really clear on what's "right." Plus, Jim is a less than eloquent speaker. Significantly, at the end of the novel he is unable to write a letter explaining himself, and competing points of view on his death/suicide are offered by Stein, Jewel and Marlow.
Regarding Jim's voluntary meeting with Doramin (whom he knows will shoot him), Jim wants to prove he values his honor over life-- which is essentially what he's been trying to do ever since the Patna incident. Whether he needs to prove this to himself or others is a complex issue. Probably both. Now that I think about it, definitely both -- to resolve his own psychic/ego crisis and to have witnesses that validate his action. It's clearly a selfish move, as he leaves Jewel and the villagers to fend for themselves, and based on the idealistic & romantic nature of his character. Going back to Simmel's quote, Jim spends most of the book trying to escape a society that defines him through his worst moment. Even in Patusan, the appearance of Gentleman Brown throws a wrench into his careful fortifications and Jim is only able to preserve his individual existence through death (see! I AM honorable and heroic!). At least, that's the best theory I can muster.
I really didn't think "Lord Jim" was that pessimistic. Yeah, the guy dies in the end, and his life is haunted by the stupid Patna disaster, but I didn't find it to be this huge downer of a book. Then again, I'm a sucker for romantic idealism, so maybe I do see a noble aspect in Jim's death. Marlow says it was "the call of his exalted egoism" that led to "his pitiless wedding with a shadowy ideal of conduct" ... but he also calls Jim "one of us." No doubt Jim's a tragic figure, but I don't think the story's depressing.
I want to touch base on one more interesting thing from the introduction (and how often does that happen?): the comparison between Jim and Colonel Kurtz. In many ways, "Lord Jim" is the foil to "Heart of Darkness" ... but! It's "another tale that focuses on [Marlow's] complicated relationship with an idealistic white man who uses an imperial territory to live out his own grandiose fantasies."
In short, Marlow has already seen how a megalomaniac who arrogates to himself dictatorial powers based on racial prestige can lose sight of the putatively ethical basis of imperialism, and Jim is evidently not exempt from such tendencies, no matter how benevolent his rule in Patusan may appear.Dangerously similar situations and personalities! While I recognized the strains of racial superiority from "Heart of Darkness" (worship the white man, because colored people can't govern themselves!), I would have never thought to compare Jim and Kurtz. I guess I was too busy trying to sympathize with Jim. Hmm.
Two favorite moments:
"And do you know how many opportunities I let escape; how many dreams I had lost that had come in my way? ... It seems to me that some would have been very fine- if I had made them come true." -Stein
"Are not our lives too short for that full utterance which through all our stammerings is of course our only and abiding intention?" -Marlow
Bottom line: this book had way more layers than I expected. Plus, Conrad is Polish and I learned what modernist literature was!
Next up is a brief break from my canon list, with Robert Wright's "The Evolution of God." Then probably some philosophical essays on love, some Kundera and Sondak, and likely "Mansfield Park" by Jane Austen to get back to the list.
