Essay - Responses to Select Portions of Joseph Conrad's Novel, Nostromo in...

Responses to Select Portions of Joseph Conrad's novel, Nostromo

In Chapter seven we learn more about background for the novel because of Decoud's letter. After losing An*****nia, his perspective changes. He writes:

In the most sceptical heart *****re lurks at such moments, when the chances of existence are involved, a desire to leave a correct impression of ***** feelings, like a light by which the action may be seen when personality is gone, gone where no ***** of investigation can ever reach the truth which every death takes out of the world." (Conrad 230).

Here we see how h***** thoughts ***** directed inward, an ***** that only increases as the ***** progresses. Decoud's letter also reveals his insight into the o*****r characters in the *****vel. He *****, "Don Carlos's mission is to preserve unstained ***** fair name of his mine; Mrs. Gould's mission is ***** save him from the effects ***** ***** cold *****d overmastering passion, which she dreads more than if it ********** an infatuation ***** another woman. Nostromo's m*****sion is to save the silver" (245). In reference to Nostromo, he also writes, "The only thing he seems to care for, as far as I have *****en able ***** d*****cover, is to be well spoken of. An ambition fit for noble souls, but also a pro**********ble one for an exceptionally intelligent scoundrel" (246). Th***** last sentence is particularly interesting *****cause of its hidden meaning. Nostromo ***** driven to save the silver at any cost and this realization causes Decoud to realize how very d*****ferent they really are.

Chapter Eight is a suspenseful chapter ***** ***** significant in that it provides us w*****h more ***** into the character ***** ***** and *****.

Conrad uses the events in this ***** to shine a light on the inner man. Each man is impacted by being al*****e in very different ways. Decoud's thoughts lead him to self-loathing while Nostromo ***** go in ***** direction. When Nostromo says:

There ***** very few things that I am not equal to. Ask the foreign signori. I, a man of the people, who cannot al***** understand what you mean. But as to th***** lot which I must leave here, let me tell you *****at I would believe it in greater safety if ***** had not been with me at *****l. (301)

Here we see Nostromo's e*****tism. *****t is also important to note how Nostromo is *****soci*****ing his success and popularity with the people. ***** addition, ***** see a contrast between the two men when we read that Nostromo:

***** ***** feeling of solitude ***** had weighed heavily on Decoud after ***** lighter ***** slipped off the shore. But while the ***** on the island was oppressed by a bizarre sense of unreality affecting ***** very ground upon which he walked, t***** mind of *****he Capataz ***** the Cargadores turned *****rtly to ***** problem of future conduct. (302).

Here Conrad is emphasizing the difference between the two *****, which helps us understand their actions.

In the third section