I. Review of previous discussions
II. New annotations, continuing at the top of Page 29
181. Page 29, continuing paragraph from Page 29: Why has Marlow decided to play along with the Brickmaker? Or stated differently, why does he not tell him he is not an insider?
182. Page 29, first new paragraph: The man with the moustache says, "Serve him right. Transgression--punishment--Bang! Pitiless, pitiless." Can we call this Belgian "tough love?" Conrad does not give us Marlow's reaction to this sentiment. Why not? "Heep of muffs" Muffs is a contemptuous term for foreigners in the English language. Keep in mind we do not know the language being used at this time.
183. Page 29: Is there any evidence in the text to justify the antipathy of the man with the moustache to the Brickmaker?
184. Page 29: Is "servile heartiness" an oxymoron? "Servare" is the Latin verb "to serve." Servus is Latin for slave. Hence, servile means characteristic of a slave or, at minimum , humble. "Heartiness" means characterized by warmth and friendliness; cordial and sincere. You do the math!
185. Page 29: "Beyond the fence the forest stood up spectrally in the moonlight and through the dim stir the faint sounds of that lamentable courtyard, went home to one's very heart,--its mystery, its greatness, the amazing reality of its concealed life." Identify the extended metaphor.
186. Page 29: "Lamentable" is from the Latin deponent verb "lamentarai" meaning to bemoan, bewail, grieve or morn.
187. Page 29: "...went home to one's heart...' Do these words and the previously mentioned extended metaphor justify our saying, "Marlow has experienced an epiphany?"
188. Page 29: We have returned to "real time" as Marlow now says. " The hurt nigger moaned feebly somewhere nearby..." Earlier he had told us the man had gone into the forest to die. We determined that was prolepsis.
189. Page 30, continuing paragraph from page 29: The Brickmaker again asks Marlow to give a good account of this station to Kurtz.
190. Page 30, first new paragraph: What does "papier-mache Mephistopheles" mean in this context? The name Mephistopheles is of uncertain Greek and or Hebrew origin and seem to be a combination of liar and destroyer. In medieval legend, Faust was said to have sold his soul to him for earthly riches and power. It has come to mean a crafty, powerful, malevolent devil.
191. Page 30: Does Marlow's description of the Brickmaker evoke a modern interpretation: an empty suit waiting to be kicked upstairs.
192. Page 30: "Precipitately" means happening or done very hastily or rashly; impetuous, headstrong. In the original Latin, it is construed to mean rushing or falling headlong. Could the scientific meanings apply, as well?
193. Page 30: The steamer is compared to the carcass of a river animal.
194. Page 30: "The smell of the primeval mud, by Jove! was in my nostrils, the high stillness of primeval forest was before my eyes; there were shiny patches on the black creek. The moon had spread over everything a thin layer of silver--over the rank grass, over the mud, upon the wall of matted vegetation standing higher than the wall of a temple..." Discuss the imagery here.
195. Page 30:The word "rank" has many meanings. Here it seems to mean strong growth, perhaps with a bad smell. "Primeval" means of the first ages.
196. Page 30: In the previous quotation, what sort of temple is suggested?
197. Page 30: Note the juxtaposition of "somber gap and "glittering, glittering."
198. Page 30: Marlow ponders whether the immensity of the jungle will handle the Europeans or the Europeans will handle it? What is his meaning?
199. Page 30: Marlow tries to envision what is in the jungle and compares his thoughts to those of people who might believe Mars is inhabited. Explain and justify this comparison, if possible.
200. Page 30, at the very bottom of the page: Is Marlow's story of the "Scotch" (sic) sailmaker analepsis? By the way, it should be "Scottish" as scotch is a whiskey or a child's game.
FORSAN ET HAEC OLIM MEMINISSE IUVABIT!
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