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Chapter 12
Themes
Key
LitCharts assigns a color and icon to each theme in Lord Jim, which you can use to track the themes throughout the work.
Fantasy vs. Reality
Justice and Duty
Racism and Colonialism
Truth and Perspective
Summary
Analysis
Marlow continues his conversation with the French lieutenant in Sydney. The Frenchman makes a passing remark about how quickly time goes, and it has a surprisingly strong effect on Marlow. The lieutenant asks Marlow what was so important about the whole Patna affair, anyway, mistakenly believing that dead George is the most important part. Marlow replies that the living people on the ship were even more important. Marlow goes ahead and tells him why he himself finds the affair so interesting.
The French lieutenant’s outside perspective once again highlights how limited Marlow’s and Jim’s perceptions are. The lieutenant notes correctly that, under different circumstances, the most significant part of the Patna would be the dead man on board. But in Jim’s story, George is little more than a footnote.
Themes
The French lieutenant picks up on the fact that Marlow seems to be interested in Jim in particular. The lieutenant assumes that Jim ran away with the others. The Frenchman muses idly to himself that fear alone is not enough to kill a person but just keeps drinking his drink and doesn’t expand on what he means. He says that when he saw Jim, he felt that Jim looked like someone with a good disposition. He muses a little longer on honor and courage before leaving Marlow alone.
Courage and fear are two concepts that recur throughout the story. The French lieutenant claims that fear alone can’t kill a person, and while it’s true that fear perhaps can’t literally kill a person, it nevertheless leads many characters in the novel to engage in self-destructive behavior—metaphorically and, in the case of Brierly’s suicide, literally.
Themes
Marlow is disappointed that he doesn’t learn more from the French lieutenant. Marlow is still thinking about Jim’s case about three years later when he is headed to Sydney and he runs into Jim working a menial job. Marlow feels that the job’s lack of adventure discourages Jim, who has become withdrawn, except for when the topic of the Patna comes up. Then, Jim turns violent.
Just as Jim can’t let go of the Patna, Marlow can’t let go of Jim. In many ways, Marlow’s interest in Jim is irrational—they haven’t known each other for long, and yet Marlow feels an almost parental need to look out for Jim’s welfare.
Themes
In Sydney, Marlow thinks back to when he had dinner with Jim that one night in the middle of Jim’s inquiry. Marlow was sure that Jim would be executed but really hoped he wouldn’t be. Marlow told Jim that Jim had been through enough. He offered to give Jim money and introduce him to someone who might be able to get him work, and that Jim could pay him back whenever it was convenient.
Marlow is not just an observer in Jim’s story—he’s also an active participant. He intervenes to help Jim find work, perhaps moved by Jim’s innocence and willing to lend some of his own experience that has come with age.
Themes
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Still at that dinner, however, Jim turned down Marlow’s proposal to help. He said he couldn’t allow himself to run away from any part of the affair. Marlow said he meant no offense and that better men than Jim have run at times. With that, Jim got ready to leave. Marlow said like to see Jim again, and Jim replied that there’s nothing stopping Marlow from seeing him. Jim, who was only 24 years old, disappeared into the night, running clumsily.
Jim metaphorically runs away from many things in the novel, but here he runs away literally. Jim’s clumsy style of running reflects how unsure of himself he is, which is probably what causes Marlow to notice Jim’s youth.
Themes
