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Chapter 42
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
Tamb’ Itam is shocked to hear Jim say that he believes it’s best to let Brown’s men go. Jim reminds everyone that he has never deceived them before. Eventually, everyone agrees out of respect for Tuan Jim.
Tamb’ Itam is consistently one of the wisest characters in the story, and so his shock here foreshadows that Jim is making an error by trusting Brown.
Themes
Although Jim seems to trust Brown, he is still worried about a possible misunderstanding causing problems. He feels responsible for the life of every person in the village, and so he goes to take command and oversee things. He and some men take up a position to wait until Brown leaves. At last, Jim sends Tamb’ Itam out to relay the message to Dain Waris that Brown’s boat should be allowed to pass unharmed. Brown gets a letter from Jim letting him know that he is free to go. But Jim warns him that the surrounding woods are filled with armed men. Brown rips the letter up and says goodbye to Cornelius.
Jim remains worried about reputation above all else. While he should be worried about the threat that Brown and his men represent, instead he's worried that the people of Patusan might give the appearance that they aren’t honoring their agreement with Brown. For Jim, it is unthinkable to give even the appearance of a betrayal to Brown.
Themes
Literary Devices
Cornelius, however, lingers and says he can tell Brown something interesting. Brown doesn’t want to hear it, but Cornelius insists that Jim intends to betray Brown and that Dain Waris’s army is set up down the river to attack him and his men when they try to escape.
Cornelius is clearly lying, something that even Brown might pick up on, but Brown needs little convincing to get revenge on Jim. The people of Patusan refused to submit to Brown, and Brown doesn’t take opposition lightly.
Themes
The warriors of Patusan remain on alert, but all seems peaceful as Brown’s longboat comes down the river. There’s a light fog that day. Jim tells them as they pass that they’ll have a clear road. If they need to wait a day, he can send down some food; a voice calls back that Brown should do so. And so, Cornelius manages to leave on the longboat with Brown.
Jim’s desire to be seen as a hero even extends to his enemies like Brown, hence why he graciously offers to send them down food if they need it.
Themes
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