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
During Marlow’s visit to Patusan, Jim and Marlow go to Rajah Allang’s dirty residence, and Jim tells of how the Rajah kept him as a prisoner for three days when he first arrived. Meeting again, the Rajah and Jim show each other unusual respect, despite having been enemies earlier.
Marlow is a bit lost trying to follow Jim and Rajah Allang’s conversation, but he makes out that there’s some dispute over whether the Rajah has been stealing from some villagers or whether Doramin has been stealing. Things are tense, but the meeting ends with the Rajah offering Jim and Marlow coffee. Jim says Marlow doesn’t need to drink any (implying it might be poisoned), but Marlow drinks anyway, and nothing bad happens.
Jim’s choice to drink potentially poisoned coffee shows how reckless he’s willing to be with his own life just for the sake of protecting his reputation. Marlow is perhaps not quite as reckless, but he feels responsibility for the position Jim is in, which is why he decides he must drink the coffee, too—he’s in this together with Jim, at least as much as he can be.
Themes
Jim tells Marlow that Rajah Allang considers Jim more useful than dangerous, although Marlow cautions him that the Rajah is clearly afraid of Jim. As they leave the Rajah’s place, Jim points out the place where he escaped captivity by leaping to his freedom. While Jim was escaping, the Rajah and his advisors debated what to do about Jim.
The situation with Rajah Allang illustrates how politics in Patusan are just as complex as any European political system.
Themes
During Jim’s escape, one of Rajah Allang’s men goes to find Jim (who hasn’t gotten far) and asks what Jim is doing in Patusan. He brings Jim a watch and asks Jim if he knows how to fix it. Jim starts working on the watch before realizing he’s in danger and focusing on getting away instead. He hides for a while in some mud before making his way to Doramin.
Jim’s desire to fix the watch is an obvious metaphor for his desire to fix time by going back to change his past. This desire is so strong that it temporarily causes Jim to forget his own safety.
Themes
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Doramin takes Jim in, barricading his place and giving him water. Doramin’s wife helps care for Jim. Doramin is chief of a group of Malays called the Bugis who oppose Rajah Allang’s rule, and they skirmish with him over trade disputes. Rajah tries to make himself the only trader in the area and kills anyone who dares to trade with someone else. Nevertheless, the Rajah is afraid of the organized opposition that Doramin represents.
Like Marlow, Doramin is an older, more experienced man who takes Jim under his protection. Rajah Allang’s behavior characterizes him as a common bully: he’s eager to attack the vulnerable but afraid of anyone who might fight back.
Themes
