Lord Jim: Chapter 42 Summary & Analysis

Brown and Jim’s conversation by the creek is like a duel. Brown seems to have been an expert at finding men’s strengths and weaknesses, and he uses these skills against Jim. He presents himself to Jim as a victim of fate who came to Patusan not to pillage but to beg. He says Dain Waris attacked before even asking questions. (Brown, on his deathbed, admits to Marlow that he would’ve come into Patusan guns blazing, killing anything that moved—though he doesn’t tell Jim this at the time.)

Brown insists to Jim that the one Malay he killed was killed cleanly, whereas Brown’s wounded man died a prolonged death over six hours. Now they were equal, a life for a life. Brown says a desperate man will do anything to save his own life, no matter how many other lives are at stake, and this comment deeply affects Jim.

Jim at last asks Brown if he’ll promise to leave at once and surrender his crews’ arms. Brown refuses to give up the weapons. Jim hesitates and says he doesn’t know if he has the power to make the decision. Brown says Jim must have the power, or else their whole conversation has been a waste. At last, Jim says Brown has a clear path to escape—or else a clear fight. With that, Jim leaves.

When Brown returns, Cornelius is angry that Brown didn’t kill Jim, but Brown insists he did even better. Events after this move quickly. The people of the village rejoice when Jim returns unhurt. Many Bugis warriors take a hill, hoping that the sight of so many of them will encourage Brown and his men to leave. While the villagers are uneasy about the possibility of war with Brown’s men, Jim remains convinced that they will turn around and head back to sea. He says so to Doramin. He also says that if Doramin wants to attack Brown, he’ll have to have Dain Waris lead, since Jim will not.