“You know I hate, detest, and can't bear a lie, not because I am straighter than the rest of us, but simply because it appalls me. There is a taint of death, a flavor of mortality in lies, – which is exactly what I hate and detest in the world– what I want to forget” (Conrad 47).
“I don’t like work – no man does – but I like what is in the work, –the chance to find yourself” (Conrad 51).
These two quotes are my favorites from the book so far because it clearly demonstrates Marlow's personality.
In the first quote in which Marlow talks about how he abhors lies, he associates lie with death which he also sees as being horrid. I think this has to do with the fact that death and lies are both disadvantages of humans. He wants to "forget" (47) death because mortality makes him feel vulnerable. It is a limitation that is impossible to overcome. By relating lies with mortality, Marlow implies that lies create the same feeling to him.
The second quote deals with an obligation that we all have to face: work. His opinion is understandable because work itself brings a lot of stress and many things involved in work are stressful as well. But what's in work, the effort, the responsibility, and the accomplishment gives one pleasure and satisfaction.
These views that Marlow puts forth, are not only reflective of who he is but also true. I agree with him in some parts, especially about work, but I don't quite see lie as being comparable to death.
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