How we cite our quotes: (Chapter.Paragraph)
Quote #4
"I became positive in my mind that the inquiry was a severe punishment to that Jim, and that his facing it – practically of his own freewill – was a redeeming feature in his abominable case." (6.16)
Jim might think of his decision to stand trial as a sort of moral redemption, but we can't forget that people like Brierly seem to think that it's nothing more than a humiliating circus. What do you think? Is he standing for his principles, or is he dragging the good name of sailors through the mud?
Quote #5
"'I always believed in being prepared for the worst,' he commented, staring anxiously in my face. I nodded my approval of the sound principle, averting my eyes before the subtle unsoundness of the man." (8.1)
The Boy Scouts know that the one principle you can rely on is to Be Prepared. Marlow thinks that sounds like a good idea, but he has trouble buying it, coming from the lips of someone who has messed up so colossally.
Quote #6
"'I knew the story. Nothing they could make people believe would alter it for me.'" (10.26)
Jim's commitment to truth and honesty is one of his defining character traits, and that makes him seem like a good guy altogether. There's just one small problem: he's a master of self-deception, as Marlow frequently points out to us. So while he seems bent on telling the truth, that truth might not be so true after all, but rather what Jim wants to believe.