Joseph Conrad frequently associates primitivism with certain groups (see "Race" and "Foreignness" for more on that), but it's just a big topic generally. When you first see someone or something described in Nostromo: A Tale of The Seaboard as savage or "primeval," you probably think of that as an insult—and hey, rightly so.
However, it's important to note that Conrad is pretty suspicious of notions of "progress," so there are moments where it seems like he's presenting savagery as preferable to more "developed" or advanced people—politicians, for example. So, calling someone a savage might actually be a compliment? Sure…
Questions About Primitivism
- Do you see any nuance or differences in how the savagery of Sotillo and Pedrito Montero is portrayed?
- Is savagery actually portrayed as somehow superior or preferable to the behaviors or customs of more "advanced" people, such as the novel's politicians?
- Are basically all the main characters "savages" in some way or another?
Chew on This
The novel makes repeated references to savagery and primitivism to emphasize those qualities in the politics of the time.
The novel makes repeated references to savagery and primitivism to provide a comforting counterpoint (a.k.a. a "worst case scenario") to the political strife of the ruling classes/politicians.