The Sea (Duh!)

 

The Sea (capitalized) is big. Just as the picture above. Beyond any romantic reflection from my part, I consider Conrad a vivid narrator on this theme, the "infinity of the sea" theme; "Between us there was, as I have already said somewhere, the bond of the sea. Besides holding our hearts together through long periods of separation, it had the effect of making us tolerant of each other's yarns-and even convictions." (pag.2) As vividly explained by the novel's narrator, the sea is an omnipotent entity which embodies infinite, diverse, and different identities. From a psychological point of view, the sea is a strong (if not major) focal point for a sailor, considering it encompasses his whole life. As said by Conrad; "...for there is nothing mysterious to a seaman unless the sea itself, which is the mistress of his existence and as inscrutable as Destiny." (pag. 5) In other words, the seaman's life revolves around the sea, the sea being the alpha, the omega. This extended metaphor produces restlessness tough, since in its most simplistic sense it is equally complicated as life itself or as the method for going to the bathroom. The "Sea" is condemned to probability, or to infinity. 

Throughout the novel the "infinity of the sea" theme develops, and Charlie Marlow translates the sea into another body of water, the river: "And the river was there-fascinating-deadly-like a snake."(pag.15) I was personally struck by the overall tone of darkness in the narration, but that is something that will explained further in future entries. But for what it serves us in the present moment, the juxtaposition of the snake, death, and the river holds and underlined, yet undiscovered meaning. It is somewhat clear that this river represents Marlows youth years, but also, by he reiterating the darkness of the this river, and even further expanding on the snake-like characteristics of this river, it is also very clear that he is up to something. It is quite romantic, in a sense, since it portrays the declivity of his younger years, in a somewhat passionate manner. The ephemeral reflections get to me, since they are simple enough to embrace a life long lesson: "Watching a coast as it slips by the ship is like thinking about an enigma. There it is before you-smiling, frowning, inviting, grand, mean, stupid, or savage, and always mute with an air of whispering." (pag.20)