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Life as Reading: Razumov’s Interpretative Situation in Under Western Eyes

Publication date: 17.05.2018

Yearbook of Conrad Studies, 2017, Vol. 12, pp. 71 - 86

https://doi.org/10.4467/20843941YC.17.005.8662

Authors

Joanna Kurowska
Indiana University, Bloomington Indiana USA
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Titles

Life as Reading: Razumov’s Interpretative Situation in Under Western Eyes

Abstract

This essay analyzes the interpretative situation of Razumov, the main hero of Conrad’s novel Under Western Eyes (1910). Challenged by a fellow student named Victor Haldin, Razumov must navigate through his internal experiences (past, present, and those anticipated by him in the future), as well as through external stimuli—which he has little experience to understand fully—in order to arrive at morally meaningful decisions. Communicative aspects of Razumov’s encounters, first with Haldin, then with his sister Natalie, are discussed in greater detail; particularly Razumov’s use of speech and silence, first to conceal but ultimately to reveal the truth.

References

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Information

Information: Yearbook of Conrad Studies, 2017, Vol. 12, pp. 71 - 86

Article type: Original article

Authors

Indiana University, Bloomington Indiana USA

Published at: 17.05.2018

Article status: Open

Licence: CC BY-NC-ND  licence icon

Percentage share of authors:

Joanna Kurowska (Author) - 100%

Article corrections:

-

Publication languages:

English