(Untitled)

[rahulms]

For the space of about thirty seconds, a half-naked, betel-chewing pessimist stood upon the bank of the tropical river, on the edge of the still and immense forests; a man angry, powerless, empty-handed, with a cry of bitter discontent ready on his lips; a cry that, had it come out, would have rung through the virgin solitudes of the woods, as true

Comments

[hazeldusk]

" ..as true, as great, as profound, as any philosophical shriek that ever came from the depths of an easy-chair.."

The sarcasm is particularly unwarranted. Discontent knows not the boundaries of space and civilization!

[packed_lunch]

Is it really sarcasm?

This is the reason why I affirm that Kurtz was a remarkable man. He had something to say. He said it. Since I had peeped over the edge myself, I understand better the meaning of his stare, that could not see the fale of the candle, but was wide enough to embrace the whole universe, piercing enough to penetrate all the hearts that beat in the darkness. He had summed up - he had judged. "The horror!" He was a remarkable man. After all, this was the expression of some sort of belief; it had candour, it had conviction, it had a vibrating note of revolt in its whisper. it had the appalling face of a glimpsed truth - the strange commingling of desire and hate

[rahulms]

If anything, its arrogance, or so I think. Arrogance from knowing that he is just too intelligent for his own good. Like Rushdie.

[hazeldusk]

Hmmm.. apologies for my hasty comment! I had forgotten his Russian(?) roots. Reflects the kind of genius it takes to master literature in an adopted language i guess..
I believe the Russian culture with respect to philosophy and theology is something entirely foreign to the rest of the world. What put this into perspective for me was a couple of famous Fyodor Dostoevskys .. The Brothers Karamazov and Crime and Punishment
Recommended for serious readers.