Introduction

The Introduction previews Conrad’s conceptions of emotions, contingencies, and personal identity through his correspondence, in anticipation of the exploration of these issues in individual works. The chapter argues that Conrad regarded the illustration of emotions as an essential part of novel writing, and developed his own idea of the workings of human emotions which synthesized his observation of emotions with his outlook on ‘the world as a whole’; he directs his attention primarily to reactive emotions, which induce various emotional reactions against assumptions and expectations. It contends that, while Conrad’s view of emotions is unique, his view of the world as characterized by accidents which happen without foresight or expectation is shared not only by his contemporaries but also by some critics of this century. The chapter discusses also two kinds of approaches in Affect Studies, the importance of close reading, and some convergences between Conrad and Buddhism.