Conclusion

The Conclusion begins by recapitulating the main points of the preceding chapters, and then goes on to offer a brief discussion on Conrad’s moral vision, which is a topic that the book has not taken up. The discussion is confined to a certain passage in A Personal Record and it explores the nature of his moral vision that may be inferred from this passage. The Conclusion introduces Conrad’s dual perspective, ‘the philosophy of the cosmos’ and ‘the philosophy of life,’ suggested by several of his contemporary reviewers and critics, and examines Conrad’s moral vision in terms of this perspective. It argues that Conrad’s dual perspective derives from his experience as a seaman and that it underlies not only his moral vision but also his view of art. The theme of emotions and the theme of contingencies are important themes, because they are closely connected with Conrad’s dual perspective.