Okay, what does this mean? 'Mind', you can do this. Think.

[charisstoma]

There is in his espousal of memory and affection belonging to another human being something characteristic of his seriousness. He had a conscience, and it was a romantic conscience.
-- Joseph Conrad, Lord Jim, 1899-1900

Yes, espousal is the word used in this example.
Here it's, adoption or advocacy of a cause or principle but still what?

Comments

[frogs_of_war]

If you can get 'in bed with' a group, I guess you can marry a cause.

That quote is really weird. ... his adoption of memory and affection belonging to another... Does that mean he 'became' that person to a degree? Now if it's about writing, I can understand it. I become my characters while writing them and sometimes while reading someone else's work.

[charisstoma.livejournal.com]

*grins* Define 'in bed with' a group. I can think of one such group of 3 and I would support their 'cause'.


That 'belonging to another human being'... hmmm slavery was a first thought.

or is it the affection and the memory belong to another person and he's adopted their mind set which makes him serious?

So difficult when taken out of context but my mind would have glossed right over this and latched onto the next sentences if I'd been reading this novel.

Ah, http://pd.sparknotes.com/lit/lordjim/section29.html

[frogs_of_war]

That made no sense in context either. The sentence after it (and the rest of the supper long paragraph) was about someone else entirely and Jim doesn't come up again for hundreds of words.

Or maybe *gasp* all the last 3/4 of that chapter was only one paragraph. If I worry my are getting too long, I'll just remember that page. Skipping anything on that page would be difficult because it didn't give you any place to latch back on to.

[charisstoma.livejournal.com]

But But but it's a classic. *head desk*
Oh how much literature has changed.

[frogs_of_war]

For the better.

[dyoklako.livejournal.com]

i haven't read the book either but i think this refers to his impression and formed opinion which he had retained in his memory and is now accessing it to describe what it is in front of him at that moment.(?) ^^;;

[charisstoma.livejournal.com]

What you said, that makes sense, I think.

There's a link to the chapter in the comments. It is one long paragraph and not easy to read. There's no current era editor that wouldn't send it back for major revision if not outright rejected it, is my opinion.

[dyoklako.livejournal.com]

i'm used to reading (even writing) rambling sentences so it wasn't that difficult understanding it but i keep in mind that the author sometimes inserts themselves into the characters unconsciously and thus make their opinion known through long, lengthy, tedious explanation that makes the narrative just that much. more. confusing! ugh. > , < #