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Under Western Eyes
by Joseph Conrad
〃I would take liberty from any hand
as a hungry man would snatch a piece of bread。〃
Miss HALDIN
PART FIRST
To begin with I wish to disclaim the possession of those high
gifts of imagination and expression which would have enabled my
pen to create for the reader the personality of the man who
called himself； after the Russian custom； Cyril son of
IsidorKirylo Sidorovitch…Razumov；
If I have ever had these gifts in any sort of living form they
have been smothered out of existence a long time ago under a
wilderness of words。 Words； as is well known； are the great foes
of reality。 I have been for many years a teacher of languages。
It is an occupation which at length becomes fatal to whatever
share of imagination； observation； and insight an ordinary person
may be heir to。 To a teacher of languages there comes a time
when the world is but a place of many words and man appears a
mere talking animal not much more wonderful than a parrot。
This being so； I could not have observed Mr。 Razumov or guessed
at his reality by the force of insight； much less have imagined
him as he was。 Even to invent the mere bald facts of his life
would have been utterly beyond my powers。 But I think that
without this declaration the readers of these pages will be able
to detect in the story the marks of documentary evidence。 And
that is perfectly correct。 It is based on a document； all I have
brought to it is my knowledge of the Russian language； which is
sufficient for what is attempted here。 The document； of course；
is something in the nature of a journal； a diary； yet not exactly
that in its actual form。 For instance； most of it was not written
up from day to day； though all the entries are dated。 Some of
these entries cover months of time and extend over dozens of
pages。 All the earlier part is a retrospect； in a narrative
form； relating to an event which took place about a year before。
I must mention that I have lived for a long time in Geneva。 A
whole quarter of that town； on account of many Russians residing
there； is called La Petite Russie Little Russia。 I had a
rather extensive connexion in Little Russia at that time。 Yet I
confess that I have no comprehension of the Russian character。
The illogicality of their attitude； the arbitrariness of their
conclusions； the frequency of the exceptional； should present no
difficulty to a student of many grammars； but there must be
something else in the way； some special human traitone of those
subtle differences that are beyond the ken of mere professors。
What must remain striking to a teacher of languages is the
Russians' extraordinary love of words。 They gather them up； they
cherish them； but they don't hoard them in their breasts； on the
contrary； they are always ready to pour them out by the hour or
by the night with an enthusiasm； a sweeping abundance； with such
an aptness of application sometimes that； as in the case of very
accomplished parrots； one can't defend oneself from the suspicion
that they really understand what they say。 There is a generosity
in their ardour of speech which removes it as far as possible from
common loquacity； and it is ever too disconnected to be classed
as eloquence。 。 。 。But I must apologize for this digression。
It would be idle to inquire why Mr。 Razumov has left this
record behind him。 It is inconceivable that he should have
wished any human eye to see it。 A mysterious impulse of human
nature comes into play here。 Putting aside Samuel Pepys； who has
forced in this way the door of immortality； innumerable people；
criminals； saints； philosophers； young girls； statesmen； and
simple imbeciles； have kept self…revealing records from vanity no
doubt； but also from other more inscrutable motives。 There must
be a wonderful soothing power in mere words since so many men
have used them for self…communion。 Being myself a quiet
individual I take it that what all men are really after is some
form or perhaps only some formula of peace。 Certainly they are
crying loud enough for it at the present day。 What sort of peace
Kirylo Sidorovitch Razumov expected to find in the writing up of
his record it passeth my understanding to guess。
The fact remains that he has written it。
Mr。 Razumov was a tall； well…proportioned young man； quite
unusually dark for a Russian from the Central Provinces。 His
good looks would have been unquestionable if it had not been for
a peculiar lack of fineness in the features。 It was as if a face
modelled vigorously in wax （with some approach even to a
classical correctness of type） had been held close to a fire till
all sharpness of line had been lost in the softening of the
material。 But even thus he was sufficiently good…looking。 His
manner； too； was good。 In discussion he was easily swayed by
argument and authority。 With his younger compatriots he took the
attitude of an inscrutable listener； a listener of the kind that
hears you out intelligently and thenjust changes the subject。
This sort of trick； which may arise either from intellectual
insufficiency or from an imperfect trust in one's own
convictions； procured for Mr。 Razumov a reputation of profundity。
Amongst a lot of exuberant talkers； in the habit of exhausting
themselves daily by ardent discussion； a comparatively taciturn
personality is naturally credited with reserve power。 By his
comrades at the St。 Petersburg University； Kirylo Sidorovitch
Razumov； third year's student in philosophy； was looked upon as a
strong naturean altogether trustworthy man。 This； in a country
where an opinion may be a legal crime visited by death or
sometimes by a fate worse than mere death； meant that he was
worthy of being trusted with forbidden opinions。 He was liked
also for his amiability and for his quiet readiness to oblige his
comrades even at the cost of personal inconvenience。
Mr。 Razumov was supposed to be the son of an Archpriest and to be
protected by a distinguished noblemanperhaps of his own distant
province。 But his outward appearance accorded badly with such
humble origin。 Such a descent was not credible。 It was； indeed；
suggested that Mr。 Razumov was the son of an Archpriest's pretty
daughterwhich； of course； would put a different complexion on
the matter。 This theory also rendered intelligible the
protection of the distinguished nobleman。 All this； however； had
never been investigated maliciously or otherwise。 No one knew or
cared who the nobleman in question was。 Razumov received a modest
but very sufficient allowance from the hands of an obscure
attorney； who seemed to act as his guardian in some measure。
Now and then he appeared at some professor's informal reception。
Apart from that Razumov was not known to have any social relations
in the town。 He attended the obligatory lectures regularly and was
considered by t