Nostromo - Oct BOTM

[Diane]

Review thread: https://www.goodreads.com/topic/show/...

[Diane]

1. How does Nostromo's initial reputation as the "incorruptible" man give way to his ultimate corruption?

2. What are the contradictions and mysteries surrounding Nostromo's character and motivations as presented by Conrad?

3. How do the characters of Dr. Mony, Charles Gould, and Martin Decoud represent different facets of power, idealism, and disillusionment in Costaguana?

4. What does the silver and the San Tomé mine symbolize, and how does their presence influence the plot and the characters' actions?

5. In what ways does Nostromo serve as a critique of foreign influence and capitalist exploitation in a developing nation?

6. How does the political instability and corruption within the fictional republic of Costaguana reflect or comment on real-world political and economic issues?

7. How does Conrad's narrative technique, particularly the way he presents information and builds character, contribute to the novel's themes of uncertainty and fragmentation?

8. What role do the women in the novel play, and how do they challenge or reinforce patriarchal structures within the story?

9. How does the emphasis on silence and reported speech, rather than direct dialogue, affect the reader's understanding of the characters and events?

10. Considering Nostromo was published in 1904, what are its most enduring aspects as a political novel, and which elements might seem outdated today?