changing views

As in, for instance, Benito Cereno, and many other examples of nineteenth century literature, Conrad´s vision of nature and "natural man" is one of dread. Nature is dark and all-powerful, and to try to conquer it is impossible . Primitive man is unfathomable; he´s childish and cruel by nature, just the opposite of civilized londoners. The futility of the naval bombardment of the lonely coast illustrates this. Nowadays; or at least till a couple of years ago; Rosseau's "good savage" has made a comeback, a far cry from Conrad´s vision of the congolese tribesmen ( or of the russians, for that matter ).