Banks and Marlow

In an expedition, in search of something, in a foreign country and living among natives that are completely different from them despite the fact that they are also human, Marlow and Banks are protagonist their respective novels. In which way do they differ?

Marlow comes from a middle class family in England while Banks comes from a high class family and inherited lots of money and properties at early age.

Banks is an educated and well known scientists and Marlow is only an explorer searching for adventure and for himself.

Marlow’s purpose on his voyage is developed while the journey goes. Banks’s purpose is clear and determined: scientific discoveries.

Banks’ relationship with the Natives is quite open and respectful, he tries to understand them and be friends with them. Marlow never really tried to relate with them and kept a distance most of the time, partly because of fear and partly because he did not understand them.

They share the enlightenment factor. Marlow real voyage is a self-reflection and discovery, full of metaphors and anagnorisis. Bank’s voyage will end up in the same revelations, apart from the botanical discoveries. As we have discussed earlier, in journeys what you really discover is yourself, regardless the social class, the destination, the means and the objective.