Reason is defined as the justification of one's actions or opinions. Whether it be rational or not; everyone has a justification for the things they do.
Several characteristics build reason; including morals, values and rationality. Through his novel Under Western Eyes, Joseph Conrad discuses his perception of reason. This is demonstrated in the way Razumov reacts to disruption of structure. It is also viewed in the way Victor Haldin decides to follow his true beliefs.
Additionally, it is portrayed in the way people take advantage of Razumov's vulnerability. Conrad develops an idea that reason plays the role of a dependant variable that is altered considering the current circumstances. From this we can draw the idea that ones reasoning is nothing more than a variable to one's environment.Throughout the novel, we learn about Razumov's values.
We continuously see him forced to make decisions, many of them being concequences from previous decisions. The idea of reason is frequently brought up in relation to Razumov, he proves to be conscious to why he chooses to do the things he does. An example of this is when he is thinking to himself about his future and what he'd like to be. “ A man's real life is accorded to him in thoughts of other men by reason of respect or natural love” (Conrad 131).
In this passage, Razumov explains that he wants to do something for which people will love and/or respect him. This is what he values. In this case, that is his reasoning for doing what he does; to earn love and respect. However, Razumov's actions and thoughts change when a threat towards order is apparent.This is seen when he goes to see Ziemenitch for Victor Haldin.
When he arrives, the man is drunkenly unconscious, and unable to function. This disrupts the order of events Razumov had planned and this frustrates him immensely. In his frustration, Razumov savagely beats the helpless man. After such an action, Razumov thinks to himself “If I must suffer, let me at least suffer for my convictions, not for a crime my reason – my cool superior reason – rejects” (375).
What is meant by this; is that he wishes that if he is to be convicted for something, let it be something he truly values and believes in. Not something he did irrationally without thinking of the potential consequences. This demonstrates that disruption of structure is a variable that can potentially cause one to stray from reason. This displays that changes to one's environment and surroundings can affect one's judgement.
Although disruption to order may have an affect on reasoning, reason is always strongly affected by ones morals. Victor Haldin demonstrates this by always standing for his idea and belief in the revolutionary movement. Haldin kills an important political figure as a revolutionary act, his reasoning being that it is for the greater good. Victor Haldin truly believes that the revolution is what he is meant to be a part of, and this greatly influences his decisions. His passion is seen when he first speaks to Razumov. “ You suppose that I am a terrorist, now – a destructor of what is, but consider that the true destroyers are they who destroy the spirit of progress and truth, not the avengers who merely kill the bodies of the prosecutors of human dignity” (193).
The idea of reason from belief is again seen in the acts of Victor Haldin when he states that he is prepared to die for what he believes in. “ They can kill my body, but they cannot exile my soul from this world. I tell you what – I believe in this world so much that I cannot conceive eternity otherwise than as a very long life. That is perhaps the reason I am ready to die” (614). What Haldin displays is that he feels he has done the right thing, he has supported what he believes in.
To believe something is the right thing is potentially the most powerful influence over reason. Haldin also mentions that the reason he is ready for death is that he knows his soul will live on through his action, and the actions that will come as a consequence to his. This is a powerful demonstration that one's morals and beliefs have a strong impact on one's reasoning. Morals are often developed according to the environment one is brought up in, this again conveys the idea that one' s surroundings is a major factor over justification.As well as beliefs, rationality also plays a large part in reasoning.
A rational decision is defined as a decision that will leave one better off than if they hadn't made the decision. However, some people are cynically rational, in the sense that they don't care how it leaves other people, as long as it benefits them. This is portrayed through General T -- . General T – exploits Razumov's vulnerability and forces him into something that will benefit him; at the expense of the well being of Razumov.
Razumov is forced to give up his life at St. Petersburg university in order to spy on Haldin's family and aquire information on the revolutionary plans.Razumov recognizes he's being exploited when he thinks to himself “ I am his prey, his helpless prey” (520). This quote explains that Razumov knows he is vulnerable.
Razumov's vulnerability essentially came from his reasoning, by leading him to make the choices that led him into that situation. Razumov lives in an independent environment, he lives alone and has no one to depend on other than himself. It is for this reason that he is vulnerable to General T--, thus, it is consequence to his environment that the decisions he chooses to make are made. The idea of rational reasoning is also viewed in Victor Haldin's case; in his reasoning to choose to seek help from Razumov. However, unlike General T--, Haldin's choice was not a selfish one.Haldin did choose Razumov because he was vulnerable and an easy target, however not for the same reason.
This is viewed when Haldin explains in greater depth why he chose to seek help from Razumov. “ It occured to me that you – you have no one belonging to you – no ties – no one to suffer for it if this came out by some means. There have been enough ruined homes as it is” (184). Similar to General T --, Haldin picks him because he has no ties, however in this case it is so that he does not risk the suffering of multiple people. Haldin believes this decision is a rational one because it is for what one would call the greater good.
He believes that in making this decision, his cause will benefit from it. This demonstrates that rationality does in fact impact reasoning, however it is rationality itself that can be defined differently among individuals.Throughout the story, Conrad develops the idea that reason is affected by multiple surrounding factors and is frequently altered by external as well as internal variables. Conrad discusses the idea of disruption of order and how it affects reasoning. This is seen in the way Razumov reacts to unwanted changes in his environment.
As well, Conrad portrays the idea of morals and beliefs and how they affect reasoning. This is demonstrated in the way Haldin is willing to give up everything for a cause he believes in. Finally, the idea of rationality is discussed. We are exposed to two different types of rationality: one cynical, and one for the greater good. It is conclusive that ones reasoning falls as a variable to all their surrounds, their environment as a whole.
