How we cite our quotes: (Chapter.Paragraph)
Quote #10
"Thus ended the first and adventurous part of his existence. What followed was so different that, but for the reality of sorrow which remained with him, this strange past must have resembled a dream." (20.4)
This idea of life going on – and yet not – is central to Lord Jim. What does the contradiction mean? Well, life does in fact go on, but the past is very hard to leave behind. Jim's past haunts him, even while he tries to forget about it and move forward. It's both too real for him to escape and too unreal for him to believe in.