The Primitive and the Civilized

Where it surfaces

• XXVI

  Strickland is described as having something primitive, partaking of obscure forces of nature, like a satyr or faun, and possessing a sensuality that seems curiously spiritual.

• Chapter of Reflection on Blanche Stroeve's Betrayal

  Strickland is described as having an untamed, wild quality, likened to 'wild beings of the world’s early history' and a satyr, highlighting the clash between primal instinct and civilized norms.

• XXXV

  Strickland's primitive cruelty contrasts with Dirk's civilized compassion and the nurse's serene kindness.

• XLI

  Strickland's raw, instinctual desire is described as a primitive force, contrasting with the civilized expectations of society.

• XLV

  The chapter contrasts the orderly, English nature of Wellington with the wild, mysterious beauty of Tahiti, emphasizing the island's primal allure.

• XLVII

  The chapter contrasts the brutal, primitive life of Marseilles' low quarters with the civilized comfort the narrator knows, highlighting Strickland's immersion in a raw, savage existence.

• XLIX

  Strickland's immediate sense of home in Tahiti contrasts with his rejection of European society, suggesting a deep affinity for a more 'primitive' way of life.

• LI

  The contrast between Strickland's life in the bush with Ata and the European society he left behind underscores the theme of returning to a simpler, more 'primitive' existence.

• LII

  Strickland's life in the Tahitian wilderness contrasts sharply with his former civilized existence, embracing a primitive, self-sufficient lifestyle.

• LIII

  Strickland's life in Tahiti embodies a rejection of European civilization for a primitive, Eden-like existence, highlighting the tension between the two worlds.

• LIV

  The contrast between Strickland's reception in Europe versus the remote island highlights the theme of civilization's constraints versus the primitive acceptance of individual nature.

• LV

  The contrast between the encroaching jungle and Strickland's cultivated plantation, along with the natives' superstitious horror of leprosy, highlights the tension between civilization and raw nature.

• LVI

  The paintings evoke a primeval forest and naked people, blending beauty with something horrible and primeval, reflecting the tension between civilization and raw nature.

• LVII

  The murals depict a vision of the beginnings of the world, blending primal instincts with divine elements, set in a native hut far from civilization.