Question

Which evidence from the text best explains Achebe’s opinion about the counterargument?

“The primary narrator is Marlow, but his account is given to us through the filter of a second, shadowy person.”
“Conrad’s intention is to draw a cordon sanitaire between himself and the moral and psychological malaise of his narrator.”
“He neglects to hint . . . at an alternative frame of reference by which we may judge the actions and opinions of his characters.”
“Conrad appears to go to considerable pains to set up layers of insulation between himself and the moral universe of his history.”

Answer 1

“He neglects to hint . . . at an alternative frame of reference by which we may judge the actions and opinions of his characters.”

Explanation: Achebe’s point is that Conrad provides no contrasting perspective to critique or correct his narrator’s racist views, so the claim that Conrad can be excused as merely “filtering” his narrator’s attitudes is weakened.