Dr. Ramirez
Malcolm Lowry Under the Volcano

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• Multitude of voices: in the mind, spoken, a written voice
• Fragmentation captures the chain of thoughts or the assembly of thoughts
• Lowry reveals the dialogue within the mind
• Instability reflects the chaos of the times (world war II)
• economy, relations, the self lack a center, lack stability
• Inner conflict of the Consul--liking his descent into hell, but a longing for connection with Yvonne, humanity
• Consul--unreliable narrator: what is real? What is an illusion

• Chapter V
  Pastoral image of a couple walking together toward the briny sea; it is an image of union
• This thought belongs to the Consul, and he awakens to the "certainty of brightness"
• Image of pariah dog 127
• image of garden as one of beauty-128
• Sign Le gusta este jardin que es suyo?
• Evite que sus hijos lo destruyan!
• Consul regards himself as a fake 129
• American presence in Mexico with Quincey-131
• First sin--may be owning property, claiming nature for oneself
• Desire to be William Blackstone--settler among the natives
• Memories of the Samaritan 137
• Parian--wilderness of cantinas
• Great brotherhood of alcohol 139
• Image of soul as besieged town 145
• Geoffrey recalling his own innocence 146

Chapter VI

• Hugh feels a traitor and a coward 151
• Hugh has sense of homelessness, deracination 153
• importance of the guitar in creating an identity 155
• The Philoctetes 157
• "Oh to be a Conrad" 159
• Class inversion  on the Philoctetes 160
• Life as a sailor 167
• No brotherhood at sea 171
• Plagiarism of songs 172
• "My disillusionment once more is a pose" 182
• Consul 41; Hugh is 29
• More imagery of sundering, Ekrekia, 185
• Preparations for Tomalin 190
• Postcard arrives "Darling, Why did I leave?" 193