The Innocents Abroad · Chapter
VIII explained
The narrator describes the ancient city of Tangier, Morocco, as a thoroughly foreign and exotic place that surpasses any previous expectations.
What happens
The narrator describes the ancient city of Tangier, Morocco, as a thoroughly foreign and exotic place that surpasses any previous expectations. He marvels at the diverse inhabitants, including Moors, Bedouins, Jews, and Negroes, and reflects on the city's ancient history, from the Phoenicians to the Romans. He also discusses local customs, the cramped market stalls, and the dangers of wealth under the despotic Emperor of Morocco.
Themes in this chapter
Colonialism and Otherness
The narrator emphasizes Tangier as 'thoroughly and uncompromisingly foreign,' contrasting it with familiar Western culture and highlighting the exoticism of its people and customs.
The Past vs. the Present
The chapter juxtaposes Tangier's ancient history—from Phoenicians to Romans—with the modern day, noting how the city's relics evoke a sense of timelessness.
Characters to notice
- The Narrator
Describes Tangier with awe and humor, reflecting on its ancient history and foreignness.
- Jack
Goes to change a napoleon and returns saying he 'swamped the bank' with the amount of coin received.
Key passages
“We wanted something thoroughly and uncompromisingly foreign—foreign from top to bottom—foreign from center to circumference—foreign inside and outside and all around—nothing anywhere about it to dilute its foreignness—nothing to remind us of any other people or any other land under the sun.”
The travelers desired an experience that was completely alien, with no familiar elements to soften the strangeness.
Expresses the group's craving for pure exoticism, a key theme of the chapter.
“Here is a crumbling wall that was old when Columbus discovered America; was old when Peter the Hermit roused the knightly men of the Middle Ages to arm for the first Crusade; was old when Charlemagne and his paladins beleaguered enchanted castles...”
The ancient wall predates Columbus, the Crusades, and even Charlemagne, emphasizing Tangier's immense age.
Highlights the theme of the past vs. the present through historical layering.