Typee · Chapter
XXIV explained
The narrator reflects on the religious practices of the Typees, criticizing inaccurate accounts by missionaries and scientific travelers.
What happens
The narrator reflects on the religious practices of the Typees, criticizing inaccurate accounts by missionaries and scientific travelers. He describes the mausoleum of a deceased warrior chief, the superstition surrounding it, and the relaxed attitude of the islanders toward religion. He also recounts Kory-Kory's explanation of the afterlife and the general indifference of the Typees to formal worship.
Themes in this chapter
Cultural Relativism
The narrator contrasts the peaceful, carefree life of the Typees with the exaggerated and negative accounts of missionaries and travelers, suggesting that their practices are misunderstood.
Taboo and Social Order
The mausoleum is described as a sacred place marked by the sign of Taboo, indicating the role of taboo in maintaining social and spiritual order.
The Idealized Primitive
The narrator portrays the Typees as a 'community of lusty savages' leading a 'merry, idle, innocent life,' contrasting them with the corruptions of civilized society.
Characters to notice
- Narrator
Reflects on the religious beliefs and practices of the Typees, describing the mausoleum and his conversations with Kory-Kory.
- Kory-Kory
Explains the afterlife beliefs to the narrator, describing the warrior chief's journey to a Polynesian heaven.
- Fayaway
Mentioned in connection with the lake named after her, near the mausoleum.
- Kolory
Identified as a priest in the chapter heading, though not directly featured in the excerpt.
- Moa Artua
Mentioned in the chapter heading as a god, though not directly described in the excerpt.
Key passages
“a community of lusty savages, who are leading a merry, idle, innocent life”
The Typees are a lively, carefree, and innocent people.
The narrator contrasts this positive depiction with the negative accounts given by missionaries and travelers.
“An unbounded liberty of conscience seemed to prevail.”
The Typees allowed complete freedom of religious belief.
The narrator observes that the islanders did not enforce any particular religious doctrine.
“The sanctity of the spot appeared never to have been violated.”
The mausoleum had never been disturbed or desecrated.
The narrator describes the sacredness of the warrior chief's burial place.
“A bird in the hand is worth two in the bush?”
Kory-Kory's proverb suggests that contentment with the present is better than longing for an uncertain future.
The narrator interprets Kory-Kory's response about the afterlife as a practical, wise saying.