# VI explained — Victory

> Chapter companion for Victory by Joseph Conrad.

## What happens

Schomberg's hotel becomes a gambling den run by Mr. Jones and Ricardo, who operate with mysterious restraint. Schomberg, fearful and resentful, avoids them while suffering his wife's presence. Ricardo recounts to Schomberg how he and Mr. Jones escaped from a schooner, with Mr. Jones stealing the captain's cashbox and Ricardo threatening violence to keep the captain occupied.

## Themes in this chapter

### Evil and Predation

Mr. Jones and Ricardo are portrayed as predatory figures, with Ricardo's casual talk of violence and the gambling operation preying on desperate men.

### Gender and Power

Schomberg's contempt for his wife and his longing for a different woman's arms highlight the power dynamics and emotional emptiness in his marriage.

### Isolation and Detachment

Schomberg feels profoundly alone despite being surrounded by people, and Ricardo boasts of having no feelings, emphasizing emotional detachment.

## Character check-ins

### Schomberg

Fearful and resentful host of the gambling operation, avoids Mr. Jones and Ricardo, suffers his wife's presence.

### Mr. Jones

Gentlemanly gambler who runs the table, described as a starved spectre turned banker, previously escaped a schooner with Ricardo.

### Martin Ricardo

Croupier and enforcer, recounts to Schomberg the story of their escape from a schooner, including threatening the captain.

### Pedro

Hairy, clumsy servant carrying a tray, described as a creature caught in the woods.

### Davidson

Mentioned as noticing the mysterious phenomena at Schomberg's establishment when returning Mrs. Schomberg's shawl.

### Mrs. Zangiacomo

Referred to as Mrs. Schomberg, a patient, scared woman with a blue tooth, whose presence oppresses Schomberg.

## Key lines

> He submitted himself to the situation with a low-spirited stoicism compounded of fear and resignation.

Schomberg accepted his predicament with a gloomy endurance born of fear and giving up.

_Describes Schomberg's passive acceptance of the gambling operation in his hotel._

> I am that sort of fellow. You wouldn't think it, would you? No. You have to be told.

Ricardo claims to be a dangerous man, though it's not obvious, and he needs to explain it.

_Ricardo boasts to Schomberg about his ruthless nature._

> If the skipper had said, 'Oh, bosh!' and had turned his back on me, he would not have gone three steps towards his bed; but he stood there and stared.

If the captain had dismissed Ricardo's ruse and walked away, he would have been killed; instead, he stayed and survived.

_Ricardo recounts how the captain's curiosity saved his life during the escape._

## Links

- HTML: https://www.betterreads.online/discover/victory_se/chapters/part-ii-vi
- Book: https://www.betterreads.online/discover/victory_se
- All chapters: https://www.betterreads.online/discover/victory_se/chapters