The Mark Of The Beast

The narrator recognizes the inherent worth of native culture and is open to diverse experiences, though his ultimate loyalty belongs to England. He expresses a pluralist approach to truth, accepting that the native religion has as much value as that of the Church of England. Despite his belief in science and facts, the narrator recognizes that life contains inexplicable and even supernatural elements.

The narrator’s sense of humor reflects his criticism and his acceptance of English culture. He dryly describes the boisterous acts of the New Year’s Eve celebrants yet feels a camaraderie with them as they share stories and express their unity in support of British rule. The narrator’s attempts at humor also work to assuage his own discomfort with Fleete’s disturbing behaviors. He compares Hanuman’s temple leadership to a “Managing Committee” in an English church and characterizes Fleete’s strange manner of eating as a criticism about their less-than “elevating society.” His attempts to bring English humor to a fearsome situation fall flat for Strickland, however; Strickland’s inability to appreciate the narrator’s attempts at levity serve to emphasize the dichotomy between sub-cultures as they exist even in the dominant English culture.

The reader learns little about the narrator’s profession nor his reason for being in India.