Nobel Speech by Naipaul

Naipaul is a very interesting character.  In his Nobel Lecture given on the 7th December 2001 Naipaul outlines his journey through his career and also his views on life and writing.  His writing is clearly rooted in his past, "When I became a writer those areas of darkness around me as a child became my subjects.".  His use of areas of darkness is clearing a reference to Conrad.  Naipaul's views of these areas is one that is not fully held by others.  He is often critical of areas which he views as being shadowed in darkness.  His views are that the people that are in these areas are just as responsible for raising themselves to a better potion.  Naipauls examinations of his motives shows that he often is with out plan and goes where his life and writing guide him, often these are to areas throughout the world.