The Man Without a Country: Analysis of Major Characters
"The Man Without a Country" is a poignant narrative that explores themes of patriotism, isolation, and the profound consequences of one man's actions. Central to the story is Philip Nolan, a young American army officer who, in a moment of defiance, curses his country during a court-martial stemming from his involvement in a conspiracy led by Aaron Burr. His punishment is severe: he is condemned to live on naval vessels for the remainder of his life, cut off from any mention of the United States. This drastic sentence transforms Nolan from a brash young man into a figure of deep melancholy as he becomes "Plain Buttons," a man of the sea without a homeland.
As time passes, the initial bravado he exhibited fades, replaced by an overwhelming sense of loss and longing for the country he once scorned. He is forgotten by the authorities, endlessly shuffled from ship to ship, embodying the tragic fate of an expatriate who is stripped of identity and belonging. In his final moments, he learns of the significant events that have transpired during his exile, profoundly underscoring the themes of regret and the human need for connection to one’s homeland. The character of Colonel Morgan, who presides over Nolan's court-martial, serves as a reminder of the legal and moral frameworks that govern such punishments, adding depth to the exploration of justice and loyalty within the narrative.
The Man Without a Country: Analysis of Major Characters
Author: Edward Everett Hale
First published: 1863
Genre: Short fiction
Locale: The United States and the high seas
Plot: Historical
Time: Nineteenth century
Philip Nolan, a brash young American army officer who becomes involved in Aaron Burr's conspiracy against the United States. At his court-martial, in a show of bravado, the young man curses his country. As a result, he is sentenced to serve out his life aboard naval vessels, never seeing the United States or hearing it mentioned. Even his books and periodicals are excised of all allusions to his country. Through the years, Nolan is transferred from one navy vessel to another, always wearing an army uniform with plain buttons, thus acquiring the nickname of “Plain Buttons.” As time passes, authorities in the Navy and in Washington forget Nolan, but he is still passed from one ship to another, never allowed within a hundred miles of the American coast. As the years pass his unconcern, worn bravely at first, fades away, as he wanders the seas an official expatriate—countryless, friendless, even nameless. As he finally lies dying, an old man, the captain of his current prison ship tells Nolan what has happened in the fifty-six years since Nolan left the country—omitting, for the dying man's sake, only the Civil War.
Colonel Morgan, the army officer conducting the court-martial that sends Philip Nolan to his years of wandering over the sea.