Pincher Martin: Analysis of Major Characters
"Pincher Martin" is a novel by William Golding that follows the life and ultimate demise of Christopher Hadley "Pincher" Martin, a British navy lieutenant characterized by his self-importance and moral failures. Once an actor, Martin betrays those around him, notably by seducing his producer's wife and raping his best friend's wife. The narrative intensifies when Martin is blown off his ship by a German torpedo and finds himself clinging to a barren rock in the North Atlantic, hundreds of miles from help. Over four days, he struggles for survival, grappling with starvation and the elements while experiencing vivid imaginings of his past life. The contrast is stark between Martin and his best friend, Nathaniel Walterson, whose spirituality and innocence highlight Martin's selfishness. Other significant characters include Mary Lovell, the object of Martin's desire, and Peter, the theatrical producer whose life Martin disrupts. The story culminates with Martin's death, which is misinterpreted by naval officers, providing a haunting reflection on his fleeting existence and the nature of human connection.
Pincher Martin: Analysis of Major Characters
Author: William Golding
First published: 1956
Genre: Novel
Locale: Mid-Atlantic Ocean
Plot: Psychological realism
Time: World War II
Christopher Hadley “Pincher” Martin, a British navy lieutenant, called “Pincher” because that is the standard nickname for Martins in the Royal Navy. Prior to the war, he was an actor, with an eagle profile and wavy hair. Because he had no belief in anything but his own importance, he betrayed those close to him by sleeping with his producer's wife to advance his career and by raping his best friend's wife after serving as best man at their wedding. He is blown from his ship by a German torpedo. In the Atlantic Ocean, hundreds of miles from land and thirty miles from a British convoy, Martin desperately attempts to stay alive on a barren rock in the North Atlantic. Clinging to the rock, he feeds on mussels and lichens as he rationally plots his survival and rescue. In an attempt to retain touches of humanity, he names the various sections of rock, many after London locations, though he imagines the rocks to be teeth in some mighty, threatening jaw ready to devour him, and he shaves himself with his knife. Fearing to sleep, he remains exposed on the rock for four days, buffeted by the elements. When he suffers food poisoning, Martin, using parts of his life belt, performs a crude, improvisational enema on himself. Because he is still wearing his heavy boots when his corpse washes ashore at novel's end, the navy determines that he must have been drowned at sea at the time of the explosion. Essentially, the novel's main character has been a corpse, and its main action has been merely the expansion of Martin's instantaneous imaginings as he struggled all too briefly to stay alive.
Nathaniel (Nat) Walterson, Pincher's best friend. Nathaniel's spirituality and innocence contrast with Martin's self-serving sensuality, but, aboard ship, Nathaniel is a laughingstock. Extraordinarily tall, slender, and awkward, Nathaniel is thrown from the railing where he is leaning in prayer when Martin turns the ship hard starboard to evade the approaching torpedo.
Mary Lovell, the virginal woman after whom Martin lusts. Martin has introduced Nathaniel to her but, attracted by her manners and social sophistication, he wishes to ruin their happiness by sexually forcing himself on her.
Peter, the theatrical producer for whom Martin worked before the war. Peter's wife is seduced by Martin. While racing motorcycles against Martin, Peter injures his leg when Pincher delays turning into a curve, so that Peter's front wheel strikes Martin's back wheel.
Helen, Peter's wife. Martin seduces her to improve his standing in the theatrical company.
Campbell, a crofter on a small island in the Hebrides. Campbell discovers Martin's body when it washes up and reports his discovery to the Navy.
Davidson, a naval officer who comes to the island to record the death of Martin. It is Davidson who determines that Martin died almost immediately in the water, noting that Martin did not have time even to kick off his seaboots.