The Secret Sharer: Analysis of Major Characters
"The Secret Sharer" is a novella by Joseph Conrad that delves into themes of identity, authority, and moral ambiguity through its major characters. The story's protagonist, a young unnamed Captain, grapples with his self-doubt and the daunting responsibilities of his first command. Feeling alienated from his ship and crew, he encounters Leggatt, an escaped murderer who becomes a pivotal figure in his journey of self-discovery. Leggatt, described as the Captain's "double," embodies the Captain's inner struggles and aspirations for independence, complicating the narrative's exploration of justice and personal morality.
The chief mate, who represents conventional authority, challenges the Captain's decisions and adds tension to the story, while the second mate's disdain reflects the crew's skepticism of the young Captain's capabilities. Archbold, the captain of the Sephora, further illustrates the conflict between strict adherence to rules and the complexities of individual circumstances. Together, these characters create a rich tapestry of psychological interplay, forcing the Captain to confront his ideals and the essence of leadership as he navigates both literal and metaphorical waters. The story invites readers to reflect on the nature of self and the choices that define one's identity in the face of moral dilemmas.
The Secret Sharer: Analysis of Major Characters
Author: Joseph Conrad
First published: 1912 (in 'Twixt Land and Sea)
Genre: Novel
Locale: The Gulf of Siam
Plot: Adventure
Time: 1880
The Captain, the narrator and protagonist of the story, a young man who is beginning his first command. The nameless young Captain not only feels like a stranger to his ship but also feels like a stranger to himself. Being the youngest man on board, with the exception of the second mate, he doubts his abilities, and he wonders if on this first voyage he will turn out to be faithful to his own ideal conception of his personality, something that he believes all men secretly set up for themselves. His first real challenge comes with the arrival of the escaped murderer, Leggatt. He believes Leggatt's story of a justified and accidental killing and makes every effort to conceal him from the rest of the crew, even though this leads his men to suspect his abilities even more than they might have ordinarily. At the end of the story, he ignores the warnings of his chief mate and takes the ship dangerously close to shore to allow Leggatt to escape. Through his concealment of Leggatt, he gains the authority and confidence necessary for command.
Leggatt, the chief mate of the Sephora, who has killed a man aboard his own ship and has swum to the young Captain's ship to escape being taken back home to face trial. The character of Leggatt is not as clear-cut as those of the other characters in the story. For one thing, the only person who sees him in the story is the narrator. For another, he not only looks very much like the Captain but also went to the same school. Throughout the story, the narrator continually refers to him as his “double,” his “secret self,” his “secret sharer,” and other terms that suggest that Leggatt is not so much a real person as he is a psychological reflection of the Captain himself. This does not mean that Leggatt does not exist, for it seems quite clear that he actually did kill a man aboard his own ship, one who would not do his duty and who was endangering the lives of others. Because Leggatt has dared to act on his own individual initiative in spite of authority, however, he seems to represent in some ways the “ideal conception” that the Captain has in mind of himself. Furthermore, he provides the opportunity for the Captain himself to act independently and to assert his own authority to his crew.
The chief mate, an elderly man, simple in his perceptions. He is a painstaking sort who likes to “account” for everything. He has little confidence in the Captain and challenges him at the crucial climactic point of the story, when he is afraid that the Captain will crash the ship into the rocks.
The second mate, a taciturn young man who is younger than the Captain but who is given to sneering at him.
Archbold, the captain of the Sephora, the ship on which Leggatt was chief mate. His treatment of Leggatt makes it clear that he is not only obstinate but also that he is a stickler for a strict interpretation of rules. When he comes aboard the narrator's ship looking for Leggatt, it is clear that he is timid and fearful and that he can make no decisions on his own without the backing of the law and of the authorities.