zaaaAP Lit SuperBlog

How Would You React?

In The Secret Sharer, the protagonist is confronted with his double.  There is no denying that.  Whether it is a love affair, whether Leggatt symbolizes his ideal side, or whether Leggatt symbolizes his dark side.  Yet, my interest is in how intensely he reacts to Leggatt.  What would you do if you were suddenly confronted with your double?  At first, the captain seems to have the feeling of being in two places at once. In his own body, but also in Leggatt's body, he seems to portray his soul being divided in two to provide for each of his "bodies." As the story moves on, the unspoken connection between Leggatt and the captain is exemplified by their Momentaneous but intense touching.  "Our hands met gropingly, lingered united in a steady, motionless clasp for a second... No word was breathed by either of us when they separated (167)." Apart from the different reading of this book as love, idealism or darkness, the way Leggatt and the captain interact seems always very intense, as if every word and action was crucial to some greater meaning of themselves.

Leggatt and the captain are obviously acting out of their usual ways with  each other.  My question to you is, who would you react if your double, half dead, was found at your doorstep? Would you feel torn? Would you be indifferent? Would you even help him/her?

The Stranger and the Secret Sharer

As I was reading The Secret Sharer, I couldn't help but to think of how different it is from The Stranger.  In The Stranger, Camus uses language that is easy to understand and is to the point.  When I first started reading The Secret Sharer, I noticed the difference in language because Conrad uses more detail and more complicated sentences.  I'm not saying that Conrad doesn't have good techniques, it is just a change from reading The Stranger.  I know I found some parts in The Secret Sharer to be really confusing and I had to really read it to understand it.  Do you guys think that Conrad's launguage and detail sometimes gets too confusing to understand?   

The Captain v. Meursault

After reading the short story, "The Secret Sharer" seems to be the opposite of The Stranger.  In "The Secret Sharer", the captain meets a complete stranger, Leggatt, yet develops a deep relationship with him over the course of a few days.  In contrast, Meursault is emotionally disconnected even from people he has know for a long time, such as Maman and Marie.

The captain's reaction right after meeting Leggatt is very casual, rather than frightened.  After Leggatt confesses that he has killed a man, the captain merely responds "What do you mean?  Just now?" (130).  The captain is comfortable enough with the stranger as to allow him to sleep in his bed, and each night they talk to each other.  Why is the captain able to connect with this complete stranger, where as Meursault can barely understand his long time friends?

Although it is understandable that Meursault's authentic life may prevent him from caring about people, it is interesting to see how the exact opposite is illustrated.  Before Leggatt leaves the ship he tells the captain "it's a great satisfaction to have got somebody to understand....It's very wonderful," (161).  It's surprising to see how a few days has produced a close relationship between two strangers, and how these two strangers "understand" each other. 

However, why does the captain make such a close bond with a complete stranger?  Does Leggatt initiate this closeness?

Where Did He Go?

Multiple times in this story, Leggatt is almost caught by the shipmates of the captain and Leggatt's shipmates. Where did Leggatt go to hide? When the steward hangs up Leggatt's coat in the bathroom, he magically disappears. The captain says, "Had my double vanished as [the steward] had come? (159)" When the captain of the Sephora comes onto the ship, searches the entire ship from bow to stern, port to starboard, the man is nowhere to be found. Where does this magical man go?

Is it possible that Leggatt is not a real person, but merely a ghost? Or is he the soul of the captain, and that is why the two feel this special connection. Many times, Leggatt is not referred to as a person, but merely as a "creature" or a "ghostly figure." Is Conrad trying to hint to us something? Why would Leggatt be referred to as a creature instead of a person or human, or am I overreacting to a few word choices by the author? Is the mysterious man a figment of his imagination that he uses as a confidence booster? Or is Leggatt just an imaginary friend? Have I asked enough questions?

Mirror Mirror...

In this short story, the narrator and captain of the ship is confronted with his double, someone who he comes to feel is an extension of himself.

He describes, "It was, in the night, as though I had been faced by my own reflection in the depths of a somber and immense mirror" (130).

This feeling, of the convict being a duplicate of the captain, is prevalent throughout the story; it seems to be an important aspect of the greater meaning of the text. However, I cannot quite put my finger on what this meaning might be...

Is it that this man represents the hidden counterpart within everyone? Or am I taking this idea too far? Maybe Conrad is simply using this reflection/mirror diction as a way to describe the situation better for the reader. Is the man a symbol of something bigger?

A Possible Love Affair?

"Our hands met gropingly, lingered united in a steady, motionless clasp for a second... No word was breathed by either of us when they separated." pg. 167

This connection between Captain, and the "secret sharer" seems strangely close for two complete strangers. The way the narrator talks about their encounters with each other, makes the reader believe that these two men are not simply friends. Although Captain stresses that Leggatt is his "double", and that they are almost the same person, this tie seems to be stronger than that of two friends helping each other out.

"'Be careful,' he murmured, warningly - and I realized suddenly that all my future, the only future for which I was fit, would perhaps go irretrievably to pieces in any mishap to my first command." pg. 163

Not only do these two men interact as though they were more than friends, in which they hold hands, and whisper softly into each others ear, the Captain is willing to give up his entire life for Leggatt. He explains that what he is doing, in letting Leggatt off at the Koh-Ring, risks his entire career, and could possibly lead to death. He is risking his life for that of a stranger he met merely a short while before.

What is the significance of the relationship between Leggatt and Captain? Is it merely friendship, amplified due to the striking similarities between the two? Or is it something more?

The Nameless Captian

The Nameless Captain is so pathetic. He acts all "emo," with his "I'm a stranger," "I don't know the ship, but I don't know the people ever more," and "I'm so alone." But then, under the slightest bit of pressure, this man turns into a blundering man. For example, on pg. 147, he says, "The heavy sea which you told me, came aboard just then might have killed the man very neatly, by simply breaking his neck." Then, on pg. 148, he says, "Unless you manage to recover him before tomorrow... I mean alive."

Seriously?!? He might as well just take Archbold to Leggatt. I also do not understand how the Nameless Captain keeps comparing himself to Leggatt. I mean, Nameless can't handle pressure and doesn't have a lot of confidence in his words. But Leggatt straight up says, "I killed a man." How is that in any way similar?

Also, on pg. 152 when one of his shipmates says, "Some idea the man was hidden aboard here. They had really. Did you ever hear of such a thing?" That is just cliche.

Do you see any parallels between Leggatt and Nameless?
How do you think Nameless ever became the captain of a ship if he isn't very confident in what he does?

The Sea and the Sharer

In The Secret Sharer, Conrad explores the reaches of the human heart and the need for a friend and companion in one's life. For the narrator, I believe that the companion and friend, his solace against the loneliness he feels, is the sea itself.  Several times during the novella, the narrator draws a parallel between the sea and the feelings of comfort or happiness.  "And suddenly I rejoiced in the great security of the sea as compared with the unrest of the land, in my choice of that untempted life presenting no disquieting problems, invested with an elementary moral beauty by the absolute straightforwardness of its appeal and by the singleness of its purpose."  The sea is a great source of comfort for the captain, a friend and a way of life.

My discussion questions have to do with the like.  What do you think the significance of the sea is in the story, other than what has been covered?  Do you think that this will also be a recurring theme in Heart of Darkness? 

And what about the strange man, Leggatt?  He was introduced to the captain via the sea, and taken away very much the same way.  Could the mysterious stranger have really just been a stowaway, or something more?

Alter Ego

As the story begins, the captain feels that he is a stranger on his own ship. He is timid and unnerved by his own crew. The captain worries about his reputation among his crew and therefore lacks the courage needed to properly command his ship.
However, when Leggatt appears he helps the captain to change and become a better captain. Leggatt, who has killed a man on his previous ship, represents a powerful and feared figure and seems to be what the captain is lacking. As the captain interacts more and more with Leggatt he gains the power and conviction needed to better command his ship.
Together, the captain and Leggatt make a powerful tandem. The captain, who is rational but more reserved, and Leggatt who is irrational but triumphant, combine to lead the ship successfully. I believe that the message that Conrad is trying to convey in this story is finding the right balance of duality within a human being. In the case of The Secret Sharer, Leggatt helps the captain to find the proper balance between the timid and bold sides of his personality.
Is Leggatt the captains alter ego?

Leggatt and the Narrator: Complex Relationship

When I was reading chapter 1 of The Secret Sharer, I noticed something peculiar about the narrator.  In the first part of the chapter the narrator is passive and wants to fit in with his crew, he does things to please his crew members that a normal captain would never do. Then Leggatt shows up and he changes.  The next day he's a completely different person.  He orders his crew around and doesn't care what they think and in a way it seems as if he's trying to please Leggatt. He looks over his shoulder at Leggatt as he instructs his crew members what to do and he even has the urge to take into account what Leggatt thinks is best.  That whole scene just seemed ominous to me, it seems as if this normal guy, well not totally "normal," is now friends with the devil. 

The relationship between the two men is already strange since we're only seeing it through the eyes of the narrator who obviously thinks he and Leggatt are exactly alike. Which is also weird, he always mentions that if someone would walk in on him and Leggatt, the person would immediately think that they were seeing double.  The narrator seems to even take pleasure in that thought, "I saw him far back there, sitting rigidly on the low stool, his bare feet close together, his arms folded, his head hanging on his breast--and perfectly still.  Anybody would have taken him for me." (The Secret Sharer, Joseph Conrad, page 144) 

The narrator also accepts that Leggatt killed a man so easily.  I know it's early in the story, but does anyone see a resemblence between Leggatt and the narrator.  I think the narrator is trying to force the idea that they're identical, for his own reasons.  Another question I have is why does the narrator find it easy and and natural to relate to Legatt, the murderer, over his own ship mates?

The White Castle/ The Stranger

I've been doing an independent study on Turkish literature and I just read a novel called The White Castle by Orhan Pamuk. It's about a Venetian man who gets captured and becomes a slave in Istanbul. His owner, whom he calls Hoja (the Turkish term for master), look exactly alike and are theoretically the same person. Of course this causes many problems and brings up questions of individuality, original thought, and love. The Secret Sharer reminds me of this novel in that the two strangers on board the ship- the captain and the murderer- are "identical"- the main character refers to the new man aboard the ship as his "second self" (139, 144).

I also found that the murderer was very similar to Meursault. He is strongly affected by the weather, and, because of a bad storm and its frustrations, he kills in cold blood. This is almost the same situation that Meursault was in. I find it interesting that the Secret Sharer, which was written before either of these other two books, was emulated so strongly by other writers.

Or, are identical identities just a commonly explored theme in literature?

Long Lost Twin

After reading the first part of The Secret Sharer, some obvious themes jump out at me.  There is one, however, that I find very interesting.  At the beginning, before Leggatt comes on board, the captain is very self-conscious about his position on the ship and his being a "stranger" to the other crew members.  He calls himself a stranger three times in a very short period of time, making us as readers very aware of his self-consciousness.

After Leggatt boards, he stops thinking about his strangeness and becomes obsessed with their similarities.  He refers to Leggatt as "my double" or as having the same traits as him thirteen times over the course of fifteen or so pages!  To me, this seems a little obsessive.  I don't know much about the time that this book was written, but it's odd that it doesn't really bother him that this man is a murderer because he is so caught up in how similar they are.  Near the end of the first part, the captain refers to Leggatt as his "secret self" and then later his "secret sharer" (143).  Maybe I'm missing something, but this to me is verging on creepy and weird.  They have only had one conversation at this point, and yet the captain says that "the daul working of my mind distracted me almost to the point of insanity" (143).  This new man even causes him to change the way he runs his ship, because the morning after he shows up, the captain give "the first particular order [he] had given on board that ship" (143).

What I don't understand is where this obsession came from.  Could it just be that the captain always wanted a twin brother?  Or was he so lonely and nervous about being the new big shot on the ship that he latched onto this man who just showed up one night on his shift?

Big Fat Liar

His last word - to live with, 'she insisted.' Don't you understand I loved him - I loved him - I loved him!

I pulled myself together and spoke slowly.

The last word he pronounced was - your name.

Quoted by both Marlow and Kurtz's fiancee, the author decided to insert these lines for the sole reason of agreeing with Marlow's misogynistic views. As stated previously, Marlow believes that women live in a "dream world," where what they "believe" is real. However, Marlow is the only person who truly knows what Kurtz's last words were. Of course after living and almost becoming one of the natives and ultimately a "god," the last thing on his mind would be about his "love that was left behind." I believe that Marlow obtained a larger insight on how incredible of a person Kurtz was. After hearing that he was intended to marry and how in love the fiancee was, he understands how impactive Kurtz was on the world.

What If One Killed The Other

Since this is a story that can be taken many different ways, I was always curious about one thing. If Leggatt and the  captain  are so much the same  then why don't they exploit this advantage? Basically half the story is about the captain describing how much Leggatt looks like him. Before Mr. Heidkamp pointed out that this could be because Leggatt was just a figure from the captains imagination, I thought that there was a different reason why the captain went into so much detail about Leggatt. He simply feared having a double. Wouldn't any of us be a little disturbed if someone knocked on our door that looked exactly like us and then it turned out for some reason we had to hide them in our room? The ultimate fear here would be, what stops your double from replacing you? The captain never told anyone about Leggatt. Therefore if they really looked as alike as the captain describes then there would be no chance in realizing a switch. Maybe the reason why the captain was always in the stateroom watching over Leggatt wasn't because he was attracted to him or because he was trying to take care of him, but simply because he wanted to keep an eye on him and get him off the boat as fast as possible.

Obsession with Sex

I think that it is interesting that the subject of the Captains sexuality was never brought up in class, until post reading. I wonder if that relates to either the embarrassment of coming to that conclusion or if whether it was not something that we really acknowledged. It made me think of Freud's obsession with repressed sexual (often homosexual) tendencies and made me question the reading again. I remember when reading that the idea of a romantic relationship popped into my head a few times, but I quickly pushed it aside, until it was mentioned in class. The lines that we used to support the homosexual feelings, read in that context, were outrageously obvious, however were not beforehand. Leggatt could have merely been in the story to relate to the Captain and give him the confidence to have autonomy in his ship. I think a lot of time our society is overly interested in sexuality and homosexuality and often can over read these types of relationships. I'm not sure what Conrad wanted to portray and ultimately that does not really matter, but I find it interesting what conclusions we come to.

Olivia W.

An Orgasmic Ending

If you were deeply disturbed by Mr Heidkamp's comment in class today, do NOT read this entry!!!

This entry is rated "M" for Mature...

I must say that class today was a little disturbing.  Having your teacher compare the ending to a piece of literature with an orgasm is quite awkward, but part of me sees where is coming from.  This novella portrays the captain's coming of age through his experiences with Leggatt.  At the end of the story, he explains how he enjoyed Leggatt's company and how he shows affection for him.  He gains confidence in his own abilities with the ship and his command.  Sex plays a major role in most young adults' lives, but while being on a ship of all men, it is hard to handle.

Mr. Heidkamp explained how the captain's bringing the ship closer and closer to the point of no return was like an orgasm.  At first, he wasn't sure how far he would move in, but once he thought of how Leggatt's safety was possibly on the line, decided to take it in further.  After a while, he was so caught up in his emotion for Leggatt that he didn't know whether the ship was even moving.  His seamen were worried that all was lost and that they would crash, but in the end, as Eliot so painfully voiced, the sight of white showed the captain that it was time to get out. 

Again, I am sorry for those of you who are somewhat disturbed by this!

Whispers vs. Shouts

There's been a lot of talk about homosexuality the last few days in response to Mr. Heidkamp's suggestion in English. I think it's a really interesting interpretation, one which I never would have seen on my own. But after rereading a few sections the idea of a homosexual relationship between Leggatt and the Captain is even more plausible.
While looking through the text I found it really interesting the contrast between homosexuality and "secret whispers" and the captain's apparent loudness with the Sephora captain and on the poop. I'm not sure if this is intential by Conrad but it seems that he is contrasting the quiet and loudness. It also seems that the captain must use loudness to mask his homosexuality. For example. when the captain of the Sephora comes on deck the captain pretends that he himself is deaf to force the other captain to speak louder. He does this to cover up the homosexual relationship and ensure that Leggatt will know everything that is going on in order to protect him. Also, when the steward wants to hang up Leggatt's coat the captain is forcefully loud and yells at the steward irately. To me it seems like the captain is a completely different person when he is with Leggatt (more quiet) than when he is on deck with the rest of the crew (more loud).

Beauty in the Serenity

Before the capitan meets his double, he notices the beauty and placidity in his life. I was amazed at the diction of Conrad, and how amazingly breath-taking he described the sea as being. There is definately a surreal aspect to the ocean, because right off the bat, he uses the words "incomprehensible," and "crazy," and "animated." (pg 121) His life is very calm. Conrad reiterizes the stillness of the water, and his alone-ness, which he does not mind at all. He has freedom to do what he wants, which at that point in time, consists of staring out at the openness of the ocean, and the ability for him to control his life.
He seems used to the sameness of his ship. He says, on page 126, that "I took heart from the reasonable thought that the ship was like other ships, the men like other men, and that the sea was not likely to keep any special surprises expressly for my discomfiture." Perhaps he is taking solace to the fact that he can control his life, and that nothing is going to happen to change it. Although he appears disgruntled at the uniformity of his ship, he finds comfort in the thought that the sea is secure and he can control whatever he wants.
He finds strength in the beauty of the ocean. In my opinion, true inner strength and inspiration come from the great outdoors.

Hidden Feelings

While reading The Secret Sharer, at first I was just reading it to get it done, but I kept feeling rather uncomfortable like something was going on beneath the text; but, I could never figure it out.  Then, on Wednesday, when one of the choices was sexual repression, I thought, "Why is that up there? There was nothing about that."  But once I went over the reading again, I found all sorts of quotes that point to the idea that the Captain and Leggatt were really "secret partners."  And once again when Mr. Heidkamp reiterated this idea in class, pointing to a quote on page 153, everything made sense.  "Later in the afternoon we had a cautious try at whispering.  The Sunday quietness of the ship was against us; the stillness of air and water around her was against us; the elements, the men were against us-everything was against us in our secret partnership; time itself- for this could not go on forever."  This quote displays the idea that homosexuality has to be kept quiet; no one can know.  Thus "everything" is against it.  It actually quite sad, if you think of the book in this way, because it appears that keeping your true feelings to yourself was how you had to live in this time.  This is embodied by the last few pages, when the Captain seems happy that Leggatt is gone because now he can focus on the ship, and not feelings that are inappropriate for the times.   

What is the capitan actually trying to hide?

When I heard Mr. Heidkamp throw out the idea/topic of the capitan actually just trying to hide his homosexual relationship, it struck me as a pretty good idea. And once he mentioned how this book was written around the same time as the oscar wilde homosexual conviction. This may actually be a big purpose for this book. Sure Legatt was a fugitive, but I dont think that the capitan really would have had to of been keeping him that much of a secret. I mean, he was the capitan and arent the capitans crew supposed to take orders from him. I know that the capitan wasnt a great one, but if the capitans feelings were as strong for Legatt as they seemed. I think he wouldnt have had much of a problem "manning up" to his crew and others. I think that the capitan really soley just wanted to keep his relationship with him a secret but just use the whole fugitive reason as an excuse. 

Moving On

It's obvious that the Captain and Legatt had some secrets of their own regarding their sexual orientation, but the Captain seems to make a shift in love interests when Legatt leaves, turning his focus to the ship.  It's almost as if the Captain is a confused adolescent, moving from one romance to another.  But it's hard not to feel bad for him, the guy is just lonely right?  Well, because of the inability of the ship to leave its captain, at least we know that this relationship is in for some "smooth sailing". 

The New Captain

At the end of The Secret Sharer it seemed as though the captain had changed greatly because of his relationship with Leggatt. He became more in control and less timid on the boat. He started making commands with greater force. He yelled at a ship mate to  "Be quiet," because the man was yelling out that they were lost (169). After the captain and his men got the ship out of danger he says

"Nothing! no one in the world should stand now between us, throwing a shadow on the way of silent knowledge and mute affection, the perfect communion of a seaman with his first command" (171).

This is something the captain would not have been able to say before he had met Leggatt. Once he had let Leggatt go, he felt as if he could finally be in command.

Life on the Poop

Both Leggatt and the narrator do not seem like captain material. I would have liked to know how the narrator became the captain.  He does not seem to have good leadership qualities and repeatedly mentions his "lack of feel" for the ship.  When Captain Archbold speaks of Leggatt, Archbold says, "He wasn't exactly the chief mate of a ship like, the Sephora," (148). 

Shouldn’t the captain be someone who is used to the ship and has positive relationships with the crew?  I think it is important for a leader to be one that people could trust. Throughout the story, the captain barks orders at his crew and the crew begins to wonder if he is sane or not. 

Apparently, Leggatt is not fit to be a captian either.  He kills one of his crew members for being lazy, and did not regret it.  What is with these strange captains? Was Joseph Conrad trying to make a statement with these two captains being like this?

Sharing Secrets

I guess it isn't really a secret. I'm not a fan of The Secret Sharer. Perhaps it is that I lack a fondness for maritime literature, but I found the story difficult to get through. Even with the "cliff hanger" at the end of the first chapter, my only motivation to read on was fear of a quiz on Monday. The writing was the first thing that put me off. I love descriptive details, but no one needs to read that much about fishing stakes.

I also find the captain extremely annoying. A little less use of the words "my double" and "my secret sharer" would have been appreciated. I guess I don't really understand him all that well. Meursault bothered me until I dug deeper into his motives and understanding of the world. It seems to me the reader is supposed to feel a little bit of pitty for the captain, the stranger on the ship. I thought I was supposed to feel pitty, but I didn't. I guess in the end it comes down to the fact that this is not a story I would have chosen to read. I'm glad to be exposed to new genres, but I'll stick to those I love best.

What Kind of Secret?

In this book, the captain and Leggatt share the secret of Leggatt being on the ship.  As the story progresses I began to read things like them sleeping in the same bed, and whispering together in the dark.  When I got to page 167 I was surprised to read:

Our hands met gropingly, lingered united in a steady, motionless clasp for a second... No words was breathed by either of us when they separated.

In this moment of goodbye between the captain and Leggatt I find more than just two men standing together saying goodbye.  I see a physical, emotional relationship that had evolved from these two secret sharers.  When the captain explains that Leggatt is his double does he mean that they share the same feelings?  Is he talking about more than just being Conway boys?  Is he referring to their homosexual tendencies?

The Butler Did It

The sneaky, spying steward seems to be a recurring theme in the "Secret Sharer".  Both the captain and Leggatt thought that the stewards on their respective ships had it in for them.  Leggatt talked about how the steward and some of his othre fellow officers on his ship never liked any first mate, because they wanted to run the ship.

The captain seems to be similarly suspicious of his own first mate, with his whiskers, and, to the extent that he finds him capable of any independent scheing, his second mate as well.

We also find such suspicion and assumption in Leggatt for the man that he killed, who he described as incredably lazy and slothful.

This seems to be the type of upper class snobbery commonly found in the elite of British literature.  Both the captain and Leggatt look upon their "inferiors" with a mixture of fear at their assumed malice and scorn for their supposed stupidity.

Captain Going a Little "Overboard"

During the second part of the Secret Sharer, I started to notice the captain going a little crazy. In the first part of the book he was a little eccentric to his mates, asking them to turn in for the night while he kept watch by himself. However, this was the only truly strange thing I could find about him in those sections. During part two, after finding his "double" and having to stow him away in his cabin, the captain gets increasingly neurotic. Referring to the steward:

It was this maddening course of being shouted at, checked without rhyme or reason, arbitrarily chased out of my cabin, suddenly called into it, sent flying out of his pantry on incomprehensible errands, that accounted for the growing wretchedness of his expression. (157)

The captain notices this crazedness of his as well, and acknowledges that hiding his "double" is something that made him stressed to the point of being completely neurotic. As this was described, I kept thinking that the captain would go crazy in the end and murder someone on his crew. I felt that there was a big climax coming, in which the captain would not be able to handle the stress of hiding his companion any longer. This did not happen, a little to my disappointment, yet I still believe that if the captain were not able to help Leggatt escape, that some sort of violent and dramatic climax was unavoidable. It seems like the stress of it all would have led to his insanity. Anyone else think this?

Alternate Ending

When reading "The Secret Sharer," I continually created my own story in my mind. In Part 2, when the captain spoke with the captain of the Sephora, I was foreshadowing him telling the captain that the man had died already and his body was found floating, dead in the water.
Before this discovery, the captain had heard of a man named Leggatt and of his story. Based on the information he knew he imagined him or possibly saw his ghost. I was hoping that Leggatt was a ghost speaking with the captain to help guide him to beg less of a stranger on the ship. It seemed reasonable that the captain could be going mad and imagining these detailed experiences with Leggatt.
It was also reasonable because no one else ever saw him on the ship. He very well could have imaginary or a ghost only seen by the captain.
In the end, I was slightly disappointed with Leggatt's true identity. I simply allowed my imagination run away with the story.

Captain and Leggatt, Sitting In a Boat, K-I-S-S-I-N-G?

This mini-novel is very strange to me, and I thank God that I have no future in beinga pirate or whatever the Captain does on his ship. I did find that the Captain seemed to have this obsession with Leggatt, to the point where I questioned his sexuality. Did the Captain enjoy Leggatt's presence because he was exicted for companionship? Was this companionship purely platonic? From the way he describes Leggatt on page 130,

He had regular features; a good mouth...a well-shaped chin...my sleeping suit was just right for his size...He caught his lower lip...

To me, I was confused like Rachel as to why he would put himself out there and do things that would make his crew think he was even more crazy. Is he in love/lust with Leggatt? Those long voyages can get pretty lonely...

An Examination of Leggatt

Leggatt is the pivotal character in The Stranger.

The captain finds Leggatt in a time of insecurity. Yet, when Leggatt leaves the captain is secure.
What caused this change?

Hypothesis 1:  Leggatt's actions  might or might not be justified.  Perhaps, the captain, who is worried about his men seeing his command as justified, projects his concerns upon Leggatt. When Leggatt leaves, Leggatt then takes all these concerns with him.

Hypothesis 2: Leggatt is a Conway boy just like the captain. Perhaps, the captain, as a Conway boy himself, feels out of place as the smart guy aboard the ship. He does make fun of Whiskers intelligence, but that insult could hide his own insecurity. So the captain, who wonders if there is a smart guys place at sea, is comforted to see everything work out alright for Leggatt.

Hypothesis 3: The captain has something of a homosexual thing for Leggatt. From flipping through the packet we got today, this seems like a pretty interesting theory. In a lot of romantic scenes in movies, some object is dropped. When the captain first sees Leggatt, he drops his cigar into the ocean. Similarly, when Leggatt leaves, Leggatt drops the white hat. Maybe more important, the cigar itself is a sexual symbol according to good old Dr. Freud.

Hypothesis 4: The Captain is uncertain and uncomfortable giving orders to his men. For example, he second guesses ordering his men to bed in the beginning. Perhaps, the captain grows comfortable in a position of power by being the protector of Leggatt. When Leggatt leaves safely, the captain knows he can be a good leader.

So comments??? Any of these sound any good?
I like Hypothesis 4 myself....