Article #220-1 | Gutenberg Articles

Excerpt

Excerpt from The Secret Sharer, by Joseph Conrad

“Well after that, I couldn’t. Not very well. That was three weeks ago.
We have had a slow passage through the Java Sea; drifted about Carimata
for ten days. When we anchored here they thought, I suppose, it was
all right. The nearest land (and that’s five miles) is the ship’s
destination; the consul would soon set about catching me; and there
would have been no object in holding to these islets there. I don’t
suppose there’s a drop of water on them. I don’t know how it was, but
tonight that steward, after bringing me my supper, went out to let me
eat it, and left the door unlocked. And I ate it--all there was, too.
After I had finished I strolled out on the quarter-deck. I don’t know
that I meant to do anything. A breath of fresh air was all I wanted, I
believe. Then a sudden temptation came over me. I kicked off my slippers
and was in the water before I had made up my mind fairly. Somebody heard
the splash and they raised an awful hullabaloo. ‘He’s gone! Lower the
boats! He’s committed suicide! No, he’s swimming.’ Certainly I was
swimming. It’s not so easy for a swimmer like me to commit suicide by
drowning. I landed on the nearest islet before the boat left the ship’s
side. I heard them pulling about in the dark, hailing, and so on, but
after a bit they gave up. Everything quieted down and the anchorage
became still as death. I sat down on a stone and began to think. I felt
certain they would start searching for me at daylight. There was no
place to hide on those stony things--and if there had been, what would
have been the good? But now I was clear of that ship, I was not going
back. So after a while I took off all my clothes, tied them up in a
bundle with a stone inside, and dropped them in the deep water on the
outer side of that islet. That was suicide enough for me. Let them think
what they liked, but I didn’t mean to drown myself. I meant to swim till
I sank--but that’s not the same thing. I struck out for another of these
little islands, and it was from that one that I first saw your riding
light. Something to swim for. I went on easily, and on the way I came
upon a flat rock a foot or two above water. In the daytime, I dare say,
you might make it out with a glass from your poop. I scrambled up on it
and rested myself for a bit. Then I made another start. That last spell
must have been over a mile.”

His whisper was getting fainter and fainter, and all the time he stared
straight out through the porthole, in which there was not even a star
to be seen. I had not interrupted him. There was something that made
comment impossible in his narrative, or perhaps in himself; a sort of
feeling, a quality, which I can’t find a name for. And when he ceased,
all I found was a futile whisper: “So you swam for our light?”

“Yes--straight for it. It was something to swim for. I couldn’t see any
stars low down because the coast was in the way, and I couldn’t see the
land, either. The water was like glass. One might have been swimming in
a confounded thousand-feet deep cistern with no place for scrambling out
anywhere; but what I didn’t like was the notion of swimming round and
round like a crazed bullock before I gave out; and as I didn’t mean to
go back... No. Do you see me being hauled back, stark naked, off one
of these little islands by the scruff of the neck and fighting like a
wild beast? Somebody would have got killed for certain, and I did not
want any of that. So I went on. Then your ladder--”

Explanation

Joseph Conrad’s The Secret Sharer (1910) is a psychological novella that explores themes of duality, identity, moral ambiguity, and the struggle between instinct and duty. The story is narrated by a young, inexperienced sea captain who takes command of his first ship and secretly shelters a fugitive named Leggatt, a mysterious stranger who has escaped from another vessel after killing a man. The excerpt provided is Leggatt’s first-person account of his escape, delivered in a hushed, urgent whisper to the captain. Below is a detailed breakdown of the passage, focusing on its narrative techniques, thematic depth, and stylistic elements, while also considering its broader significance in the story.

Context of the Excerpt

This scene occurs early in the novella, after the captain has already taken Leggatt aboard his ship, hiding him in his cabin. Leggatt’s monologue is a confession, explaining how he escaped from the Sepoy, the ship where he was imprisoned for killing a mutinous crewman. His story is one of desperation, cunning, and survival, revealing his resourcefulness and the extreme lengths he took to avoid capture.

The captain, who is also the narrator, listens in rapt silence, drawn into Leggatt’s world. Their bond—built on secrecy and mutual understanding—deepens as Leggatt’s tale unfolds. The excerpt is crucial because it:

Establishes Leggatt’s character—his defiance, physical prowess, and moral complexity.
Foreshadows the captain’s own internal conflict—his growing identification with Leggatt and his eventual defiance of maritime law.
Creates tension—the reader (and the captain) must decide whether Leggatt is a murderer or a man forced into violence by circumstance.

Themes in the Excerpt

Survival and Defiance
- Leggatt’s escape is an act of pure survival instinct. He refuses to be recaptured, even if it means faking his own death. His actions are primitive and animalistic—stripping naked, swimming like a "crazed bullock," and rejecting any chance of being "hauled back... fighting like a wild beast."
- His defiance is both physical and psychological. He doesn’t just flee; he erases his old identity by discarding his clothes (symbolizing the death of his past self).
Isolation and Alienation
- The setting is bleak and desolate: the "stony" islets, the "still as death" anchorage, the glass-like water that traps him like a "cistern." These images reinforce Leggatt’s existential loneliness—he is a man cut off from society, swimming in an endless void.
- His whispering voice and the captain’s silence create an intimate yet eerie atmosphere, emphasizing the secrecy that binds them.
Moral Ambiguity
- Leggatt’s crime (killing a man) is never fully justified, but his escape suggests a moral gray area. Was the killing self-defense? Was he a victim of circumstance? Conrad leaves this ambiguous, forcing the reader to question justice vs. survival.
- The captain’s later decision to help Leggatt mirrors this ambiguity—does he aid a criminal, or a man wronged by an unjust system?
The Sea as a Symbol
- The water is both a prison and a path to freedom. It is a "confounded thousand-feet deep cistern" (a trap) but also the means of his escape.
- Leggatt’s swimming is purposeful yet desperate—he is not just fleeing; he is seeking something (the captain’s light). This foreshadows the captain’s own journey toward self-discovery.
Duality and Doubles
- Leggatt and the captain are psychological doubles. Leggatt represents the captain’s hidden, rebellious self—the part of him that wants to defy authority and trust his instincts.
- The "riding light" of the captain’s ship becomes a symbol of hope and guidance, drawing Leggatt (and later, the captain himself) toward a new identity.

Literary Devices & Stylistic Analysis

First-Person Narration & Unreliable Perspective
- Leggatt’s story is told in fragmented, breathless prose, mimicking his exhausted state. His sentences are short, direct, and urgent, creating a sense of immediacy.
- The captain’s lack of interruption ("I had not interrupted him") suggests his fascination and complicity. His only response—"So you swam for our light?"—is understated yet profound, hinting at his growing connection to Leggatt.
Imagery & Symbolism
- Water: Represents both death and rebirth. Leggatt’s swim is a baptism, washing away his past. The "glass-like" water suggests transparency and exposure, yet also deception (he uses it to fake his death).
- Darkness vs. Light: The absence of stars ("not even a star to be seen") contrasts with the ship’s riding light, which becomes a beacon of salvation. This symbolizes moral and existential guidance.
- Nudity: Leggatt’s nakedness is symbolic of vulnerability and rebirth. He sheds his old self (his clothes, his crime) to emerge as something new.
Tone & Mood
- The tone is confessional, urgent, and haunted. Leggatt’s whispering voice ("His whisper was getting fainter and fainter") creates a ghostly, intimate atmosphere.
- The mood is claustrophobic yet expansive—the small cabin contrasts with the vast, empty sea, mirroring Leggatt’s psychological state.
Foreshadowing
- Leggatt’s determination to swim until he sinks foreshadows the captain’s later willingness to risk everything to help him.
- The isolation of the islets mirrors the captain’s own isolation as a leader, forced to make decisions alone.
Irony
- Leggatt fakes his death to live, an ironic twist that underscores the deceptiveness of appearances (a key theme in Conrad’s work).
- The crew of the Sepoy assumes he drowned, but he uses their assumptions against them, outsmarting them through silence and cunning.

Significance of the Passage

Character Development
- Leggatt is more than a fugitive; he is a symbol of the captain’s inner conflict. His defiance and resourcefulness inspire the captain to trust his own instincts rather than blindly follow maritime law.
- The captain’s silent absorption of Leggatt’s story marks the beginning of his psychological transformation.
Plot Progression
- This monologue justifies the captain’s later actions. By understanding Leggatt’s desperation, the reader (and the captain) can sympathize with his decision to hide him.
- It also raises stakes: If Leggatt is caught, the captain’s career (and life) could be ruined.
Philosophical Undercurrents
- Conrad explores existential questions: What does it mean to be free? Is survival more important than morality? Can a man reinvent himself?
- Leggatt’s escape is both an act of cowardice and courage, forcing the reader to question what they would do in his place.
The "Secret Sharer" Motif
- The title refers to the shared secret between the two men, but also to the shared aspects of their personalities. Leggatt is the captain’s dark double, embodying the rebellious, instinctual side he must either embrace or suppress.

Conclusion: Why This Excerpt Matters

This passage is pivotal because it:

Humanizes Leggatt, making him more than a mere criminal.
Deepens the captain’s internal conflict, setting up his eventual defiance of authority.
Establishes the novella’s central themes: duality, survival, and the blurred line between right and wrong.
Uses Conrad’s signature style—dense symbolism, psychological depth, and a sense of moral ambiguity—to draw the reader into a world where nothing is as it seems.

Leggatt’s escape is not just a physical journey; it is a metaphor for the captain’s own voyage toward self-discovery. By the end of the story, the captain will risk everything to help Leggatt escape, proving that sometimes, the greatest secrets are the ones we keep from ourselves.

Questions

Question 1

The narrator’s observation that there was “something that made comment impossible in his narrative, or perhaps in himself” primarily serves to:

A. Highlight the captain’s intellectual inability to process Leggatt’s moral justification for his actions.
B. Emphasise the physical exhaustion in Leggatt’s voice, which renders coherent response difficult.
C. Suggest an ineffable quality in Leggatt’s presence or story that transcends rational or moral categorisation.
D. Imply that the captain is deliberately avoiding engagement to maintain plausible deniability.
E. Criticise Leggatt’s narrative as emotionally manipulative, designed to elicit sympathy without scrutiny.

Question 2

Leggatt’s decision to discard his clothes and weight them with a stone is most thematically resonant with which of the following ideas?

A. A ritualistic rejection of his former identity, akin to a symbolic death and rebirth.
B. A pragmatic attempt to mislead pursuers by simulating suicide, devoid of deeper significance.
C. An impulsive act of despair, reflecting his belief that survival is no longer possible.
D. A subconscious desire for punishment, manifesting as self-destructive behaviour.
E. An ironic inversion of baptism, where water becomes a medium of erasure rather than renewal.

Question 3

The “riding light” of the captain’s ship functions in the passage as all of the following EXCEPT:

A. A literal beacon guiding Leggatt’s physical survival.
B. A symbol of the captain’s latent complicity in Leggatt’s defiance.
C. An ambiguous moral compass, offering direction without clarity.
D. A narrative device to contrast the darkness of Leggatt’s past with potential redemption.
E. A metaphor for the futility of human striving, given the vast indifference of the sea.

Question 4

Which of the following best describes the psychological effect of Leggatt’s whispered narration on the captain?

A. It induces a trance-like identification, blurring the boundaries between listener and speaker.
B. It provokes a rational assessment of Leggatt’s guilt, leading to a calculated decision to aid him.
C. It triggers a defensive withdrawal, as the captain recognises his own moral cowardice.
D. It elicits a paternalistic response, with the captain assuming a protective role over Leggatt.
E. It generates a competitive impulse, as the captain measures his own resolve against Leggatt’s.

Question 5

The passage’s depiction of the sea as both a “confounded thousand-feet deep cistern” and a medium of escape primarily serves to:

A. Illustrate the duality of nature as both nurturing and destructive.
B. Critique the romanticised notion of the sea as a realm of infinite possibility.
C. Highlight Leggatt’s cognitive dissonance, torn between fear and determination.
D. Foreshadow the captain’s eventual drowning in his own moral ambiguities.
E. Embody the existential paradox of freedom as simultaneously liberating and entrapping.

Solutions and Explanations

1) Correct answer: C

Why C is most correct: The phrase “something that made comment impossible” suggests an ineffable, almost metaphysical quality in Leggatt’s presence or story—one that resists neat moral or rational categorisation. Conrad frequently explores characters who embody ambiguities that defy conventional judgment, and this moment aligns with that thematic tradition. The captain’s silence is not due to confusion or avoidance but to the overwhelming, unnameable force of Leggatt’s being, which transcends mere narrative content.