Article #331-1 | Gutenberg Articles

Excerpt

Excerpt from The Mucker, by Edgar Rice Burroughs

Count de Cadenet and his servant repaired immediately to the count's
rooms, there to await an answer to the note. Henri Theriere, the second
officer of the Halfmoon, in frock coat and silk hat looked every inch a
nobleman and a gentleman. What his past had been only he knew, but his
polished manners, his knowledge of navigation and seamanship, and his
leaning toward the ways of the martinet in his dealings with the men
beneath him had led Skipper Simms to assume that he had once held
a commission in the French Navy, from which he doubtless had been
kicked--in disgrace.

The man was cold, cruel, of a moody disposition, and quick to anger.
He had been signed as second officer for this cruise through the
intervention of Divine and Clinker. He had sailed with Simms before, but
the skipper had found him too hard a customer to deal with, and had
been on the point of seeking another second when Divine and Clinker
discovered him on board the Halfmoon and after ten minutes' conversation
with him found that he fitted so perfectly into their scheme of action
that they would not hear of Simms' releasing him.

Ward had little use for the Frenchman, whose haughty manner and
condescending airs grated on the sensibilities of the uncouth and
boorish first officer. The duty which necessitated him acting in the
capacity of Theriere's servant was about as distasteful to him as
anything could be, and only served to add to his hatred for the
inferior, who, in the bottom of his heart, he knew to be in every way,
except upon the roster of the Halfmoon, his superior; but money can work
wonders, and Divine's promise that the officers and crew of the Halfmoon
would have a cool million United States dollars to divide among them in
case of the success of the venture had quite effectually overcome any
dislike which Mr. Ward had felt for this particular phase of his duty.

Explanation

**Detailed Explanation of the Excerpt from The Mucker by Edgar Rice Burroughs**

Context of the Source

The Mucker (1914) is a novel by Edgar Rice Burroughs, best known for creating Tarzan and John Carter of Mars. While not as famous as his other works, The Mucker is a social adventure novel that follows Billy Byrne, a rough-and-tumble Chicago street tough ("mucker") who undergoes a transformation through a series of adventures, including a voyage on the Halfmoon, a ship involved in a criminal scheme.

This excerpt introduces Henri Theriere, the second officer of the Halfmoon, and provides insight into the power dynamics, class tensions, and moral corruption aboard the ship. The novel explores themes of redemption, social mobility, and the contrast between brute strength and refined cruelty, with Theriere serving as a key antagonist in this section.

Breakdown of the Excerpt

1. Introduction of Henri Theriere: A Man of Contradictions

"Henri Theriere, the second officer of the Halfmoon, in frock coat and silk hat looked every inch a nobleman and a gentleman. What his past had been only he knew, but his polished manners, his knowledge of navigation and seamanship, and his leaning toward the ways of the martinet in his dealings with the men beneath him had led Skipper Simms to assume that he had once held a commission in the French Navy, from which he doubtless had been kicked—in disgrace."

Appearance vs. Reality:
- Theriere looks like a nobleman—his frock coat and silk hat suggest wealth and refinement.
- However, his true nature is hidden. The narrator hints that his past is mysterious and likely disgraceful ("kicked—in disgrace").
- His martinet-like behavior (strict, punitive discipline) suggests a military background, but his cruelty implies he was dismissed for misconduct.
Literary Device: Dramatic Irony
- The reader (and Skipper Simms) suspects Theriere is a fallen aristocrat, but his true motives (later revealed to be part of a criminal plot) are not yet clear.
- His polished exterior masks a corrupt interior, a common theme in Burroughs’ works (e.g., civilized villains vs. "noble savages").

2. Theriere’s Character: Cold, Cruel, and Manipulative

"The man was cold, cruel, of a moody disposition, and quick to anger. He had been signed as second officer for this cruise through the intervention of Divine and Clinker. He had sailed with Simms before, but the skipper had found him too hard a customer to deal with, and had been on the point of seeking another second when Divine and Clinker discovered him on board the Halfmoon and after ten minutes' conversation with him found that he fitted so perfectly into their scheme of action that they would not hear of Simms' releasing him."

Personality Traits:
- Cold and cruel → Suggests sadism or lack of empathy.
- Moody and quick to anger → Unpredictable, dangerous.
- Manipulative → Divine and Clinker (the true villains) see value in him, implying he is useful for their criminal plans.
Power Dynamics & Corruption:
- Skipper Simms dislikes him but is forced to keep him because Divine and Clinker (the real masterminds) insist.
- This suggests Theriere is a pawn in a larger scheme, but also that corruption spreads easily—even a reluctant captain is pressured into compliance.
Literary Device: Foreshadowing
- The mention of a "scheme of action" hints at future betrayal or mutiny.
- His past disgrace and current usefulness to criminals suggest he will play a key role in the conflict.

3. Class Conflict: Ward’s Resentment of Theriere

"Ward had little use for the Frenchman, whose haughty manner and condescending airs grated on the sensibilities of the uncouth and boorish first officer. The duty which necessitated him acting in the capacity of Theriere's servant was about as distasteful to him as anything could be, and only served to add to his hatred for the inferior, who, in the bottom of his heart, he knew to be in every way, except upon the roster of the Halfmoon, his superior; but money can work wonders, and Divine's promise that the officers and crew of the Halfmoon would have a cool million United States dollars to divide among them in case of the success of the venture had quite effectually overcome any dislike which Mr. Ward had felt for this particular phase of his duty."

Class Tension & Insecurity:
- Ward (first officer) is "uncouth and boorish"—a working-class brute who hates Theriere’s aristocratic airs.
- Yet, deep down, Ward knows Theriere is his superior in intelligence, manners, and competence—but only social standing (the ship’s roster) keeps Ward above him.
- This insecurity fuels Ward’s hatred, a classic inferiority complex.
Corruption & Greed Overrides Morality:
- Ward despises serving Theriere, but money ("a cool million") silences his objections.
- This reflects a central theme of the novel: greed corrupts, and even those who hate each other will cooperate for profit.
Literary Device: Internal Conflict & Irony
- Ward hates Theriere but obeys him because of money—showing how economic pressure overrides personal pride.
- The irony is that Ward resents Theriere’s superiority but still follows his lead, making him complicit in the corruption.

Themes in the Excerpt

Appearance vs. Reality
- Theriere looks like a gentleman but is cruel and dishonorable.
- The Halfmoon appears to be a legitimate ship, but it’s part of a criminal enterprise.
Class Struggle & Resentment
- Ward (working-class) hates Theriere (aristocratic), but money forces them to work together.
- Burroughs often explores social mobility—here, crime is the great equalizer, uniting men who would otherwise despise each other.
Corruption & Moral Decay
- Divine and Clinker manipulate the crew with promises of wealth, showing how greed destroys loyalty and morality.
- Theriere’s past disgrace suggests that power and status can be lost, reinforcing the novel’s critique of blind ambition.
Power & Control
- Theriere exerts authority through fear and discipline (martinet style).
- The real power, however, lies with Divine and Clinker, who pull the strings.

Significance of the Passage

Sets Up Future Conflict:
- Theriere’s cruelty and connections to Divine/Clinker foreshadow betrayal or mutiny.
- Ward’s resentment suggests he may turn against Theriere later.
Reinforces Burroughs’ Themes:
- Civilization vs. Savagery: Theriere is refined but evil; later, Billy Byrne (the "mucker") may prove more honorable despite his roughness.
- Social Mobility: The ship’s hierarchy is artificial—Ward knows Theriere is better than him, but money and rank keep Ward in charge.
Critique of Greed & Class:
- The excerpt mocks the idea of nobility—Theriere’s manners don’t make him moral.
- Money is the true motivator, not honor or duty.

Conclusion: Why This Passage Matters

This excerpt is more than just character introduction—it lays the groundwork for the novel’s central conflicts:

Theriere as a false gentleman (a recurring Burroughs theme).
The corrupting power of money (Ward’s hatred is overridden by greed).
Class tensions (Ward’s insecurity vs. Theriere’s arrogance).

Burroughs uses contrasts (refined vs. brutal, honest vs. corrupt) to explore human nature, suggesting that true worth isn’t found in manners or rank, but in character—a lesson Billy Byrne will learn as the story progresses.

Would you like any further analysis on specific aspects, such as Burroughs’ writing style or comparisons to his other works?

Questions

Question 1

The passage most strongly suggests that Theriere’s "polished manners" and "knowledge of navigation" serve primarily to:

A. conceal his lack of genuine aristocratic lineage, as his past is entirely fabricated.
B. justify Skipper Simms’ initial reluctance to dismiss him, despite his obvious flaws.
C. create a veneer of legitimacy that masks his alignment with morally corrupt forces.
D. compensate for his psychological instability, which manifests as moodiness and anger.
E. distinguish him from the crew, reinforcing the rigid class hierarchy aboard the Halfmoon.

Question 2

Ward’s internal conflict regarding Theriere is best understood as a tension between:

A. his professional duty as first officer and his personal contempt for authority figures.
B. his recognition of Theriere’s superior competence and his resentment of aristocratic pretension.
C. his fear of Theriere’s cruel nature and his desire to prove himself the more capable officer.
D. his awareness of Theriere’s moral inferiority and his own complicity in a corrupt enterprise.
E. his loyalty to Skipper Simms and his suspicion that Theriere is undermining the captain’s authority.

Question 3

The narrator’s description of Theriere as "kicked—in disgrace" from the French Navy employs which of the following rhetorical strategies to shape the reader’s perception?

A. Understatement, to downplay the severity of Theriere’s past transgressions.
B. Innuendo, to imply wrongdoing without explicit detail, inviting speculative judgment.
C. Hyperbole, to exaggerate Theriere’s fall from grace for dramatic effect.
D. Litotes, to emphasize his shame by negating its opposite.
E. Paralepsis, to draw attention to the omission of specific information about his dismissal.

Question 4

Which of the following best captures the implicit critique embedded in the passage’s portrayal of the Halfmoon’s officers?

A. Institutional hierarchies inevitably corrupt those who occupy positions of power.
B. The allure of wealth renders moral and social distinctions meaningless.
C. True leadership requires a balance of discipline and empathy, which Theriere lacks.
D. Class-based resentment is the primary driver of conflict in maritime settings.
E. The facade of civility is often more dangerous than overt brutality, as it enables systemic exploitation.

Question 5

The phrase "money can work wonders" functions in the passage as:

A. an ironic undermining of Ward’s professed hatred, revealing his true priorities.
B. a neutral observation about the universal motivating power of financial incentive.
C. a direct critique of capitalism’s role in eroding personal integrity.
D. a foreshadowing device, hinting at the eventual failure of the crew’s criminal venture.
E. a justification for Ward’s pragmatic acceptance of his servile role under Theriere.

Solutions and Explanations

1) Correct answer: C

Why C is most correct: The passage emphasizes Theriere’s polished exterior ("every inch a nobleman") juxtaposed with his alignment with Divine and Clinker’s criminal scheme. His manners and skills are not genuine markers of virtue but tools to obscure his corrupt participation in the venture. The phrase "doubtless had been kicked—in disgrace" further suggests his past misconduct, reinforcing that his appearance of legitimacy is deceptive. This aligns with the novel’s broader critique of false civility masking exploitation.