“You’re a Conway boy?” (pg 7)
And there was only a two-year difference in age.
“….but being a couple of years older” (pg 7)
Throughout the story you can feel the connection Legatt and the captain share by both feeling complete strangers on board the ships.
“I knew very little of my officers!” (pg 2)
The complete lack of knowledge and bond is felt here between the captain and his crew.
In the beginning of the story, the captain is very uneasy when he is thrown into the position of captain, of a ship traveling a long and arduous journey. The captain begins to feel insecure about running his ship and questions his ability to lead his ship. During one of the first nights on board the ship, the captain demonstrates his thoughts of insecurity and self-consciousness, when he does something that a captain would not normally do: he plans to take part in a night watch.
“I felt painfully that I – a stranger- was doing something unusual when I directed him to let all hands turn in without getting an anchor watch.” (pg 4)
The captain is so self- conscious and insecure about his actions that he reacts almost painfully to the crews judgement of his orders. The captain states that he perceives himself to be a stranger amongst the others. Among his insecurities, the captain also sees himself as a stranger to himself and not fit to run his own ship.
“But what I felt most was my being a stranger to the ship: and if all the truth must be told, I was some what of a stranger to myself.” (pg 3)
The captain feels isolated and completely in the dark where his crew and ship are concerned, he is a complete stranger to them.
“….ship of which, I knew nothing, manned by men of whom I knew very little more.” (pg 4)
Legatt and the captain are both aware of feeling strangers aboard the ship, this draws a bond between them and closeness and understanding of each other builds their relationship.
“My second mate. But I don’t know much more of the fellow than you do”(pg 12)
“I was almost as much of a stranger on board as himself” (pg 12)
Both Legatt and the captain are unknown to an experienced crew. The captain had been appointed to his position, becoming a complete stranger among men who had worked together for some time.
“I had been appointed to the command only a fortnight before. Neither did I know much of the hands forward. All these people had been together for eighteen months or so, and my position was that of the only stranger on board.” (pg 2)
His fellow crew regarded Legatt as a stranger to the Sephora.
“Seven- and thirty virtuous years at sea, of which over twenty of immaculate command, and the last fifteen in the Sephora” (pg 12)
“I did not encourage that young fellow” (pg12)
The captain of the Sephora had not felt that Legatt was worthy enough to be a chief mate.
“….he wasn’t exactly the sort for the chief mate of a ship like the Sephora!” (pg 17)
The captains intense relationship with his secret sharer, Legatt, resolved in him feeling that mentally, two people had become one.
“The mental feeling of being in two places at once had affected me physically.” (pg 20)
The captain describes his secret sharer as his double; they are mentally, physically a shadow of each other.
“I was so identified with my secret double” (pg 21)
“….my other self in there” (pg 22)
The secret partnership Legatt and the captain have, becomes stronger and more apparent as the story unveils. The captain feels he can share anything with his secret sharer.
At the beginning of the story, the captain does not know his place and has feelings of inadequacy. It becomes increasingly apparent to the captain that if he fails in his abilities to lead his ship and crew, then his future could be as bleak as Legatt’s.
“….and I realised suddenly that all my future, for which I was fit, would perhaps go irretrievably to pieces in any mishap to my first command” (pg 26)
Near the end of the story, the captain gets in tune with himself and feels confident about his abilities and role as a captain. After choosing to risk the life of himself and his crew in order to save the life of Legatt, he risks everything for the sake of his stranger, to help him reach land so he can begin a new life. The captain skillfully averts destruction and remarks on his new found trust in his crew and his ability as the ships commander.
“Nothing! No one on the world should stand between us, throwing a shadow on the way of silent knowledge and mute affection, the perfect communication of a seaman with his first command.” (pg 30)
The captain realises he is in complete control and is confident as a leader of his vessel. His newly discovered trust in his abilities will help in the rest of his journey and the rest of his life.
As a direct result of his relationship with the secret sharer, the captain transforms from an inexperienced and insecure individual to a self assured and stable leader. In the beginning of the story, the captain does not know his place and has feelings of inadequacy. This changes when the captain meets the secret sharer and becomes secure and confident in his duty and his abilities. By releasing him into freedom, he is achieving his own maturation, and for it he is willing to pay a heavy price. After this experience the captain is ready to start a new confident life and guide his ship on its journey.
The outcome of the story is that Legatt and the captain both become free, Legatt achieves personal freedom and the captain becomes free of his fears of command. This signifies the final bid they share together ‘freedom’.
