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The Secret Sharer

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'The Secret Sharer' by Joseph Conrad is a compelling novella that delves into themes of identity, morality, authority, and male bonding within fewer than a hundred pages. The story follows a young ship's captain who harbors a fugitive on his ship, leading to a complex internal struggle between following maritime law or following his personal feelings.

Characters:

Characters are archetypal yet memorable, with the captain and Leggatt embodying themes of identity and moral conflict.

Writing/Prose:

The prose style is characterized by rich symbolism and evocative language, blending accessibility with deeper philosophical insights.

Plot/Storyline:

The plot revolves around a young captain faced with the moral dilemma of hiding a fugitive who mirrors his own self, exploring themes of identity and morality.

Setting:

Set on a sailing ship, the maritime environment enhances themes of isolation and identity.

Pacing:

The pacing is deliberate and suspenseful, facilitating in-depth character exploration and leading to a tense climax.
On my right hand there were lines of fishing-stakes resembling a mysterious system of half-submerged bamboo fences, incomprehensible in its division of the domain of tropical fishes, and crazy of aspe...

Notes:

The protagonist Captain faces a moral dilemma between following maritime law or harboring a fugitive.
Leggatt, the fugitive, represents the Captain's alter ego and deeper self.
Conrad often uses symbolic language to explore complex psychological themes.
The story raises questions about reality and illusion, especially regarding Leggatt's existence.
The relationship between the Captain and Leggatt evolves from physical resemblance to a deeper identification beyond surface traits.
Conrad's prose is noted for its fluidity and ability to convey complex themes without losing clarity.
The novella touches on themes of individualism versus authority, and personal morality versus societal rules.
The story has been praised for its suspense and adventurous spirit, returning to Conrad's early style.
Readers note the intensity with which Conrad portrays the human experience against the backdrop of the sea.
The floating hat at the end symbolizes the thin line between reality and illusion.

From The Publisher:

The Secret Sharer, actual accident at sea, is an exciting adventure tale that reveals truths about human nature on several levels. Albert J. Guerard of Stanford University wrote that these two stories are "among the finest of Conrad's short novels, and among the half-dozen greatest short novels in the English language." And Virginia Woolf wrote of Conrad, "His books are full of moments of vision. They light up a whole character in a flash. . . . He could not write badly, one feels, to save his life.

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About the Author:

Joseph Conrad was a Polish-British writer regarded as one of the greatest novelists to write in the English language. He joined the British merchant marine in 1878, and was granted British citizenship in 1886.

 
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