An Analysis of Captain MacWhirr Character in Typhoon by Joseph Conrad Essay

Captain MacWhirr Apropos the passage on Captain MacWhirr, we are introduced to a character that is portrayed as bland and unemotional, almost machinelike. Supported by the speakers comments, his use of general names, and references to the Captains letters, it is as if he wishes to show a man with achromatic mannerisms. The attitude, diction, as well as the detail are the mediums which he conveys this feeling. The unnamed speaker of the passage uses his attitude on the subject as the most effective way to promote his idea of the type of person that Captain MacWhirr is. It is interesting how the speaker never actually refers to the Captain by his real name, Tom. An Ordinary seaman, Captain MacWhirr, or simply he seems to be the only names that the speaker sees fit to use. For a person calling him by such informal names, one would assume that the speaker would be a person with little knowledge of the man but on the contrary, the speaker knows quite a bit about him and his life. This gives the reader a feeling that Tom is a man of little words who rarely lets anyone have an insight to his real emotions. Due to these pent up feeling that nobody is able to witness the Captain has become cold and emotionless. Through the speakers references to the Captains letters we can see what he means. As an irresponsive and unruffled man the Captains ship was a floating abode of peace also due to his lack of being touchy, overbearing, and difficult to please. While such traits may seem pleasant, in reality they are really character flaws. The Captains laissez faire attitude comes off as a person who just doesnt care, further pointing out his emotionless aura....

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