Typhoon (Cyclopedia of Literary Characters)
At a glance:
- Author: Joseph Conrad
- First Published: 1902
- Type of Work: Novella
- Type of Plot: Adventure
- Time of Work: The 1890’s
- Setting: the China Seas
- Genres: Short fiction, Adventure
- Subjects: Nature, Nineteenth century, Courage, Protests or demonstrations, Fear, Islands, Storms, Ships, Loneliness
- Locales: China Seas
Characters Discussed
Tom MacWhirr, the captain of the steamer Nan-Shan. Dutiful, calculating, mechanical, mature, and effectual, the main character of the story does his job correctly although he does so without any manifest confidence from the men serving under him. His job is to take two hundred Chinese coolies to their destination of Fu-Chau and to do so directly and without delay. The obstacle to this plan is the typhoon, presenting MacWhirr with the central dilemma of the novella as he must decide whether to proceed straight into the hurricane or run from it. This...
[The entire page is 575 words long]
Join eNotes
Over 3,500 study guides, question and answer forums, literature criticism, reference content, and much more!
Navigate
See Also
Related Topics
