"Master and Commander"

Paper Summary:

This paper explores how O'Brian's novel exposes his successful writing technique. It discusses, through example from the text, the novel's historically successful representation of naval adventures, its accurate and authentic language and its realistic characters. This paper explains how O'Brian constructs "Master and Commander" into a successful novel using these methods.

From the Paper:

"Master and Commander is also a successful novel because O'Brian takes the time to create realistic characters. At the beginning of the novel, we are presented with an image of Aubrey that prepares him (and us) for his adventure. We read that he knows men that are younger than him that were "lieutenants in command of brigs or cutters, or who had been promoted to master and commander" (9-10). His initial disappointment over the Sophie is quickly replaced by the connection he makes with Maturin and the others. Aubrey is in every sense what we would expect when we envision a British seaman. O'Brian also does an excellent job of describing Aubrey as he faces court-martial near the end of the novel."

More papers on "Master and Commander":

• Comparison Essay # 140032 : "Jack Aubrey and Dr. Maturin in "Master and Commander"
• Book Review # 72386 : "'Master and Commander'"
• Book Review # 68882 : "Master and Commander"

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