Abstract This essay discusses and analyzes Joseph Conrad's short story The SecretSharer. The author describes Conrad's life as a sailor and its influence on the tale. The relationship between the two main characters, the unique plot, symbolism, issues of morality and justice, and general themes are also explored. A critical review of the story concludes the essay.
From the Paper "In a discussion and analysis of Joseph Conrad's short story "The Secret Sharer" (1910), it is important to begin with a look at the author's life to better understand the foundation for the vivid details in this seaman's tale and how Conrad's personal experiences certainly influenced the language used and plot in this work. Joseph Conrad was of Polish origin and born in 1857, and he lived in Poland until he was seventeen years of age. In 1874 Conrad left Cracow for France to learn the fundamentals of seamanship and a second language. At the age of twenty Conrad moved to England with the intention of becoming an officer on British ships, and he spent the next twenty years working at sea. He soon mastered English as his third language and then became a British subject around 1886. Although a common sailor at first, Conrad advanced quickly through the ranks, became a ship's captain at the relatively young age of thirty-one, and spent three years in the Far East on a series of voyages. By the age of forty Conrad was in declining physical health and retired from the sea forever, and he worked as a popular and successful English novelist until his death in 1924."
This paper free-associates the meaning behind the story, "The SecretSharer." It discusses the evolving relationship of the Captain and Legatt, which include his realization of the affect his actions can have on the lives of others.
930 words (approx. 3.7 pages), 3 sources, 2000, $ 33.95
Abstract This paper examines the story "The SecretSharer," and presents the thesis that perhaps Leggatt and the Captain shared a portion of their identities. The paper covers the captains growth, from a young man, when he was first made captain, and some of the choices he made during these earlier years, through events that shaped and influenced his later years.
From the Paper "This story throughout showed a Captain's growth and process through his right of passage, from being an inexperienced and uncertain young man to being an in-charge ship's Captain. He learned not only how to be a captain, but also discovered who his inner self was. He learned to make moral decisions as well as decisions pertaining to the running of the ship without fear of what the shipmates would think. Although in his youth he had much more wisdom than the Captain of the Sephora who had the experience of thirty and seven years, but never became a confident man who believed in himself, because he acted as a coward and then lied about Leggatt who had witnessed his cowardice, in order to preserve his own reputation."
Abstract This paper examines the use of narration, tone and the symbolism in Joseph Conrad's novel, "The SecretSharer". It states that the effectiveness of the novel lies in his method of story telling, while still emphasizing the meaning beyond the story itself.
From the Paper ""The Secret Sharer "by Joseph Conrad is a story with universal themes relating to human nature and the journey to find oneself that every human takes at some stage in their life. Conrad offers readers a story in the form of a series of events while keeping the emphasis on the journey these events represent. In this way, Conrad makes the universal themes clear, the story an effectively told tale communicating a theme that has universal relevance."
Abstract This paper takes a look at the book, 'The SecretSharer' by Joseph Conrad. The paper focuses specifically on the character 'Leggatt'. The paper argues that 'Leggatt' is an invented, imaginary person. According to the paper, Leggatt has been invented by the captain to justify the choices he made on that first journey as captain, when he chose to reject his young self and adopt a more mature and responsible self.
From the Paper "Another important point to consider is how the story is told, with this impacting on the story. The story is narrated by the captain, looking back on his time with the ship. This reflective approach emphasizes that it is the captain's experience that is important, more so than the events themselves. Having the captain reflect on the experience also emphasizes that it was a significant event in his life. However, this reflective approach does not mean that the events have to be true. After all, they are important to the captain for what they mean to him and what they represent. This supports the idea that the events described are fictional. They are effectively a myth that the captain has invented to understand himself and how he changed on that first journey. It has been noted though, that he did not change because of what happened on the trip. Instead, it was a normal trip where the captain took on his role, assumed responsibility, and accepted full authority. The story of Leggatt is the myth that the captain has invented to explain how he changed. It is his way of reconciling what he did with a created story that turns a personal experience into a set of events that represent the experience. In this way, the captain has made his coming of age experience a literal experience that others can also understand."
This paper discusses the secret harboring of fugitives and knowledge while comparing Susan Glaspell's work "A Jury of Her Peers" and Joseph Conrad's "The SecretSharer".
Abstract In this article, the writer discusses that both Joseph Conrad's "The SecretSharer" and Susan Glaspell's "A Jury of Her Peers," depict law-abiding individuals who gradually come to identify with people who have violated the law. The writer looks at both works in order to examine this issue. The writer maintains that as a result of their identification with these individuals who have allegedly transgressed, the married women of Glaspell's tale and Conrad's nameless sea captain gain a new sense of identity. The writer concludes that the changes undergone by the characters in both works are both external and internal, and both are life-long changes, although the changes that take place in the Glaspell story may have greater external consequences.
From the Paper "Like "A Jury of Her Peers," Joseph Conrad's short story "The Secret Sharer" is also told in retrospect. The narrator is a sea captain who finds a man named Leggatt, drowning in the water, who seems to be his 'double,' much like the women of Glaspell's story perceive Mrs. Wright to be their double, or a physical mirror of their personal pain. Leggatt is also condemned as a murderer like Mrs. Wright, but rather than reject the fugitive, Conrad's narrator gives him a place to stay. The image of the law arises, but like the woman, the captain has already experienced a kind of internal, moral shift. Like the woman the captain cannot bear to morally condemn the murderer, or reveal the fact that Leggatt is on his ship when the authorities arrive. Captain Archbold wants to act according to the law, like the men of the Glaspell tale, but Leggatt's protective captain pretends the ship is empty and points out that Leggatt's actions helped save the ship during a storm."
This paper discusses the use of "doubles" in Joseph Conrad's "The SecretSharer" and "Heart of Darkness" and Robert Louis Stevenson's "Dr. Jekyll and Mr Hyde".
Abstract This paper describes that in the use of "doubles", Joseph Conrad's ?The SecretSharer? and Robert Louis Stevenson's "Dr. Jekyll and Mr Hyde" are more nearly similar than either of those works are like Conrad's "Heart of Darkness". The author points out that in both ?Secret? and "Jekyll", the doubles reside in one man and the doubles are clearly delineated, one good and the other evil, but in "Heart" both Kurtz and Marlow have doubles within them.The paper explains that the psychological issues of the uses of doubles in the three works are twofold: How is it that a man comes to be made aware of the evil within himself, and how does he respond when that confrontation takes place?
From the Paper "Conrad's The Secret Sharer is easily the most complex of the three stories, for it can be taken as the portrayal of both the double externalized and internalized. Clearly, in either case, Leggatt is meant to be the evil side of the young captain. The captain is kin to Marlow in that both set off on a journey, internally and externally, in relative innocence, and both end up far more aware of the evil in the world."
Abstract At the helm of a nameless ship, a young man referred to only as Captain, over-comes the challenges of his first command when he meets face to face the darker side of self within a fugitive he secretly rescues from the dark night sea. The paper shows that in "The SecretSharer", Joseph Conrad explores the insecurities of a young sea captain who feels not only a stranger to the ship and its crew, but to himself. The story takes place in the late 19th century aboard a merchant ship in the Gulf of Siam, a lonely and isolated area of the world, which Conrad uses to help accentuate the Captain's own feelings of isolation and uncertainty. The paper explains that the major theme of Conrad's story is the conflict between obeying societal laws and yielding to instinctual survival decisions, law verses outlaw. The Captain sees within the fugitive, Leggatt, a part of himself yet unexplored. The paper concludes that Leggatt becomes a catalyst for the Captain in his search for the courage to take command and responsibility of not only his ship, but life itself, thus, his rescue of Leggatt becomes the rescue of himself.
From the Paper "Symbolically, both are outcasts, Leggatt from society due to his crime, and the Captain from his command due to his self-doubt. The Captain feels such an affinity for Leggatt that he hides him in his cabin, sharing his food, his clothes, and even his bed. He also shares his secret feelings of doubt and inadequacy, thus, bonding on a psychological and spiritual level with Leggatt. They become simpatico, communicating more with eye contact and gestures than words, causing the Captain, the narrator of the story to express, "What could I tell him that he did not already know" (Conrad 1997)? The Captain even deludes the skipper of the Sephora when he comes aboard looking for Leggatt, the Captain's secret sharer, and it is then that the urgency to plan Leggatt's escape befalls them."
Abstract "With respect to the use of "doubles," Joseph Conrad's The SecretSharer and Robert Louis Stevenson's Dr. Jekyll and Mr Hyde share more similarities than either of those works share with Conrad's Heart of Darkness.
From the Paper "With respect to the use of "doubles," Joseph Conrad's The Secret Sharer and Robert Louis Stevenson's Dr. Jekyll and Mr Hyde share more similarities than either of those works share with Conrad's Heart of Darkness. In both Secret and Jekyll, the doubles clearly reside in one man and the doubles are clearly delineated--one good and the other evil. In Heart, on the other hand, one could make an argument that both Kurtz and Marlow have doubles within them, but in both Kurtz's and Marlow's cases those doubles are less delineated than in the main characters of Secret and Heart. Still, in both cases, the exploration of doubles finds that within each man there is a force for evil that does battle with the force for good. While the doubles advance the stories in all three cases, the more fascinating aspect of the issue is the psychological and what it shows in each story about the evil..."
This paper compares three short stories: "The Kiss" by Anton Chekhov, "How to Tell a True War Story" by Tim O?Brien and
?The SecretSharer? by Joseph Conrad.
1,465 words (approx. 5.9 pages), 3 sources, 2002, $ 48.95
Abstract The paper discusses that these three stories shed light on the subject and technique of contrast and irony in their own unique manner: "The Kiss" by Anton Chekhov focuses on contrasting emotions, "How to Tell a True War Story" by Tim O?Brien deals with duality of thoughts and ?The SecretSharer? by Joseph Conrad draws our attention symbolically to contrasting sides of one person. The paper author believes that these stories help us understand that nothing in this world is static and thus emotions, people and thoughts can be highly unpredictable.
From the Paper "Similarly, in another short story titled, "How to Tell a True War Story", by Tim O?Brien, we come across another type of contradiction. This contradiction deals with conflicting thoughts that emerge in the head of a soldier who has witnessed the brutality of a war. The author wants us to know that even one static experience can generate a wide range of conflicting emotions and thoughts. The death of Curt Lemon on the battlefield is that one unchangeable experience which gives rise to many moving, evolving and changing emotions. These emotions are at times poignant while at others they reveal a different aspect of war and thus become slightly positive in nature. "
Abstract This paper examines sight and blindness in "Oedipus the King" by Sophocles and "The SecretSharer" by Joseph Conrad. These two texts both rely on sight and blindness as a central metaphor. The emphasis is not on eyesight but rather on insight or seeing one's true nature.
This paper focuses on symbolic similarities in Joseph Conrad's "The SecretSharer," William Shakespeare's "The Merchant of Venice" and Miguel de Cervantes' "Don Quixote."
Abstract This paper analyzes the theme of the physical self and the metaphorical other which represents the conscious and unconscious selves of the protagonists in all three works of writing. This paper details how the Captain in "The SecretSharer," Shylock in "The Merchant of Venice" and Quixote in "Don Quixote" have struggled to control these particular facets of their personalities. The writer of this paper examines how the three were either able to overcome this struggle or were eventually defeated. This paper clearly details the characteristic traits and events that led to the main characters' self realization. Shylock is primarily characterized as a man motivated by money and power, whose physical self is motivated by greed, while his metaphorical self was motivated by revenge. Don Quixote's character is similar to that of Shylock's. The writer contends and explains how in the same manner as Shylock, Don Quixote allowed his other self to emerge, thereby making him an insane individual, no longer able to distinguish between illusion and reality. The Captain is depicted as man who is not able to fully experience the kind of life that his metaphorical self desires, yet he nevertheless achieves it by helping the character of Leggatt achieve his freedom.
From the Paper "Conrad's psychological portrayal of the Captain became more explicit as the story neared its end. The Captain was not able to fully experience freedom and a carefree life, the kind of life that his metaphorical self desired, but he nevertheless achieved it by helping out Leggatt achieve his freedom. Moreover, wish-fulfillment was achieved when he let go of the symbolic white hat, which the Captain described as "marking the spot where the secret sharer of my cabin and of my thoughts, as though he were my second self...a free man, a proud swimmer striking out for a new destiny." His metaphorical self recognized, the Captain sought a better life by living his own life meaningfully, in his own way. Through this, he had achieved true self-actualization, for he was able to recognize the benefits and limits of both his physical and metaphorical selves."
Abstract The following essay deals with the issues of woman sexuality as portrayed in "Possessing the Secret of Joy." It compares the notion of possession in the Western culture as a romantic notion, to the subject of Walker's book, that of genital mutilation to the African woman. The author also touches on the similarities in themes between "The Colour Purple" and this novel, focusing specifically on the African Woman and the discrimination she is subjected to.
From the paper:
?Female genital mutilation is a complex issue, not a simple issue of men victimizing women as it is often portrayed. It is a product of a particular cultural context. Walker makes this clear in the way that she unfolds her narrative. She does not only present things from Tashi's perspective. She also presents things from the perspective of those who lover her. At the time Tashi's story takes place in the present, Tashi is married to a man named Adam. Of course, what has been done to his wife affects him. This is most clear, not to put to fine a point on it, in terms of their sexual relationship.?
Abstract This paper examines and discusses the characteristics and relationships between Harry, Ron and Hermione in the book, "Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets".
From the Paper "There is a common saying or assumption that a person is measured by the quality of his or her friends. In school or work groups of friends or cliques or clubs develop and people a ..."
Tags: Chamber of Secrets, Harry Potter, Hermione Granger, Ron Weasley, loyalty, determination, intelligence
Abstract The paper examines how knowledge about public hazard is kept secret from the public through the use of secrecy agreements in the courts and how companies often know about deadly defects in their products, yet, they keep the information out of the public eye through secret settlements. This essay analyzes the concept of the secret settlement policy, where companies calculate what is called a cost-benefit-ratio. If the company believes it will be less expensive to settle a claim against it than to recall a product or clean up a hazardous area then the company decides to settle. It discusses the legal aspects of these settlements as well as there pros and cons though literature review and outlines the current laws.
From the Paper "There have been many pros and cons suggested as to why the legislature should or should not adopt these new secrecy bills (caoc.com). Opponents of this legislation state that there is no evidence that the current practice creates any significant problems in concealing information about dangerous products or conditions (caoc.com). Many feel that the new legislation is a threat to high tech firms because the new legislature forces companies to divulge trade secrets (caoc.com). They fear companies will no longer be able to protect trade secrets (caoc.com). However proponents for the new legislature argue that it is designed to restrict secret settlements, not to divulge trade secrets (caoc.com)."
Abstract In this paper the author thoroughly examines the profile and properties of the lingerie company Victoria Secrets. The author starts with a summary of the beginnings of Victoria Secrets. He tells us that its founder Roy Raymond could not find a present for his wife and saw an opening in the market. The author proceeds to expand on how the company grew and constantly changed its perspectives on the market, based on the acceptable fashions of each time period. The paper also looks at the marketing ploys of the company, from advertising through to store design, which has made it the most successful lingerie business there is today. Finally the author confirms Victoria Secrets success by stating it has given the customer a lifestyle which incorporates the product.
From the Paper "With the transformation of the business, its goals also changed. Working on the thought that while bought and wore underwear, they aspired to buy and wear lingerie, the first move was do away with Raymond's goal of having the stores' as some sort of shopping haven for male shoppers. Wexner, along with Senior Vice President, Dan Finkleman realized that while men gave lingerie as gifts, it was women who bought 90% of their own intimate apparel and therefore the company made female customers the sole focus of all its efforts. The main goal of the company in this respect was and is image. Dan McGinn aptly summarizes this and other goals in his case study of the company. He says, "It started with the name Victoria, which conjures up 19th-century England. To further emphasize the veneer of European luxury, catalogs listed the company's headquarters in London, even though it was really in Ohio. And the products themselves stood apart from traditional department store offerings." Another one of the company's major goals was to avoid mistakes made by other lingerie producers, particularly stories such as Frederick's of Hollywood."
Tags: sexiest, nightwear, perfumes, goals, sales, shows, million
