Genre
A short novel
Setting and Context
The events of the story take place on Papeete, Tahiti.
Narrator and Point of View
The story is written from the third-person point of view and is told by an omniscient narrator.
Tone and Mood
The tone is contemplative whilst mood is rather depressing.
Protagonist and Antagonist
Herrick is the protagonist of the story. Huish is the antagonist.
Major Conflict
The major conflict is person vs. self. Herrick is a failure and it is his fault. The man can’t take matters into his own hands.
Climax
The climax of the story happens when the three beggars plan to kill Attwater.
Foreshadowing
“And there are still others, less pliable, less capable, less fortunate, perhaps less base, who continue even in these isles of plenty, to lack bread. At the far end of the town of Papeete, three such men were seated on the beach under a purao tree.”
Understatement
“I hope I shall die very soon; but I have not the least objection to killing you before I go.”
Allusions
The novel alludes to Mozart’s Symphony №5.
Imagery
See the imagery section
Paradox
“He did not drink, he was exactly honest, he was never rude to his employers, yet was everywhere discharged.”
Parallelism
N/A
Metonymy and Synecdoche
“It caught the ears of Kanaka.” (The ears are metonymy for attention).
Personification
“The moon, racing through a world of flying clouds…”
