Part One
1
It is a first person narration and the narrator is the main character. He begins the story by talking about youth and how it makes the person make rushed decisions. That is how he left the ship in Arabia that he was a crew member of. Upon leaving the ship on the port instead of going to a hotel he decides to go to Officers' Home to find residence there. There he is greeted by a cranky native steward. There are a few other white passengers there including Captain Giles and a seaman Hamilton.
Captain Giles and the narrator become friendly and spend time talking to each other. On night they unintentionally hear Hamilton talking jealously about the narrator, how he is more fit for some position. Captain Giles tells the narrator that he saw the steward suspiciously holding some letters and tries to persuade him to investigate. The narrator shakes it off but when he sees the steward he can't help but interrogate him. The letter is from the Harbour Office and it is for the narrator to come for a conversation to become a master of a certain ship. The next day the narrator goes to the Harbour Office to sign for the job.
Analysis
The narrator is probably the writer himself. The narration is filled with universal themes of youth and self- analyzing.
2
The narrator leaves the Harbour Office overwhelmed with his new sense of responsibility. He is escorted that night by Captain Giles to depart on his journey to get to his ship. He gets aboard a steamer with an unpleasant captain and begins his journey. When he arrives at Bangkok he is not disappointed by the sight and contemplates the beauty of his ship.
Analysis
The narrator being appointed a Captain of a ship feels like his dream has come true, that he has finally found purpose of his life.
3
On the ship the narrator encounters a grumpy chief mate who doesn't seem very happy that he arrived. The chief mate's name is Mr. Barns. Mr. Barns tells him the story of the old captain of the ship and how he turned insane by some evil force and wanted to take the ship down along with its crew. The captain died in a delirious state and he, Mr. Barns, rescued the ship and brought it ashore.
There is a sudden outbreak of some disease and Mr. Barns is struck by it. Ignoring doctor's advice to leave him ashore the narrator departs out to the sea with ill Mr. Barns.
Analysis
There is an uneasy atmosphere and the story of the previous captain going astray by some evil entity or force contributes to it. It could be a foreshadowing material of the upcoming events.
Part two
4
The ship is barely moving as there is no trace of wind. Mr. Barns blames this on the late captain because they are on the way where he is buried. He thinks it is the captain's spirit messing with it. More men become ill. The narrator, the captain of the ship, discovers some bottles but they all slip out of his hand miraculously. He goes to Mr. Barns's cabin to tell him this and finds him in a grotesque state where half of his face is shaven and scissors in his hands.
Analysis
The bad omen struck the ship with it barely moving and disease not leaving it. Could it just be coincidental or is it the spirit of the late captain the cause of it?
5
The state on the ship turns miserable. Men are exhausted by disease. Mr. Barns keeps saying that it is the fault of the old captain and the new captain, the narrator, is losing hope and sanity. He turns to writing journals.
After fourteen days of hopeless floating storm bringing clouds appear on the sky. With their last bit of strength the exhausted men and the narrator, who was spared from the disease, prepare the ship for the storm and then hope for the best.
6
The storm passes and ship is moving at a normal pace now. The narrator is supported by his trustworthy crew member Ransome. Soon, help arrives for the diseased crew.
The narrator is back ashore and has a new crew waiting for him. He meets with Captain Giles and they warmly say goodbye and each go their own way. The narrator is ready to depart again to take the ship to Indian Ocean. Ransome waits for him at the ship and he writes him a recommendation letter and Ransome leaves the ship grimly.
Analysis
Everything comes to a close positively with none of the crew members dying, although badly affected by disease. Mr. Barns gets over his insane thoughts. The narrator discusses with Captain Giles his youth and how he lost it at the sea; he no longer belongs to that shadow line.
