Character Clues
Character Analysis
Division of Labor on the Lifeboat
The cook is always in a good mood, staying happy and positive throughout their ordeal. He's also bailing out the water that continually comes spilling over the sides. He spends most of the story keeping their spirits high and keeping the boat above water, so, literally and figuratively, he's keeping them afloat. He even floats away toward the shore once the group is finally rescued—he's like a human buoy.
The oiler and the correspondent take turns at the oars, but we get the feeling that the oiler is the one doing the lion's share of the work here. He's the strong one, the one who really keeps them moving, like the grease that keeps the gears turning.
The correspondent is too busy with things up in his head to really focus on rowing, but that's his secret task: thinking through the weighty philosophical problems for the rest of the men. Sounds like the job we'd want to have in this situation.
The captain is in charge. He makes the decisions, and they place their trust in him. So it is fitting that he alone is responsible for steering the boat. O Captain, my captain.
Physical Appearance
The cook has "fat forearms," and "the two flaps of his unbuttoned vest" dangling from his body, which suggests that he has a rather sloppy appearance. (1.3) This makes clear he is well out of his element here in the lifeboat, and adds an element of humor to the situation, having us think of someone being so out of place in such a dire situation.
The captain is "injured," and lying low in the boat, reflecting his depression and despair at having lost his ship (1.6). We'd be pretty bummed, too.
Speech and Dialogue
In case you didn't notice, there are some pretty consistent patterns of speech throughout the story.
The captain only speaks when giving directions or instructions, and otherwise remains silent and sullen.
The oiler only speaks when spoken to, and in those cases responds politely but reluctantly.
The cook might be the most unpredictable of any of the characters. He and the correspondent "argue" about something unimportant, and when the cook tries to make small talk and asks the oiler what his favorite kind of pie is, it's the one time we see the oiler lose his temper (1.13). This suggests that the cook is lost in his head, imagining being far off the boat eating pie, while the oiler's mind is firmly entrenched on the boat, focused on doing what is necessary to get them off of it. Then he can start thinking about pie.