How we cite our quotes: (Section.Paragraph)
Quote #1
The injured captain, lying in the bow, was at this time buried in that profound dejection and indifference which comes, temporarily at least, to even the bravest and most enduring when, willy nilly, the firm fails, the army loses, the ship goes down. The mind of the master of a vessel is rooted deep in the timbers of her, though he command for a day or a decade, and this captain had on him the stern impression of a scene in the grays of dawn of seven turned faces, and later a stump of a top-mast with a white ball on it that slashed to and fro at the waves, went low and lower, and down. Thereafter there was something strange in his voice. Although steady, it was deep with mourning, and of a quality beyond oration or tears. (1.6)
It's interesting that the captain begins the story already in mourning. The ship was his responsibility, and it sunk. Now he's responsible for these three members of his crew, and it seems like he's already imagining their deaths as well. He responds with a fascinating mix of apathy and heroism, dejection and resolve. Do you think he's giving any thought to his own death, or just focusing on the others? What evidence is there?
Quote #2
The correspondent thought that he had been drenched to the skin, but happening to feel in the top pocket of his coat, he found therein eight cigars. Four of them were soaked with sea-water; four were perfectly scatheless. After a search, somebody produced three dry matches, and thereupon the four waifs rode in their little boat, and with an assurance of an impending rescue shining in their eyes, puffed at the big cigars and judged well and ill of all men. Everybody took a drink of water. (3.16)
We can view this scene in a few different lights. The cigars—half-lost, half-saved—can easily be taken as metaphors of the men themselves. We can see them smoking and drinking, and imagine them celebrating their impending rescue, but is there something else? This scene sort of reminds us of a prisoner at the gallows, and a last request—one last taste of life's pleasures before the bitter end? One last fling with this mortal coil?
Quote #3
"If we don't all get ashore—" said the captain. "If we don't all get ashore, I suppose you fellows know where to send news of my finish?"
They then briefly exchanged some addresses and admonitions. As for the reflections of the men, there was a great deal of rage in them. (4.11-12)
For the first time, the men look death—their own death—squarely in the face. It seems like they've reached some sort of peace with it, but then you read that last line and see they're just playing tough. Inside, they're absolutely fuming, so angry that they've come to such an unjust end.