There's a reason Joseph Conrad sets "The Secret Sharer" so far away from the narrator's home in England. He wants us to identify with the feeling of being completely detached from human civilization so we can learn more about the basic human themes he's trying to explore. For example, the captain's relationship with Leggatt would be very different if it unfolded in the streets of London instead of the South Pacific Ocean. By setting the story in an unfamiliar place, Conrad can make all his readers feel a little lost at sea, both literally and symbolically, as we follow the narrator's struggles with loneliness, madness, and self-doubt.
Questions About Man and the Natural World
- Where exactly is this story taking place? Using the information provided, try pointing it out on a map.
- What danger does the natural world pose to the captain and his crew at the end of the book? How do they escape it?
- Have a look at the opening sentence of The Secret Sharer. How does the description of nature set up the themes Conrad will explore in the rest of the story?
Chew on This
In "The Secret Sharer," Conrad's description of the natural world shows that without each other, humans are truly alone in the universe.
"The Secret Sharer" teaches us that humans are asking for trouble whenever they mess with nature.