How we cite our quotes: Citations follow this format: (Chapter.Paragraph)
Quote #7
"So what we have here is a girl who admits she owns the weapon that murdered Mr. Hollybrass. A girl who lied about where she got it. A girl who was taught to use a blade, and learned to use it, as Mr. Grimes would have it, 'uncommon' well. A girl who, all agree, is unnatural in every way she acts. Gentleman, do we not, as natural men, need to take heed? Is it not our duty, our obligation, to protect the natural order of the world?" (18.159)
The captain argues that Charlotte's gender bending makes her not just "unusual" but "unnatural." That is, her behavior violates not just the rules of society, but the "natural order of the world." Why is this argument so effective? How is it also incredibly flawed?
Quote #8
"And he has the whole crew agreeing with his judgment. He was that careful. Punctilious," I spat out, remembering the word the captain had used to describe himself.
"I don't know the word."
"Everything in order."
"Aye that's him." (19.7-19.10)
Notice that the captain is again described as "punctilious," this time by Charlotte. Why is it significant that Zachariah doesn't know the word? Notice, too, that later in the chapter, the captain is described as being possessed with "madness," a condition that suggests a lack of rational judgment (19.97). Is the captain then orderly and chaotic? Can he be both all at once?
Quote #9
"I have spent considerable time in setting the room to rights. Have I not done well? Order, Miss Doyle, order is all. Take away the light and ..." He leaned over and blew the candles out. "You see – it's hard to notice the difference. Everything appears in order." (21.38)
At this point, Captain Jaggery is not so concerned with actual order as much as the appearance of it. After the storm, everything in his quarters is broken, but Jaggery does his best to put things back in their place. Why is it significant, though, that all of the stuff in his cabin only seems to be in order when the room is dark? What do the lights symbolize? How about the storm?