Antagonist

Character Role Analysis

The Typee

Because Mehevi and his crew are preventing our protagonist from getting what he wants (his freedom), they are by definition designated antagonists. This doesn't mean that Tommo's friendly lunches at the Ti aren't genuine. It just means that the Typee want the exact opposite of what Tommo would prefer. (It's worth noting that, because of the language barrier, we never figure out what exactly they're planning on doing with this American sailor—more on that in our "Themes" section.)

The French

Here, by "The French" we don't mean every last French person. That would be just ridiculous. Rather, we mean the French colonialists, who seek to harness the natural resources of the islands, to own the nature in which the Typee, Happar, and Nukuheva so essentially dwell. When Tommo discusses his dismay with the way colonialism and Christian missions have changed ways of native life all over Polynesia, we understand: your enemy's enemy isn't always your friend.