Leggatt as an Independent Char
Leggatt as an Independent CharLeggatt as an Independent Character
in Joseph Conrad's "The Secret Sharer"
This essay examines Leggatt as an independent person, rather than as a
symbol connected to the captain-narrator, a view shared by many critics.
Leggatt is not a negative influence on the captain per se. From an
objective point of view, it can be seen that Leggatt's portrayal depends
entirely on how the captain (as narrator) perceives him, and that he
deserves to be treated as the individual being that he is.
Many of Conrad's critics, most notably Albert J. Guerard , Robert W.
Stallmann , have taken the view that Leggatt, of the novella "The Secret
Sharer," is either some sort of symbol of the captain's dark side, a
kind of role model for the captain, or that he is part of the captain.
In this essay I will first examine the captain's portrayal of Leggatt,
then argue that Leggatt is none of these, rather, he is a complete
person in and of himself, and not simply part of the captain's
personality deficiencies.
At first glance it would seem that Leggatt is either the antagonist or
provides a criminal influence on the captain. By no means are Leggatt's
decisions and actions exemplary. Murdering mutinous crew members is
hardly an acceptable practice, and avoiding justice, and one's
punishment�all of which Leggatt do�only worsen the issue. The captain
claims that in swimming to the island Koh-ring, his double had "lowered
himself into the water to take his punishment" (Conrad 193). However, as
Cedric Watts argues, this is only true because Leggatt, by escaping
justice, will face an uncertain future marooned on an island (134). In
reality, Leggatt is doing the opposite; he is lowering himself into the
water to escape from the law, for it is unlikely that he would get off
scot-free in court. The captain describes Koh-ring as "a towering black
mass like the very gateway of Erebus," (Conrad 193) Erebus being the
cavern through which the souls of the dead entered Hades' world (Watts
134).
Leggatt and the captain discover soon after they first meet that they
are both "Conway boys," that is, as cadets, they served as crew on the
training-ship the Conway, which is moored in the Mersey at Liverpool
(Conrad 146). In this novel, the Conway serves as "a universal letter of
credit" (Burgess 115). Leggatt and the captain's bond becomes stronger
once they learn that they share a common training background.
Conway boys are taught the importance of fierce loyalty toward one's
ship (Batchelor 187). Leggatt demonstrates his loyalty by risking his
life in order to save his ship, the Sephora, from sinking by setting the
foresail. Ironically, the captain's loyalties lie with Leggatt, rather
than his ship,...
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