# II: Young Powell Sees and Hears explained — Chance > Chapter companion for Chance by Joseph Conrad. ## What happens Marlow continues his narrative, focusing on Powell's early days aboard the Ferndale. Powell is struck by the unexpected youth of Captain Anthony's wife, a shock that upends his preconceived notions. He observes the crew's subtle resentment of the marriage, particularly from the chief mate Franklin, who feels displaced from the saloon. Powell, young and inexperienced, fails to grasp the deeper, more subtle marital tensions that Marlow hints at, seeing only the surface of the unusual shipboard life. ## Themes in this chapter ### Isolation and Loneliness Powell, an orphan without close relations, finds a 'soothing certitude' in his duties, yet his initial observations highlight the social isolation of the captain's wife, a young girl surrounded by a resentful crew. ### Deception and Illusion Powell's view of life as a fairytale with a 'happy ever after' ending is contrasted with the crew's resentment and the 'unusual' marital situation, suggesting a hidden reality beneath the surface. ### Narrative and Perspective Marlow's narration frames the chapter, explicitly discussing his doubts about Powell's capacity to observe the 'unusual' and shaping the reader's understanding of events through his retrospective commentary. ## Character check-ins ### Charles Powell Young and inexperienced, Powell is shocked to find the captain's wife is a young girl. He is focused on his duties and fails to understand the crew's resentment or the deeper marital tensions. ### Flora de Barral Referred to as Mrs. Anthony, she is seen as a young, girlish figure reclining in a deck chair. Her presence is a shock to Powell and a source of resentment for the crew. ### Franklin The thick chief mate who is aggrieved at being 'chucked out of the saloon' due to the captain's marriage. He is tactful with Powell but expresses his annoyance and hints at past, better times on the ship. ### Captain Anthony The captain of the Ferndale, whose marriage is resented by the crew. He is seen as a remote, fairytale-like figure by Powell. ### Marlow The narrator, who reflects on Powell's initial observations and his own doubts about Powell's ability to perceive the subtle, unusual marital relations on board. ## Key lines > We are the creatures of our light literature much more than is generally suspected in a world which prides itself on being scientific and practical, and in possession of incontrovertible theories. People are more influenced by simple stories and ideals than they realize, even in a modern, practical world. _Marlow uses this to explain Powell's naive, fairytale-like view of life and marriage._ > To behold a girl where your average mediocre imagination had placed a comparatively old woman may easily become one of the strongest shocks… Seeing something that completely contradicts your expectations can be a profound and disturbing experience. _Marlow describes the shock Powell felt upon seeing the young Mrs. Anthony._ > You can’t expect me to be pleased at being chucked out of the saloon as if I weren’t good enough to sit down to meat with that woman. I'm not happy about being forced to eat elsewhere, as if I'm not worthy to dine with the captain's wife. _Franklin explains his resentment to Powell, revealing the social disruption caused by the marriage._ ## Links - HTML: https://www.betterreads.online/discover/chance_se/chapters/ii-young-powell-sees-and-hears - Book: https://www.betterreads.online/discover/chance_se - All chapters: https://www.betterreads.online/discover/chance_se/chapters