Nostromo · Chapter
Part II: The Isabels explained
Martin Decoud, left alone on the Great Isabel with the silver, succumbs to isolation and despair, ultimately taking his own life.
What happens
Martin Decoud, left alone on the Great Isabel with the silver, succumbs to isolation and despair, ultimately taking his own life. Nostromo, having survived the sinking of the lighter, returns to find Decoud dead and hides the treasure on the island. He then assumes a new identity as Captain Fidanza, while the lighthouse built on the Great Isabel becomes a permanent reminder of the hidden silver.
Themes in this chapter
Materialism and Corruption
The silver treasure becomes a corrupting force, leading to Decoud's death and Nostromo's moral decline as he hides and later secretly uses the wealth.
Isolation and Despair
Decoud's solitude on the island drives him to madness and suicide, highlighting the psychological toll of extreme isolation.
Characters to notice
- Nostromo
Survives the sinking of the lighter, returns to the Great Isabel, hides the silver, and adopts the alias Captain Fidanza.
- Martin Decoud
Left alone on the Great Isabel with the silver, he experiences profound isolation and commits suicide.
Key passages
“The solitude of the Great Isabel was like a heavy weight pressing down on Decoud's soul.”
Decoud felt crushed by the oppressive loneliness of the island.
Illustrates the psychological impact of isolation on Decoud.
“Nostromo, now Captain Fidanza, moved through the town with a new air of confidence, his secret safe.”
After hiding the silver, Nostromo adopted a new identity and demeanor, carrying the burden of his secret.
Shows Nostromo's transformation and the hidden corruption of the treasure.