On a Chinese Screen · Chapter
LIII: The Sea-Dog explained
The chapter contrasts the dull, practical nature of most sea captains with the unique character of Captain Boots, a Dutchman with a restless, elusive personality.
What happens
The chapter contrasts the dull, practical nature of most sea captains with the unique character of Captain Boots, a Dutchman with a restless, elusive personality. It recounts his varied career from seal hunting to estate agency, his humorous trick on a harbor master, and his firm stand against mutinous soldiers.
Themes in this chapter
Futility of Western Superiority
Captain Boots' gentle, coaxing approach with the Chinese contrasts with typical Western assertiveness, yet his methods sometimes fail, highlighting the limits of Western control.
Search for Meaning and Identity
Boots' restless career and indecision reflect a search for purpose, as he moves from sea to land and back, never fully settling.
Characters to notice
- Captain Boots
Portrayed as an atypical sea captain—fluent, garrulous, yet elusive; a Dutchman with a restless career and a gentle, persuasive manner, though capable of firmness.
- The Harbour Master
Tricked by Captain Boots into allowing the ship to depart without unloading cargo, after being plied with drinks.
- The Officer
Commands the soldiers who fire on the ship as Captain Boots defies them and departs.
Key passages
“The Sea-Dog Ships’ captains for the most part are very dull men. Their conversation is of freights and cargoes. They have seen little more in the ports they visit than their agent’s office, the bar which their kind frequents, and the bawdy houses.”
Most sea captains are uninteresting, talking only about business and frequenting the same limited places in port.
Opens the chapter by setting up the stereotype that Captain Boots defies.
“He was a big man, six foot two, powerfully built, with large features and a red, friendly face. When he laughed he showed a row of handsome gold teeth. He was very bald, and clean-shaven; but he had the most bushy, abundant, and aggressive eyebrows that I have ever seen, and under them mild blue eyes.”
Captain Boots was a large, friendly-looking man with gold teeth, a bald head, and strikingly bushy eyebrows that contrasted with his gentle eyes.
Describes Boots' physical appearance, emphasizing the contrast between his aggressive brows and mild eyes.
“We sold one fellow a farm on de side of a mountain, an’ it was so steep dat de chickens had one leg longer dan de oder.”
They sold a farm on such a steep mountainside that the chickens had one leg longer than the other.
A humorous anecdote from Boots' time as an estate agent, illustrating his wit.
“Put down de bullet proof screen. I tell you I’m going and de Chinese army can go to hell.”
Lower the bulletproof screen; I'm leaving regardless of the Chinese army.
Shows Boots' firmness when faced with mutinous soldiers, contrasting with his usual gentleness.