Roughing It · Chapter
L explained
The narrator recounts the story of Captain Ned Blakely, a rough and honest sailor who, after his beloved negro mate is murdered by the bully Bill Noakes in the Chincha Islands, takes justice into his own hands.
What happens
The narrator recounts the story of Captain Ned Blakely, a rough and honest sailor who, after his beloved negro mate is murdered by the bully Bill Noakes in the Chincha Islands, takes justice into his own hands. Despite the lack of formal government or courts, Blakely captures Noakes, conducts a swift trial with a jury of sea-captains, and personally hangs the condemned man, reading Bible chapters and delivering a sermon before the execution. The tale illustrates the frontier spirit of simple, direct justice and is celebrated in early California.
Themes in this chapter
Violence and Desperadoism
The chapter centers on murder, vigilante capture, and a hanging, highlighting the raw, violent justice of the frontier.
The Absurdity of Pretension
Blakely's contempt for legal formalities and his insistence on hanging Noakes before or after a trial satirizes the pretensions of formal justice.
Humor and Exaggeration
The narrative is laced with Twain's characteristic humor, such as Blakely's literal-mindedness and the absurdity of the trial proceedings.
Characters to notice
- Capt. Ned Blakely
The protagonist of the story, a stalwart, warm-hearted sailor who enforces his own brand of justice after his mate is murdered.
- Bill Noakes
The bully and murderer who kills Blakely's mate and is subsequently captured, tried, and hanged by Blakely.
- The Admiral
Not directly mentioned in this chapter; no appearance.
Key passages
“He hated trifling conventionalities—'business' was the word, with him. He had all a sailor's vindictiveness against the quips and quirks of the law, and steadfastly believed that the first and last aim and object of the law and lawyers was to defeat justice.”
Blakely despised unnecessary formalities and believed that the law's only purpose was to obstruct true justice.
This sets up Blakely's motivation for taking the law into his own hands.
“I'm Ned Blakely. I've got you under fire. Don't you move without orders—any of you. You two kneel down in the corner; faces to the wall—now. Bill Noakes, put these handcuffs on; now come up close.”
Blakely confronts the three desperadoes, orders two to kneel facing the wall, and handcuffs Noakes.
Demonstrates Blakely's decisive and fearless approach to capturing the murderer.
“Trial! What do I want to try him for, if he killed the nigger?”
Blakely sees no need for a trial when the guilt is already certain.
Highlights the clash between frontier pragmatism and legal procedure.
“Well, p'raps I ought to burnt him, maybe. But I was trying to do for the best.”
After the hanging, Blakely briefly wonders if burning would have been more appropriate, but reassures himself he acted with good intentions.
A humorous touch showing Blakely's rough conscience and the era's casual attitude toward execution methods.