# Chapter XX explained — Sailing Alone Around the World

> Chapter companion for Sailing Alone Around the World by Joshua Slocum.

## What happens

Captain Slocum navigates the Spray through the Caribbean, facing a terrifying false alarm of a coral reef that turns out to be the lighthouse on Trinidad. He visits several islands, including Grenada and Antigua, where he is warmly received by governors and gives talks about his voyage. The chapter highlights his reliance on memory and the kindness of strangers, as he continues his journey homeward.

## Themes in this chapter

### Man vs. Nature

Slocum faces a terrifying night of imaginary reefs, illustrating the constant danger and psychological challenges of the sea.

### Hospitality and Human Connection

Slocum receives warm welcomes and assistance from governors and locals in the Caribbean islands.

### Reflection and Philosophy

Slocum contemplates the ethics of prayer for favorable winds, questioning the divine intervention in natural phenomena.

## Character check-ins

### Spray

The sloop navigates through the Caribbean, narrowly avoiding a phantom reef and arriving at various islands.

### Captain Joshua Slocum

Reflects on the wind and prayer, experiences a terrifying false alarm of a reef, and visits several Caribbean islands.

### Father Neptune

Invoked in Slocum's exclamation about the deceptive reef.

### Robinson Crusoe

Mentioned as a reference for shipwreck lore when Slocum fears the reef.

## Key lines

> I remembered that when a lad I heard a captain often say in meeting that in answer to a prayer of his own the wind changed from southeast to northwest, entirely to his satisfaction.

As a boy, Slocum heard a captain claim that his prayer changed the wind direction.

_Slocum reflects on the captain's story, questioning whether such divine intervention is appropriate._

> It was evidently a coral reef—of this I had not the slightest doubt—and a bad reef at that.

Slocum was certain he was approaching a dangerous coral reef.

_His certainty is later shattered when the 'reef' turns out to be a lighthouse beam._

> Aladdin’s lamp! My fisherman’s own lantern! It was the great revolving light on the island of Trinidad, thirty miles away, throwing flashes over the waves, which had deceived me!

The supposed reef was actually the lighthouse on Trinidad, thirty miles away, its flashes deceiving him.

_Slocum's relief and amazement at the revelation._

## Links

- HTML: https://www.betterreads.online/discover/sailing_alone_around_the_world_se/chapters/xx
- Book: https://www.betterreads.online/discover/sailing_alone_around_the_world_se
- All chapters: https://www.betterreads.online/discover/sailing_alone_around_the_world_se/chapters