Short Fiction · Chapter
Sketch Ninth: Hood's Isle and the Hermit Oberlus explained
This sketch describes Hood's Isle and its sole inhabitant, Oberlus, a European castaway who has become a brutal tyrant.
What happens
This sketch describes Hood's Isle and its sole inhabitant, Oberlus, a European castaway who has become a brutal tyrant. He kidnaps sailors, enslaves them, and arms them with cutlasses, planning to capture a passing ship. After a failed attempt to trap two ships' crews, he steals a boat and sails away, leaving behind a letter claiming to be a persecuted patriot.
Themes in this chapter
Isolation and Alienation
Oberlus lives alone on a barren volcanic island, his isolation twisting him into a misanthropic tyrant.
Authority and Rebellion
Oberlus establishes absolute authority over his enslaved sailors, who are too cowed to rebel despite being armed.
Nature and Desolation
The volcanic landscape of Hood's Isle is described as blasted and desolate, mirroring Oberlus's own corrupted nature.
Characters to notice
- Oberlus
The hermit of Hood's Isle, a European castaway who becomes a tyrannical slave master, kidnapping sailors and arming them as his army.
- The Narrator (Encantadas Sketch Nine)
The narrator who recounts the history and actions of Oberlus on Hood's Isle.
Key passages
“Oberlus, czar of the isle, gaffles his four subjects; that is, with intent of glory, puts four rusty cutlasses into their hands.”
Oberlus, acting like a tyrant, arms his four slaves with old swords, pretending to create an army for his own glory.
Highlights Oberlus's delusion of grandeur and his cruel manipulation of his slaves.
“I am the most unfortunate ill-treated gentleman that lives. I am a patriot, exiled from my country by the cruel hand of tyranny.”
Oberlus claims to be a persecuted gentleman and patriot, unjustly exiled, to justify his theft and escape.
Shows Oberlus's self-serving narrative and his attempt to portray himself as a victim.