Short Fiction · Chapter
Sketch Seventh: Charles's Isle and the Dog-King explained
This sketch recounts the history of Charles's Isle, a barren island in the Encantadas, which was granted to a Creole adventurer from Cuba after the Peruvian war of independence.
What happens
This sketch recounts the history of Charles's Isle, a barren island in the Encantadas, which was granted to a Creole adventurer from Cuba after the Peruvian war of independence. He established himself as its supreme lord, populated it with settlers and a disciplined cavalry of dogs, and ruled with martial law. After a series of rebellions, a mutiny led by deserters from foreign ships overthrew him, establishing a lawless 'Riotocracy.' The island became a refuge for runaway sailors, shunned by passing vessels. The narrator's ship encounters a beacon on the island, but the captain refuses to investigate, knowing its treacherous reputation.
Themes in this chapter
Authority and Rebellion
The Dog-King's authoritarian rule, enforced by a canine army, is repeatedly challenged by rebellions, culminating in a successful mutiny that overthrows him and establishes a lawless 'Riotocracy.'
Justice and Injustice
The king's 'justice' is arbitrary and violent, involving hunting and shooting subjects, while the rebels' 'liberty' descends into lawlessness, highlighting the failure of both systems.
The Individual vs. Society
The Creole adventurer's individual ambition to create a personal kingdom clashes with the collective will of the settlers and deserters, leading to societal collapse.
Isolation and Alienation
Charles's Isle is a remote, barren place that becomes a refuge for outcasts and deserters, yet its inhabitants are alienated from the rest of the world, shunned by passing ships.
Characters to notice
- The Narrator (Encantadas)
The narrator recounts the history of Charles's Isle and the Dog-King, learned from a shipmate, and later describes his own ship's encounter with the island's beacon.
- Oberlus
Not present in this sketch; the focus is on the Creole Dog-King and the island's history.
Key passages
“So with outragious cry, A thousand villeins round about him swarmed Out of the rocks and caves adjoining nye; Vile caitive wretches, ragged, rude, deformed; All threatning death, all in straunge manner armed; Some with unweldy clubs, some with long speares. Some rusty knives, some staves in fier warmd. We will not be of any occupation, Let such vile vassals, born to base vocation, Drudge in the world, and for their living droyle, Which have no wit to live withouten toyle.”
A mob of ragged, deformed villains armed with crude weapons swarms from the rocks and caves, threatening death, refusing to work like common laborers.
This epigraph sets the tone for the lawless and violent nature of the island's inhabitants.
“Southwest of Barrington lies Charles's Isle. And hereby hangs a history which I gathered long ago from a shipmate learned in all the lore of outlandish life.”
Charles's Isle is located southwest of Barrington, and the narrator learned its story from a knowledgeable shipmate.
Introduces the setting and source of the tale.
“During the successful revolt of the Spanish provinces from Old Spain, there fought on behalf of Peru a certain Creole adventurer from Cuba, who, by his bravery and good fortune, at length advanced himself to high rank in the patriot army.”
A Creole adventurer from Cuba fought for Peru during its revolt against Spain and rose to a high rank.
Establishes the background of the Dog-King.
“The war being ended, Peru found itself like many valorous gentlemen, free and independent enough, but with few shot in the locker. In other words, Peru had not wherewithal to pay off its troops.”
After the war, Peru was independent but too poor to pay its soldiers.
Explains why the Creole was paid in land.
“But the Creole—I forget his name—volunteered to take his pay in lands. So they told him he might have his pick of the Enchanted Isles, which were then, as they still remain, the nominal appanage of Peru.”
The Creole chose to be paid with land from the Enchanted Isles, which belonged to Peru.
The Creole's name is forgotten, emphasizing his legendary status.
“The soldier straightway embarks thither, explores the group, returns to Callao, and says he will take a deed of Charles's Isle. Moreover, this deed must stipulate that thenceforth Charles's Isle is not only the sole property of the Creole, but is forever free of Peru, even as Peru of Spain.”
The Creole explored the islands, chose Charles's Isle, and demanded it be his sole property, independent of Peru.
The Creole's ambition for absolute sovereignty.
