Short Fiction · Chapter
Smith explained
A flamboyant stranger named Smith arrives in Coralio on his yacht, the Rambler, and interacts with the local consul, Willard Geddie, and Dr.
What happens
A flamboyant stranger named Smith arrives in Coralio on his yacht, the Rambler, and interacts with the local consul, Willard Geddie, and Dr. Gregg. Smith's visit is brief and mysterious; he vanishes by morning, leaving behind unanswered questions. The chapter also touches on Geddie's recent near-drowning and his decision to resign as consul to join Bernard Brannigan's enterprises.
Themes in this chapter
Deception and Appearance vs. Reality
Smith's flashy attire and mysterious behavior contrast with the simple tropical setting, hinting at hidden motives and the theme of things not being as they seem.
Humor and Irony
The doctor's misunderstanding with the native patient over the watch and his use of brandy as a 'prophylactic' provide ironic and humorous moments.
Characters to notice
- Willard Geddie
The U.S. consul in Coralio, recovering from a near-drowning, and planning to resign to become a partner in Bernard Brannigan's enterprises.
- Señor Goodwin
Points Smith toward the consulate and mentions Geddie's recent accident.
- Doc Millikin
Referred to as Doctor Gregg; examines crew and passengers for yellow fever, treats a native man, and drinks with Smith.
- Smith
A mysterious, gaudily dressed man who arrives on a yacht, interacts with Geddie and Dr. Gregg, and disappears before dawn.
Key passages
“There is a quaint old theory that man may have two souls—a peripheral one which serves ordinarily, and a central one which is stirred only at certain times, but then with activity and vigour.”
The narrator suggests a theory that people have an everyday self and a deeper, more impulsive self that occasionally takes over.
This philosophical aside explains Geddie's recent reckless swim and his return to normalcy.
“He came; he spake his strange jargon of the asphalt and the cafés; he sat under the coconut-tree, and vanished.”
Smith arrived, spoke in his urban slang, sat under a coconut tree, and then disappeared without a trace.
Summarizes Smith's fleeting and enigmatic presence in Coralio.