The Adventures of Captain Hatteras · Chapter
The Captain's Plans explained
Captain Hatteras reveals his plan to reach the North Pole, presenting evidence of an open polar sea and outlining a route through Lancaster Sound and Wellington Channel.
What happens
Captain Hatteras reveals his plan to reach the North Pole, presenting evidence of an open polar sea and outlining a route through Lancaster Sound and Wellington Channel. He faces cold resistance from Shandon, who feels displaced as commander, while the doctor and other officers express support. Hatteras then demonstrates his leadership by using a powder charge and cannon concussion to free the Forward from encroaching ice, earning the crew's cheers.
Themes in this chapter
Exploration and Discovery
Hatteras lays out his ambitious plan to reach the North Pole, citing previous expeditions and scientific evidence to justify the voyage.
Leadership and Mutiny
Hatteras asserts command over a divided crew, faces cold resistance from Shandon, and demonstrates decisive action to free the ship from ice.
Human Endurance and Survival
The crew faces the threat of being crushed by ice, and Hatteras's bold measures are necessary for the ship's survival.
Science and Knowledge
The doctor uses isothermal lines and the work of physicists to argue for the possibility of an open polar sea, grounding the expedition in scientific reasoning.
Characters to notice
- John Hatteras
Reveals his plan to reach the Pole, presents evidence of an open polar sea, and demonstrates decisive leadership by freeing the Forward from ice using a powder charge and cannon concussion.
- Dr. Clawbonny
Supports Hatteras's plan, argues with scientific reasoning about isothermal lines and the location of cold poles, and enthusiastically backs the expedition.
- Richard Shandon
Coldly obeys Hatteras but is clearly offended by his diminished command; questions the feasibility of an open polar sea and remains skeptical.
- Johnson
Expresses full support for Hatteras, assists with lighting the mine, and helps navigate the Forward through the ice passage.
- James Wall
Present at the council and supports Hatteras's plan, finding it possible.
Key passages
“The appearance of this famous person was variously received by the different members of the crew: some allied themselves strongly with him, moved both by boldness and by avarice; others took renewed interest in the expedition, but they reserved to themselves the right of protesting later; besides, at that time, it was hard to make any resistance to such a man.”
The crew reacted to Hatteras in mixed ways: some were drawn to his courage and greed, others became more interested but kept their doubts, and few dared to oppose him.
Describes the crew's divided response to Hatteras's leadership.
“I have not to think, Captain, I have only to obey.”
Shandon coldly states he will follow orders without offering his own thoughts.
Shandon's resentment at being displaced as commander.
“It results very clearly from geographical facts, and from the study of isothermal lines, that the coldest spot on the globe is not on the Pole itself; like the magnetic pole, it lies a few degrees distant.”
The doctor explains that the coldest point on Earth is not at the Pole but several degrees away, based on geography and temperature lines.
Scientific argument supporting the possibility of an open polar sea.
“If Smith's Sound is closed, Lancaster Sound is not, to the west of Baffin's Bay; in my opinion, we ought to go up this sound as far as Barrow Strait, and thence to Beechey Island.”
Hatteras proposes an alternate route through Lancaster Sound and Barrow Strait to Beechey Island if Smith's Sound is blocked.
Hatteras's strategic navigation plan.
“The simple concussion had been enough.”
The shock from the cannon blast alone was sufficient to dislodge the ice.
Hatteras's clever use of a cannon to clear the ice passage.
