The House Without a Key · Chapter
IV: A Friend of Tim's explained
John Quincy Winterslip boards the President Tyler for Honolulu, saying farewell to Roger and Barbara in San Francisco.
What happens
John Quincy Winterslip boards the President Tyler for Honolulu, saying farewell to Roger and Barbara in San Francisco. He meets fellow passengers including Madame Maynard, Harry Jennison, and two missionaries. The chapter explores his sense of displacement and the unique status of Hawaii as a U.S. territory, while he also encounters a down-on-his-luck journalist named Bowker who bonds with him over a shared acquaintance named Tim.
Themes in this chapter
Identity and Belonging
John Quincy feels like an outsider among the festive crowd and struggles with his place as a Bostonian heading to a foreign land.
Colonialism and Exoticism
The chapter highlights Hawaii's ambiguous status as a U.S. territory and the mainland's ignorance of its identity, as well as the 'aristocracy of the Islands' among the passengers.
Characters to notice
- John Quincy Winterslip
Boards the ship for Honolulu, feels out of place among the festive crowd, and shares a cabin with two missionaries.
- Miss Minerva Winterslip
Mentioned by Madame Maynard as an acquaintance.
- Roger Winterslip
Sees John Quincy off at the pier, jokes about Hawaii's statehood, and introduces him to Madame Maynard.
- Barbara Winterslip
Also boarding the ship, she is the focus of Harry Jennison's attention and is teased by Madame Maynard.
- Harry Jennison
Dan Winterslip's lawyer, a handsome and confident man who joins the voyage and flirts with Barbara.
- Madame Maynard
An elderly, sharp-tongued woman of old missionary stock, she is a seasoned traveler and takes an interest in John Quincy.
Key passages
“The Pacific was behaving in a most unfriendly manner, tossing the great ship about as though it were a piece of driftwood.”
The rough Pacific Ocean rocked the ship violently, making it feel like a small piece of wood.
Describes the rough seas during the voyage.
“Only about one person out of a thousand in this country knows that Hawaii is a part of the United States, and the fact annoys us deeply over in the Islands.”
Very few mainlanders realize Hawaii is a U.S. territory, which frustrates residents.
Barbara explains the common misconception about Hawaii's political status.
“Well, sir, anything I can do for you—as a mutual friend of Tim's—”
If you ever need help, just mention that we both know Tim.
Bowker offers assistance based on their shared acquaintance.