The Mirror of the Sea · Chapter
XXXV explained
The narrator reflects on the sea's indifference and the complex love sailors have for ships, then describes a vivid scene at the New South Dock in the late 1870s, where a gathering of magnificent figureheads and hulls represents the aristoc
What happens
The narrator reflects on the sea's indifference and the complex love sailors have for ships, then describes a vivid scene at the New South Dock in the late 1870s, where a gathering of magnificent figureheads and hulls represents the aristocracy of ships. An elderly seaman declares 'Ships are all right,' hinting at the flaws of men, and they discuss a new ship about to embark on her maiden voyage.
Themes in this chapter
Fidelity and Love of Ships
The chapter emphasizes the deep, genuine love sailors have for their ships, contrasting it with the sea's heartlessness, and describes the ships as 'untiring servants of our hopes and our self-esteem.'
Nostalgia and Loss
The narrator mourns the vanished era of figureheads and the great ships, noting that 'no man's eye shall behold again' such an exhibition, and that only the memory of their names lingers.
The Sea as Mirror
The sea is portrayed as impenetrable and heartless, reflecting mankind's passions without recording them, and as a force that cannot be subjugated like the earth.
Characters to notice
- Mr. Conrad
The narrator, who observes the scene at the New South Dock and engages in conversation with an elderly seaman.
Key passages
“the sea, neglects the strength and cunning of his right hand, is a fool! As if it were too great, too mighty for common virtues, the ocean has no compassion, no faith, no law, no memory.”
Anyone who ignores the power and skill needed to handle the sea is foolish; the ocean is vast and lacks compassion, faith, law, or memory.
The narrator asserts the sea's indifference and the necessity of vigilance and strength.
“Ships are all right; it’s the men in ’em…”
Ships themselves are fine; the problems come from the people aboard them.
An elderly seaman expresses a common sentiment that ships are reliable, but human flaws cause trouble.
“And nothing remains but lingering perhaps in the memory of a few men, the sound of their names, vanished a long time ago from the first page of the great London dailies; from big posters in railway-stations and the doors of shipping offices; from the minds of sailors, dockmasters, pilots, and tugmen; from the hail of gruff voices and the flutter of signal flags exchanged between ships closing upon each other and drawing apart in the open immensity of the sea.”
Only the faint memory of their names remains in a few minds, as they have disappeared from newspapers, posters, shipping offices, and the daily life of sailors and dockworkers.
The narrator reflects on the disappearance of the great ships and their figureheads from public consciousness.