# VII explained — The Narrative of Arthur Gordon Pym of Nantucket

> Chapter companion for The Narrative of Arthur Gordon Pym of Nantucket by Edgar Allan Poe.

## What happens

Pym, Augustus, and Dirk Peters plan a desperate counter-mutiny aboard the Grampus. They kill the watchman Allen, disguise Pym as the corpse of Hartman Rogers, and prepare to seize control of the vessel during a violent gale.

## Themes in this chapter

### Survival and Moral Decay

The conspirators resort to murder and disguise as a corpse to survive and regain control of the ship.

### Deception and Unreliable Narration

Pym's detailed account of the disguise and the plot highlights the theme of deception central to the narrative.

### Mutiny and Rebellion

The chapter focuses on the planning and execution of a counter-mutiny against the mate's faction.

## Character check-ins

### Arthur Gordon Pym

Narrator and co-conspirator; disguises himself as the corpse of Rogers.

### Augustus Barnard

Pym's friend; takes the watch on deck after Allen is killed.

### Dirk Peters

Hybrid mutineer; kills Allen and leads the plan to retake the brig.

### Hartman Rogers

Deceased; his corpse is used by Pym for disguise.

### Richard Parker

Mentioned as part of the crew; not directly active in this chapter.

### Jones

Former ally of Peters who quarrels with him and threatens to betray the plan.

## Key lines

> Peters proposed that he should go up on deck, and enter into conversation with the watch (Allen), when he would be able to throw him into the sea without trouble, and without making any disturbance, by seizing a good opportunity, that Augustus and myself should then come up, and endeavour to provide ourselves with some kind of weapons from the deck, and that we should then make a rush together, and secure the companionway before any opposition could be offered.

Peters suggested he go on deck and talk to the watchman Allen, then throw him overboard quietly. Meanwhile, Augustus and Pym would come up, grab weapons, and together they would seize the companionway before anyone could stop them.

_The plan to kill Allen and take control of the brig._

> As soon as I got below I commenced disguising myself so as to represent the corpse of Rogers. The shirt which we had taken from the body aided us very much, for it was of singular form and character, and easily recognizable⁠—a kind of smock, which the deceased wore over his other clothing. It was a blue stockinett, with large white stripes running across.

Once below deck, Pym began to disguise himself as the dead Rogers, using the distinctive blue-and-white striped smock taken from the corpse.

_Pym's disguise as the dead man to deceive the crew._

## Links

- HTML: https://www.betterreads.online/discover/the_narrative_of_arthur_gordon_pym_of_nantucket_se/chapters/vii
- Book: https://www.betterreads.online/discover/the_narrative_of_arthur_gordon_pym_of_nantucket_se
- All chapters: https://www.betterreads.online/discover/the_narrative_of_arthur_gordon_pym_of_nantucket_se/chapters