Polynesia Has a Plan explained

What happens

Themes in this chapter

• Friendship and Loyalty

  The crew bands together to protect the Doctor from Ben Butcher's potential mutiny.

• Freedom vs. Confinement

  Ben Butcher is confined to the dining-saloon to prevent him from taking over the ship.

Characters to notice

• Tommy Stubbins

  Narrator and participant in the plan to trap Ben Butcher.

• Polynesia

  Devises the plan to lock Ben Butcher in the dining-saloon.

• Bumpo Kahbooboo

  Helps execute the plan by laying the table and locking the door.

• Jip

  Expresses concern about Ben Butcher and supports Polynesia's plan.

• Chee-Chee

  Present during the discussion of the plan.

Key passages

• “I shall have to run for the Capa Blancas after all. Dreadful nuisance! But I'd sooner swim back to Puddleby than have to listen to that fellow's talk all the way to Brazil.”

  The Doctor decides to change course to the Capa Blancas just to avoid Ben Butcher's incessant complaining.

  Shows the Doctor's irritation with Ben Butcher.

• “Mark my words, if you travel with John Dolittle you always get there, as you heard him say. I've been with him lots of times and I know. Sometimes the ship is upside down when you get there, and sometimes it's right way up. But you get there just the same.”

  Polynesia reassures Tommy that despite the Doctor's unorthodox methods, they will eventually reach their destination safely.

  Highlights Polynesia's confidence in the Doctor.

• “What I'm afraid of is that he may hit the Doctor on the head when he's not looking and make himself captain of the Curlew. Bad sailors do that sometimes. Then they run the ship their own way and take it where they want. That's what you call a mutiny.”

  Polynesia warns that Ben Butcher might stage a mutiny by knocking out the Doctor and taking command.

  Sets up the need for the plan to trap Ben Butcher.