# XV explained — Two Years Before the Mast > Chapter companion for Two Years Before the Mast by Richard Henry Dana Jr.. ## What happens The chapter recounts the brutal flogging of two sailors, Sam and John, by Captain Thompson, and the narrator's internal turmoil and vow to seek justice for sailors. It then describes the narrator's solitary night guarding hides ashore, the crew's sullen departure for San Diego, and their arrival at the harbor. ## Themes in this chapter ### Authority and Discipline Captain Thompson's absolute rule is enforced through brutal flogging, demonstrating the tyrannical power aboard ship. ### Justice and Cruelty The floggings are arbitrary and cruel, with the captain flogging for personal satisfaction, prompting the narrator's vow to seek redress. ### Isolation and Longing The narrator's solitary night among the hides, with only wild animal sounds, evokes a sense of desolation and longing for home. ## Character check-ins ### Richard Henry Dana Jr. Witnesses the floggings, feels sick and angry, vows to redress sailors' grievances, spends a solitary night ashore, and observes the crew's demoralized state. ### Captain Thompson Brutally flogs Sam and John, declaring he flogs because he likes it, and asserts absolute authority. ### Sam Flogged first, bears the punishment in silence until he mutters something unintelligible. ### John (French John) Flogged for interfering and asking questions; endures the lashing and later shows no resentment toward Sam. ### Mr. Russell Assists the mate in securing John for flogging. ## Key lines > A man—a human being, made in God’s likeness—fastened up and flogged like a beast! A person, created in God's image, was tied up and beaten like an animal. _Expresses the narrator's horror at the dehumanizing punishment._ > If you want to know what I flog you for, I’ll tell you. It’s because I like to do it!—because I like to do it!—It suits me! That’s what I do it for! The captain admits he flogs John simply because he enjoys it and it pleases him. _Highlights the captain's sadistic and arbitrary exercise of power._ > I vowed that if God should ever give me the means, I would do something to redress the grievances and relieve the sufferings of that poor class of beings, of whom I then was one. I promised that if I ever had the opportunity, I would work to fix the injustices and ease the hardships of sailors, a group I now belonged to. _Shows the narrator's resolve to advocate for seamen's rights, foreshadowing his later career._ ## Links - HTML: https://www.betterreads.online/discover/two_years_before_the_mast_se/chapters/xv - Book: https://www.betterreads.online/discover/two_years_before_the_mast_se - All chapters: https://www.betterreads.online/discover/two_years_before_the_mast_se/chapters