Two Years Before the Mast · Chapter
XXXV explained
The chapter describes the final leg of the voyage home, focusing on the ship's preparation for port, the onset of scurvy among the crew, and a fortuitous encounter with the brig Solon that provides fresh provisions.
What happens
The chapter describes the final leg of the voyage home, focusing on the ship's preparation for port, the onset of scurvy among the crew, and a fortuitous encounter with the brig Solon that provides fresh provisions. The narrator details the meticulous work to put the ship in fine order, the dangers of the Gulf Stream, and the desperate need for fresh food to combat scurvy, particularly for the English lad Ben. The successful procurement of potatoes and onions leads to a rapid recovery for the afflicted sailors, and the ship continues toward Boston with renewed hope.
Themes in this chapter
Hardship and Endurance
The crew endures the physical toll of scurvy, the relentless labor of preparing the ship, and the dangers of the Gulf Stream, highlighting the constant struggle for survival at sea.
Labor and Economy
The chapter details the extensive work required to maintain and beautify the ship, reflecting the economic pressures of merchant voyaging and the value of a ship's condition upon return.
Isolation and Longing
The crew's intense desire to reach home, the captain's personal longing for his new wife, and the relief brought by the Solon underscore the emotional isolation of long sea voyages.
Characters to notice
- Richard Henry Dana Jr.
The narrator describes the ship's preparations for port, the onset of scurvy, and the encounter with the Solon.
- Captain Thompson
The captain is eager to return home, having been married shortly before departure; he drives the ship hard and personally goes aboard the Solon to obtain fresh provisions.
- Ben (English Ben)
Ben is severely afflicted with scurvy, unable to walk or open his mouth, but recovers rapidly after drinking raw potato juice and eating fresh onions and potatoes.
- Mr. Russell
The mate is described as competitive and determined not to be beaten in carrying sail.
Key passages
“But so far from that, unless a ship meets with some accident, or comes upon the coast in the dead of winter, when work cannot be done upon the rigging, she is in her finest order at the end of the voyage.”
Contrary to popular belief, a ship is actually in its best condition at the end of a voyage, not at the start, unless it has been damaged or hindered by winter weather.
The narrator corrects a common misconception about a ship's condition after a long journey.
“The onions were genuine and fresh; and the mate of the brig told the men in the boat, as he passed the bunches over the side, that the girls had strung them on purpose for us the day he sailed.”
The onions were truly fresh, and the brig's mate mentioned that women had strung them specifically for the crew just before the brig departed.
A detail emphasizing the freshness and thoughtful preparation of the provisions.
“This course soon restored his appetite and strength; and in ten days after we spoke the Solon , so rapid was his recovery, that, from lying helpless and almost hopeless in his berth, he was at the masthead, furling a royal.”
Within ten days of meeting the Solon, the sailor who had been bedridden and near death recovered so quickly that he was able to climb to the top of the mast and furl a sail.
Highlights the dramatic effectiveness of fresh provisions in treating scurvy.