The circumstances of ship life in any time period to date sound rough as fuck before you add in the numerous flavors of human incompetence and the casual cruelty of classism & racism. But, examples are appreciated to better internalize the noxious characteristics that pervade our species. And, trumpet the ones that deserve celebration like compassion and resilience. Everyone has to set their own moral compass. They call him conRAD. Got an urge to revisit The True Confessions of Charlotte Doyle...

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I wondered how far I should turn out faithful to that ideal conception of one's own personality every man sets up for himself secretly. ( )

A short story by Conrad. Since it’s Conrad, naturally takes place on a ship. Still, a lot of interesting things going on. Outwardly, it’s the story of a young captain leading a ship of strangers, unsure in his command. On watch one night, he sees something odd – a man in the water. The captain pulls him up and learns his story – in command of another ship, but was put in the brig for killing an insubordinate man during a storm. They have an instant connection – both alienated from crew, ship their responsibility, even went to the same school back in Britain. The narrator agrees to hide him in his cabin. Because of their similiarities (the fugitive even look similar wearing his clothes) he refers to his as his double. Soon after, the double’s crew comes on board looking for him but the narrator’s indifference and confidence trick them. The double is his secret sharer in all things – room, clothes, food. However, the captain is paranoid with the thought that his own crew will discover the man. Although the story is about a fugitive and his attempt to hide on the narrator’s ship, the deeper meaning involves the narrator’s fear over his role as the captain. With the double representing fear, it moves from the initial ship – during a storm – over to the narrator’s ship. His double inspires paranoia in the captain and nervousness among the crew members from the other ship when they board. When the double leaves the ship, he is able to confidently steer it away from disaster. ( )