The Wreck of the Golden Mary
'The Wreck of the Golden Mary ' Summary
Main events and key plot points:
The story begins with William George Ravender, the captain of the Golden Mary, setting sail for California with a cargo of goods. The ship is carrying a diverse group of passengers, including a young woman named Clara Burnham, who is traveling to California to join her fiance; a wealthy merchant named Mr. Kitten, who is hoping to make his fortune in the Gold Rush; and a group of sailors and marines.
The Golden Mary sails uneventfully for several weeks, but one night, it is struck by an iceberg and sinks. The survivors are forced to take to a lifeboat, and they are stranded in the middle of the Atlantic Ocean. The survivors are faced with a number of challenges, including starvation, thirst, and the threat of hypothermia. They must also contend with the psychological effects of being shipwrecked, and they must find a way to work together to survive.
Central conflict or problem:
The central conflict in the story is the struggle of the survivors to survive in the harsh conditions of the Atlantic Ocean. The survivors must overcome a number of challenges, including starvation, thirst, hypothermia, and the psychological effects of being shipwrecked.
Key characters:
- William George Ravender: The captain of the Golden Mary. He is a kind and compassionate man who is determined to save his passengers.
- Clara Burnham: A young woman who is traveling to California to join her fiance. She is a strong and resourceful woman who helps to keep the survivors alive.
- Mr. Kitten: A wealthy merchant who is hoping to make his fortune in the Gold Rush. He is a selfish and greedy man who puts his own needs ahead of the needs of others.
- The sailors and marines: The crew of the Golden Mary. They are a diverse group of men who come together to help each other survive.
Character development or relationships:
The characters in the story undergo a significant amount of character development. William George Ravender becomes more compassionate and selfless as he struggles to save his passengers. Clara Burnham becomes stronger and more resourceful as she faces the challenges of being shipwrecked. Mr. Kitten becomes more humble and compassionate as he realizes that he needs the help of others to survive.
Underlying themes:
The Wreck of the Golden Mary explores a number of themes, including the importance of hope, the power of the human spirit, and the importance of community. The story shows how hope can help people to survive even in the most difficult of circumstances. It also shows how the human spirit can overcome even the most daunting challenges. Finally, the story shows how community is essential for survival.
Conclusion:
The Wreck of the Golden Mary is a powerful and moving story about the human spirit. It is a story about hope, courage, and the power of community. The story is a reminder that even in the darkest of times, there is always hope for survival.
Book Details
Author
Charles Dickens
England
Charles Dickens created some of the world's best-known fictional characters and is regarded by many as the greatest novelist of the Victorian era. Charles John Huffam Dickens was born on 7 February 18...
More on Charles DickensDownload eBooks
Listen/Download Audiobook
- Select Speed
Related books
Nostromo by Joseph Conrad
Nostromo: A Tale of the Seaboard is a 1904 novel by Joseph Conrad, set in the fictitious South American republic of "Costaguana". It was originally pu...
An Outcast Of The Islands by Joseph Conrad
It follows the story of Willems, a European trader who finds himself in the middle of a dangerous and complex situation in a remote island community....
Abandoned by William Clark Russell
As she walks up the aisle to her waiting husband, a young bride undergoes a sudden change of heart. She goes through the marriage ceremony in a daze,...
Redburn: His First Voyage by Herman Melville
The book is semi-autobiographical and recounts the adventures of a refined youth among coarse and brutal sailors and the seedier areas of Liverpool. M...
The Shadow-Line by Joseph Conrad
The Shadow-Line is another one of Conrad’s stories that deals with a hero who is faced by a problem that comes from an unexpected source, and for whic...
The Sea Wolf by Jack London
The Sea-Wolf is a 1904 psychological adventure novel by American writer Jack London. The book's protagonist, Humphrey Van Weyden, is a literary critic...
The Mutiny of the Elsinore by Jack London
The Mutiny of the Elsinore is a novel by the American writer Jack London first published in 1914. The novel is partially based on London's voyage arou...
Captains Courageous by Rudyard Kipling
Captains Courageous is an 1897 novel, by Rudyard Kipling, that follows the adventures of fifteen-year-old Harvey Cheyne Jr., the spoiled son of a rail...
Captain Blood by Rafael Sabatini
An adventure novel with an unexpected hero, Captain Blood follows the unintended journey of chivalrous and well-educated gentleman Peter Blood, who wi...
Wappin' Wharf: A Frightful Comedy of Pirates by Charles S. Brooks
What if the pirates you've read about in books and seen in movies were actually a bunch of bumbling fools? Wappin' Wharf: A Frightful Comedy of Pirat...
Reviews for The Wreck of the Golden Mary
No reviews posted or approved, yet...