In chapters 9-15, Charlotte Doyle's reactions and behaviors are very interesting. A foolish thing she did in chapter 9 was tell Captain Jaggery about Mr Ewing's pistol and about the round robin. She knew the captain would get mad but she didn't think of all the consequences for telling the captain. On page 85, "In a flash I recollected a time when my much-loved brother broke a rare vase, and I, out of a high sense of duty told on him despite what I knew would be my father's certain fury." This foolishness of hers caused Mr. Cranick to be shot and Zachariah to be whipped raw. She had a slight idea of what would happen, but she felt like it was her duty to be the captain's eyes and ears. Another foolish decision made by Charlotte was to call Captain Jaggery a "Coward!" and a "Fraud!" on chapter 15. She does not know the captain's true power and authority. Therefore, Charlotte is basically digging her own grave by insulting the captain in front of all the sailors.
On the other hand, she does make some wise decisions. For instance, she stood up for Zachariah when Captain Jaggery was lashing him. Also, after a long time of pondering and self-evaluating, Charlotte finally makes the decision to join the crew. "I've come," I managed to say, "to be one of the crew." (pg. 112) This is smart because it might be the only way to gain some respect from the crew. After climbing the royal yard, the crew realizes that Charlotte is not mocking them and truly wants to join the crew. She knows that if she didn't join the crew, the captain and the crew members will all want to get rid of her because she is a nuisance to the ship.
Evaluate and Connect
Charlotte tries to get along with the captain because she realizes that the crew will not help her anymore because she had betrayed them. "Gradually then, I came to believe that no matter how distasteful, I must beg the captain's forgiveness. And the sooner I did so, the better." (pg. 103) Charlotte realizes that the crew will want to get rid of her because she is a nuisance. She probably thinks that the captain would forgive her because he is the gentleman and the "brilliant sun." Also, Charlotte knows that her rebellious acts towards the captain was not very wise, so she wants to return to life on the Seahawk before she had told Captain Jaggery about Ewing's pistol and round robin.
I think Charlotte's decision to join the crew is very smart. The crew clearly does not trust Charlotte anymore and they are very angry at her. "Go to the captain, Miss Doyle. He's your darling master." (pg. 111) She knows that without the support of the crew members, Captain Jaggery would sooner or later get revenge on Charlotte for cutting his eye. The crew has a tone of hostility and disgust when they supposedly talk politely to Miss Doyle. "You're a girl," Dillingham spat out contemptuously." "A pretty girl," Foley put in. It was not meant as a compliment. "Takes more than canvas britches to hide that.' (pg. 115) By joining the crew, Charlotte once again gains the respect and admiration of the sailors. Even though Captain Jaggery did not approve, it does not matter because Charlotte had aggravated the captain anyway. It may be a tough decision for Charlotte to abandon her ladylike ways such as to wear gloves and a dress and to transform her "bloody cream" hands into "rough leather." Tough as it may seem, joining the crew was the only way to gain the sailor's trust and respect again.
This optical illusion of a storm can describe what Charlotte felt during the hurricane on the Seahawk. Just like the kids in the crow's nest are helpless, Charlotte felt completely vulnerable and helpless during the storm, too. In the painting, the ship is also a skull, representing death and fatality. Nothing seems to be on the crew's side, and nature is playing the ship like a toy.
Nice Work. But why does she tell the captain about the round robin?
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