The Drowned World

by

J. G. Ballard

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Lieutenant Hardman Character Analysis

Lieutenant Hardman is Colonel Riggs' primary helicopter pilot. He was once very tall and strong, though the reader never sees him this way because he has become bedridden by the beginning of the novel. He's one of the first characters to experience the disturbing dreams, and in the views of his companions, the dreams drive Hardman crazy. After spending several weeks ill, supposedly with malaria, in the sick bay, he makes a desperate escape to run south the day before Riggs and his crew are scheduled to leave for Camp Byrd. When it becomes apparent that Hardman will not allow himself to be forced to go quietly north, Riggs lets him go. Kerans finds him months later when he makes his own journey south. By then, Hardman is blind from looking at the sun, has cancer in his eyes, and doesn't recognize Kerans. He continues his journey alone after Kerans gives him water and tends to his eyes, but surely dies soon afterwards.

Lieutenant Hardman Quotes in The Drowned World

The The Drowned World quotes below are all either spoken by Lieutenant Hardman or refer to Lieutenant Hardman. For each quote, you can also see the other characters and themes related to it (each theme is indicated by its own dot and icon, like this one:
Man vs. Nature Theme Icon
).
Chapter 3 Quotes

Is it only the external landscape which is altering? How often recently most of us have had the feeling of déjà vu, of having seen all this before, in fact of remembering these swamps and lagoons all too well.

Related Characters: Dr. Alan Bodkin (speaker), Dr. Robert Kerans, Lieutenant Hardman
Page Number: 55
Explanation and Analysis:
Chapter 4 Quotes

"Colonel, there isn't any other direction."

Related Characters: Dr. Robert Kerans (speaker), Colonel Riggs, Lieutenant Hardman, Sergeant Macready
Page Number: 71
Explanation and Analysis:
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Lieutenant Hardman Quotes in The Drowned World

The The Drowned World quotes below are all either spoken by Lieutenant Hardman or refer to Lieutenant Hardman. For each quote, you can also see the other characters and themes related to it (each theme is indicated by its own dot and icon, like this one:
Man vs. Nature Theme Icon
).
Chapter 3 Quotes

Is it only the external landscape which is altering? How often recently most of us have had the feeling of déjà vu, of having seen all this before, in fact of remembering these swamps and lagoons all too well.

Related Characters: Dr. Alan Bodkin (speaker), Dr. Robert Kerans, Lieutenant Hardman
Page Number: 55
Explanation and Analysis:
Chapter 4 Quotes

"Colonel, there isn't any other direction."

Related Characters: Dr. Robert Kerans (speaker), Colonel Riggs, Lieutenant Hardman, Sergeant Macready
Page Number: 71
Explanation and Analysis: