Themes
Key
LitCharts assigns a color and icon to each theme in The Sea-Wolf, which you can use to track the themes throughout the work.
Self-Reliance and Maturation
Materialism vs. Idealism
Survival of the Fittest
Love, Duty, and Choice
Summary
Analysis
The next day, Van Weyden informs Wolf Larsen that Death Larsen’s Macedonia is no longer in sight; Wolf Larsen seems almost disappointed. Soon, however, the Macedonia appears again and continues to hog the hunting grounds.
Wolf Larsen pulls the Ghost up next to one of the hunting boats of the Macedonia. He invites the three hunters in the boat, including one large Scandinavian, aboard the Ghost. Wolf Larsen invites the big Scandinavian below decks while telling Van Weyden and Maud Brewster to stay above decks. Van Weyden and Maud Brewster hear the sound of fighting coming from below.
Even though he’s at a disadvantage, Wolf Larsen is eager to prove that he can defeat his brother Death. Death’s nickname is no accident, since in a broader sense, Wolf Larsen has committed his life to overcoming death—to surviving and proving that he is the fittest.
Themes
Wolf Larsen comes up alone and tells the remaining two men from the hunting boat to hoist up their boat. He warns them that they might have to sail with him for a long time. Wolf Larsen’s men begin a fight with the remaining hunting boats from the Macedonia. By the time the fight is over, the Ghost’s crew has captured two more Macedonia boats, bringing the total number of captured boats to seven.
The fact that Wolf Larsen captures Death’s crew despite having fewer resources than Death demonstrates how survival isn’t just about brute strength—cunning and strategy can also play a role. This scene also shows what little regard the brothers have for human life—the hunters are just pawns in Wolf and Death’s competition,
Themes
The Macedonia starts heading for the Ghost, and Death Larsen has apparently realized what is happening. The Ghost tries to speed away, but Wolf Larsen warns his hunters to ready their guns. The Macedonia opens fire on the Ghost from its small cannon, but there is no rifle, since the hunters are either already on the Ghost or still out on their hunting boats. The Ghost enters some fog and seems to escape.
Wolf Larsen wins this confrontation, but only by chance—Death’s crew wasn’t expecting the attack . The fact that the Macedonia fires a cannon at the Ghost highlights that this is not just a friendly competition between brothers but a real battle that they’re willing to fight to the death. Wolf’s willingness to kill his brother reflects his extreme commitment to a survival-of-the-fittest mentality.
Themes
Literary Devices
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