The Sea-Wolf: Chapter 3 Summary & Analysis

Wolf Larsen stops cursing over the dying man and orders Mugridge the cook to get back to work. He asks if anyone has a prayer book to say a ceremony for the dead man, then he asks if the narrator is a preacher. The narrator informs Larsen that he’s not—that, in fact, his profession is “a gentleman.” Wolf sneers and accuses the narrator of living off his father’s work.

The narrator asks Wolf Larsen to take him home at once, but Larsen makes an offer instead: the death of his mate will require him to promote other sailors,  which will leave an opening for the low-ranking position of cabin boy. Wolf wants the narrator to take the role of cabin boy, and he doesn’t seem to offer the narrator much choice.

Wolf Larsen calls for Mugridge, who brings out a cabin boy. The cabin boy gives his name as George Leach but seems to be lying. Wolf Larsen orders the cabin boy around, and the narrator is afraid of what will happen if he himself becomes a cabin boy. When another vessel passes, the narrator suddenly runs to the side and shouts that he’ll pay a thousand dollars to anyone who takes him home. Wolf Larsen claims the narrator is just delusional, and the ship passes.

The narrator resigns himself to being a cabin boy and gives his name as Humphrey Van Weyden. He is 35 years old. They whole crew convenes to  bury the dead man at sea, and the ritual isn’t as solemn as Van Weyden expected it to be. There are the sailors (who are mainly English and Scandinavian) and then there are the seal hunters (who come from a wider range of backgrounds). Afterward, Wolf Larsen orders the whole crew to prepare for harsh conditions.