Typhoon is a novella by Joseph Conrad. The story follows a British-built steamer under the Siamese flag, Nan-Shan, that gets caught up in a typhoon. The story is loosely based on Joseph Conrad’s own experiences at the sea. I started reading this novella last month, but I got sidetracked by other books. So, I decided to read from the beginning again and that was a good idea. It is difficult to explain the plot of the story because it is very descriptive. I’ll try to explain as much as I can.
The story begins with descriptions of the ship and the history of the crew. The steamer is about to run into a typhoon off the coast of China. The China men are the crew who are heading home with their wages, and there is a contrast between how they are treated compared to the officers. The thoughts of the officers through this extreme weather and the events leading up to it are described vividly. It helped me understand the gravity of what these men were facing. The story takes a leap later when the ship has docked at the port.
The story of Joseph Conrad’s Typhoon is more about the crew than, about the typhoon itself. The captain of the ship is MacWhirr, Jukes is the first mate, Solomon Rout is the chief engineer and the second mate, and the other crew remain mostly nameless. The narration of the story is from a third-person point of view of MacWhirr, Jukes, and an omnipresent narrator. I thought this made the narration interesting. The shifts give you different perspectives on their situation and insights into their personalities and reactions.
There is a clear distinction between characters and their approaches. Captain MacWhirr is literal and imaginative, concerned about protecting the owner’s interests. He is capable and knows what to do theoretically, but his solutions are not practical. Jukes, on the other hand, seems practical about their circumstances. He warns MacWhirr about the threats they face. Jukes is also excitable and reacts in extremes sometimes. Their reactions present two sides of a coin in a way. Indirectly, it is indicated, that the crew is dispensable for the owners.
The theme of social isolation is also hinted at throughout the story, especially through MacWhirr. His wife usually accompanies him on his voyages, but this time, she did not join him. The only interaction they have with the outside world is through letters from family and friends. MacWhirr doesn’t have anyone around him to talk about his interests. The rapport with the other members on the ship cannot be compared to the established relationships back home. I think all the characters feel this strain of isolation to an extent.
The descriptions of the voyage, the ships, and the crew are realistically done. This was my first time reading Conrad’s work properly, so I didn’t know what to expect. The narration style took me a while to get used to, but the pace of the story keeps you engaged. Overall, Typhoon by Joseph Conrad is an interesting novella.
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Books and blues 