Short Fiction · Chapter
Wicked Captain Walshawe, of Wauling explained
The story recounts the life and death of the wicked Captain Walshawe, a cruel and dissolute man who terrorized his household and community.
What happens
The story recounts the life and death of the wicked Captain Walshawe, a cruel and dissolute man who terrorized his household and community. After his death, his ghost haunts the area, particularly troubling his former servant and others who cross him, until a final confrontation brings a measure of peace.
Free preview opens on this chapter — companions, themes, and character notes appear beside the text.
Narrative arc
Story tension across the book.
- Setup
- Escalation
- Breaking point
- Aftermath
- Closing
This is the story's dramatic climax because it marks the psychological peak of the narrator's horror and the r…
Full beat labels and climax notes unlock in the reader.
Follow the arc while readingThemes in this chapter
- Supernatural and the Uncanny
The ghost of Captain Walshawe haunts the living, embodying the supernatural consequences of a wicked life.
- Guilt and Retribution
The captain's cruelty in life leads to his restless spirit, suggesting a moral reckoning beyond death.
Characters to notice
- Wicked Captain Walshawe
The titular wicked captain, whose cruel and dissolute life leads to his haunting after death.
- Aunt Margaret
A relative who experiences the captain's ghostly presence and helps resolve the haunting.
Key passages
“Wicked Captain Walshawe, of Wauling”
The story of the malevolent Captain Walshawe from Wauling.
Opening title setting the scene for the captain's wickedness.
