Richard Shandon

John Hatteras

Hatteras and Shandon are in a tense rivalry, as Shandon resents Hatteras's command and eventually mutinies against him.

Dr. Clawbonny

Clawbonny and Shandon are colleagues on the expedition, but their relationship is strained by Shandon's growing antagonism toward Hatteras.

Johnson

Johnson and Shandon have a professional relationship as shipmates, but Johnson remains loyal to Hatteras while Shandon becomes mutinous.

James Wall

James Wall is a subordinate officer to Shandon, and they share a professional but complicit relationship in the mutiny plot.

Johnson

Johnson and Shandon have a professional relationship as shipmates, but Johnson remains loyal to Hatteras while Shandon becomes mutinous.

Dr. Clawbonny

Clawbonny and Shandon are colleagues on the expedition, but their relationship is strained by Shandon's growing antagonism toward Hatteras.

John Hatteras

Hatteras and Shandon are in a tense rivalry, as Shandon resents Hatteras's command and eventually mutinies against him.

Dr. Clawbonny

Clawbonny and Shandon are colleagues on the expedition, but their relationship is strained by Shandon's growing antagonism toward Hatteras.

John Hatteras

Hatteras and Shandon are in a tense rivalry, as Shandon resents Hatteras's command and eventually mutinies against him.

James Wall

James Wall is a subordinate officer to Shandon, and they share a professional but complicit relationship in the mutiny plot.

James Wall

James Wall is a subordinate officer to Shandon, and they share a professional but complicit relationship in the mutiny plot.

Johnson

Johnson and Shandon have a professional relationship as shipmates, but Johnson remains loyal to Hatteras while Shandon becomes mutinous.

Part I: The English at the North Pole

Commander of the Forward, receives the mysterious letter and oversees the ship's preparation.

The Forward

Superintends the arrangement of the cargo with precision and expertise.

An Unexpected Letter

Receives the unexpected letter offering him the position of mate on the Forward.

Dr. Clawbonny

Commander of the Forward; accepts the mysterious commission and begins building the ship and selecting a crew.

The Dog-Captain

Commander of the Forward, anxious about the missing captain and the crew's morale; decides to sail despite no letter, then receives orders from the dog.

At Sea

Commands the ship with some skepticism about the mysterious captain; evaluates the crew's strengths and weaknesses.

VI: The Great Polar Current

Commands the Forward, navigates through ice and current, orders sail adjustments and distribution of cold-weather gear.

VII: The Entrance of Davis Strait

Commands the ship, reads divine service, and oversees navigation through the ice while snatching sleep when possible.

The Talk of the Crew

Commands the Forward, navigating through ice and utilizing favorable conditions to advance north.

Another Letter

Finds the second letter and reads it to the crew, despite Johnson's advice to keep it secret.

X: Dangerous Sailing

Leads the shore party to Upernavik, questions the Governor about a mysterious European, and grows increasingly anxious about the lack of contact. Later, he struggles with the ice and the crew's wavering confidence.

XI: The Devil’s Thumb

The commander, absent during the mutinous plotting, later returns to find the dog missing but hesitates to punish the crew. He attempts to navigate the ship through a newly discovered passage.

Captain Hatteras

Commander of the Forward, chosen by Hatteras; struggles to maintain authority during the mutiny and the ice trap.

The Captain's Plans

Coldly obeys Hatteras but is clearly offended by his diminished command; questions the feasibility of an open polar sea and remains skeptical.

XV: The Forward Driven Southward

Maintains a cold silence and distances himself from Hatteras, blaming his obstinacy for the lack of safety measures.

The Magnetic Pole

Shandon takes observations with Wall and is aware of Hatteras's failed hopes, though he remains on deck during the storm.

XVIII: The Way Northward

Expresses bitterness and predicts Hatteras's failure; refuses to warn the captain about the coal shortage.

A Whale in Sight

Comments on the danger of the whale hunt, warning against foolhardiness.

XX: Beechey Island

Accompanies Hatteras ashore; suggests retreat after the depot is found empty, but is rebuffed.

The Death of Bellot

Shandon recounts the dangers faced by the American ships Rescue and Advance, and later describes Belcher's abandonment of the Assistance, fueling crew discontent.

The First Signs of Mutiny

Hesitates to enforce Hatteras's orders and expresses doubt about the open polar sea to Wall.

Attacked by the Ice

Undermines Hatteras's authority by allowing the crew to discuss mutiny; hints that he would be a better captain.

The Last Piece of Coal

Experiences early symptoms of scurvy but recovers through exercise. He is forced into the common-room after the stove in the after-room is put out.

The Great Cold at Christmas

Shandon confronts Hatteras about the lack of fire, speaking with grim irony; he supports the idea of burning the ship for fuel.

Preparations for Departure

Left out of the expedition; shows an ironical smile as Hatteras departs.

Part II: The Desert of Ice

Struggles with the crew's discontent and the challenges of navigating the ice desert.

Return to the South

Found dead among the frozen bodies of the Forward crew in a ravine.