# Mr. Sterne — The End of the Tether character guide

> Mr. Sterne in The End of the Tether by Joseph Conrad.

**Role:** supporting

**Also known as:** Sterne, XI Sterne

**First appearance:** 0001-ii

## Snapshot

The Sofala's chief mate, a cunning and ambitious schemer who collects proofs against his captain and waits to step into his place.

## Who they are

Sterne steals out in pyjamas at night to stand barefoot below the bridge, listening to Whalley's nervous orders to the Serang and hoarding each one as evidence. He feels awestruck indignation at the captain's reckless perversity, yet his real object is not exposure but succession. Patient, malicious, and careful, he is the quiet engine driving the Sofala toward its reckoning.

## Relationships

### [Mr. Van Wyk](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_end_of_the_tether_se/characters/mr_van_wyk)

_professional_

Sterne attempts to ingratiate himself with Van Wyk, seeking an ally against Massy while hiding his own manipulative motives.

### [Captain Whalley](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_end_of_the_tether_se/characters/captain_whalley)

_professional_

Whalley tolerates Sterne as a necessary officer but remains wary of his sly and ambitious nature.

### [Sir Frederick](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_end_of_the_tether_se/characters/sir_frederick)

_professional_

Sterne tries to curry favor with Sir Frederick by offering information about Massy's misdeeds.

### [the Serang](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_end_of_the_tether_se/characters/the_serang)

_professional_

Sterne attempts to manipulate the Serang for information, but the Serang remains aloof and loyal to Whalley.

### [Jack](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_end_of_the_tether_se/characters/jack)

_professional_

Jack is a junior officer who is caught between Sterne's manipulations and his uncle Massy's orders.

### [Mr. Van Wyk](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_end_of_the_tether_se/characters/mr_van_wyk)

_professional_

Sterne attempts to ingratiate himself with Van Wyk, seeking an ally against Massy while hiding his own manipulative motives.

### [Captain Whalley](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_end_of_the_tether_se/characters/captain_whalley)

_professional_

Whalley tolerates Sterne as a necessary officer but remains wary of his sly and ambitious nature.

### [Sir Frederick](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_end_of_the_tether_se/characters/sir_frederick)

_professional_

Sterne tries to curry favor with Sir Frederick by offering information about Massy's misdeeds.

### [the Serang](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_end_of_the_tether_se/characters/the_serang)

_professional_

Sterne attempts to manipulate the Serang for information, but the Serang remains aloof and loyal to Whalley.

### [Captain Whalley](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_end_of_the_tether_se/characters/captain_whalley)

_professional_

Whalley tolerates Sterne as a necessary officer but remains wary of his sly and ambitious nature.

### [Mr. Van Wyk](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_end_of_the_tether_se/characters/mr_van_wyk)

_professional_

Sterne attempts to ingratiate himself with Van Wyk, seeking an ally against Massy while hiding his own manipulative motives.

### [Jack](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_end_of_the_tether_se/characters/jack)

_professional_

Jack is a junior officer who is caught between Sterne's manipulations and his uncle Massy's orders.

## In the story

### [VI](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_end_of_the_tether_se/chapters/vi)

The mate on the Sofala, observes Whalley's difficulties and nudges Massy, showing malicious intent.

### [VIII](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_end_of_the_tether_se/chapters/viii)

Listens from the ladder abaft the bridge, trying to overhear the conversation between Massy and Whalley.

### [IX](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_end_of_the_tether_se/chapters/ix)

The mate of the Sofala, ambitious and watchful, who has joined the ship hoping for promotion and has begun to suspect a secret about Captain Whalley.

### [Chapter X](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_end_of_the_tether_se/chapters/x)

Sterne discovers Whalley's blindness and grapples with the moral and practical implications, feeling both power and unease.

### [XI](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_end_of_the_tether_se/chapters/xi)

Sterne is mentioned as a schemer whom Massy tries to silence. He answers Whalley's orders and speaks cordially to Van Wyk from the rail.

### [XIII](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_end_of_the_tether_se/chapters/xiii)

Plots to scare Whalley into leaving the ship by threatening to expose his blindness, hoping to gain command. He approaches Mr. Van Wyk with his scheme but is outmaneuvered.

### [XIV](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_end_of_the_tether_se/chapters/xiv)

After the shipwreck, he sets the engines astern and organizes the boats, showing competence in the crisis.

## Links

- HTML: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_end_of_the_tether_se/characters/mr_sterne
- Book: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_end_of_the_tether_se
- All characters: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_end_of_the_tether_se/characters