The Maid of Sker · Character

Master Heaviside

A naval instructor and gunner who once saved a British fleet, now unhappily married to sharp Nanette and tutoring little Bardie.

supporting

Also known as Heaviside, Mr. Heaviside, poor Heaviside, Naval Instructor Heaviside

First appearance: the maid of sker

As a supporting figure in The Maid of Sker, Master Heaviside is not background color—the story leans on what they do once the chapter opens.

The former first gunnery instructor whom Davy supersedes and sends ashore.

In the storyXLI: The Right Man in the Right PlaceOpen this moment free

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Heaviside is a seaman-schoolmaster who has set up a snug cabin in Davy's old ferryboat on the Tawe's brink, a retreat from the bosom of his family. Seduced into rapid matrimony with the sharp Nanette, he has six children and fears a seventh, and his old shipmates Jerry and Davy can only sigh over his luck. As Bardie's instructor he ties the salt-water world of the novel to the drawing-room, and his rueful marriage is a running caution against the temptations of shore.

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See Master Heaviside in the maid of sker

Character Web

21 connections

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Relationship types

Other

Character groups

Main characters and allies
Extended cast and background figures
Protagonist

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Narrative arc

Story tension across the book.

Setup
Escalation
Breaking point
Aftermath
Closing

This is the story's dramatic climax because it marks the emotional and psychological peak where the protagonis…

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In the story

Master Heaviside appears across 6 companion beats. Open any chapter in the free preview to see the notes beside the text.

XLI: The Right Man in the Right Place
The former first gunnery instructor whom Davy supersedes and sends ashore.
After Seven Years
Old shipmate now living in Davy's former ferryboat, married to Nanette, with six children and another on the way.
Mischief in a Household
A retainer who provides Davy and his companions with shelter and information about the goings-on at Narnton Court.
A Breathless Disinterment
Organizes the rabbiting party; anxious about his wife's dog Snap.
LV: Upon Foreign Service
Boatswain; nearly eaten by a shark but saved by Davy; reconciles with Davy afterward.
Exiles of Society
Mentioned as having a swing of arm that discourages grumbling among the crew.

Chapter companion notes

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See Master Heaviside in the maid of sker

See Master Heaviside in XLI: The Right Man in the Right Place