The Narrative of Arthur Gordon Pym of Nantucket · Character

Augustus Barnard

A sea captain's son whose whaling stories and midnight schemes lure Pym aboard, then trap him in the ship's dark hold.

major

Also known as Augustus

First appearance: Chapter I

As a major figure in The Narrative of Arthur Gordon Pym of Nantucket, Augustus Barnard is not background color—the story leans on what they do once the chapter opens.

Pym's friend who involves him in the Ariel voyage and later helps him stow away on the Grampus.

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Older by two years and already seasoned from a voyage on the John Donaldson, Augustus is the friend who fills Pym's head with the South Pacific and then, half-drunk on a fine night, proposes a frolic in the Ariel. He is bold, persuasive, and careless with consequences, arranging Pym's secret passage on the Grampus with a plan that curdles fast. His loyalty to Pym is real, but so is his recklessness, and the gap between the two is where the story's early disasters breed.

See Augustus Barnard in The Narrative of Arthur Gordon Pym of Nantucket Book page

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Character Web

15 connections

A slice of how Augustus Barnard sits in the book — open the reader for the full interactive map.

Relationship types

Friendship
Rivalry
Professional

Character groups

Protagonist
Grampus mutineers and allies
Central figures and key references

+10 more in the full Character Web

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Narrative arc

Story tension across the book — this chapter sits in Exposition.

Setup
Breaking point
Aftermath
Closing

In this chapter, the narrative reaches its dramatic climax through the psychological and emotional peak of Pym…

Full beat labels and climax notes unlock in the reader.

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Relationships

Dirk Peters
friendship · positive
Augustus and Dirk are close companions aboard the Grampus, sharing survival and mutiny… How this plays out →
Tiger
friendship · positive
Richard Parker
rivalry · negative
Captain Cook
professional · ambivalent
Captain Guy
professional · ambivalent
Ariel
friendship · positive
Wilson Allen
professional · ambivalent
Jones
professional · ambivalent
Arthur Gordon Pym
friendship · positive
Mr. Barnard
family · positive
Arthur Gordon Pym
friendship · positive

Dirk Peters
Augustus and Dirk are close companions aboard the Grampus, sharing survival and mutiny experiences.
Tiger
Augustus has a strong bond with Tiger, the dog who accompanies him and Pym on their adventures.
Richard Parker
Augustus and Richard Parker are at odds during the mutiny and subsequent survival ordeal, leading to conflict.
Captain Cook
Augustus Barnard is a crew member under Captain Cook's command, maintaining a hierarchical shipboard relationship.
Captain Guy
Augustus Barnard serves under Captain Guy on the Jane Guy, with a formal captain-crew relationship.
Ariel
Ariel, likely a ship or boat, is associated with Augustus Barnard in the context of their seafaring adventures.
Wilson Allen
Augustus Barnard and Wilson Allen are shipmates, sharing a working relationship on board.
Jones
Augustus Barnard and Jones are crew members on the same vessel, interacting in a routine shipboard context.
Arthur Gordon Pym
Arthur Gordon Pym and Augustus Barnard are close friends and childhood companions who embark on adventures together.
Mr. Barnard
Augustus Barnard and Mr. Barnard are father and son, with Mr. Barnard being Augustus's father.
Arthur Gordon Pym
Arthur Gordon Pym and Augustus Barnard are close friends and childhood companions who embark on adventures together.

Relationship notes

How these ties play out is in the reading companion — open the free preview.

See Augustus Barnard in Chapter I

In the story

Augustus Barnard appears across 14 companion beats. Open any chapter in the free preview to see the notes beside the text.

The Narrative of Arthur Gordon Pym of Nantucket
Chapter I
II
III
IV
V
VI
VII
+6 more

The Narrative of Arthur Gordon Pym of Nantucket
Pym's friend who involves him in the Ariel voyage and later helps him stow away on the Grampus.
Chapter I
Pym's friend; becomes dangerously drunk during the voyage and is rescued after being found clinging to wreckage.
II
Pym's friend; encourages Pym's desire to travel and helps arrange the stowaway plan.
III
Augustus's note, warning Pym to lie close, is discovered but only partially read.
IV
Augustus tries to visit Pym but is interrupted by the mutiny; he witnesses the massacre, is spared, and later attempts to reach Pym but is caught and put in irons.
V
Imprisoned in the forecastle, he frees himself and cuts through the bulkhead to reach Pym in the hold.
VI
Released by the mate on parole; obtains permission to move about the brig and supplies Pym with food and water.
VII
Pym's friend; takes the watch on deck after Allen is killed.
VIII
Assists in the plan, shoots a mutineer, but is wounded in the arm during the fight.
IX
Severely injured and weakened; his right arm is lacerated, but his position under the windlass offers some protection.
X
Lies on deck with Pym; turns pale and quivers upon seeing the brig.
Chapter XI
Weakened and delirious; weeps after drinking wine and later asks Pym for a pocket-comb, believing his hair is full of fish-scales.
Chapter XII
Draws second and is free; wounded arm prevents him from aiding in cutting the deck.
XIII
Dies in convulsions on August 1; his body is thrown overboard and devoured by sharks.

Chapter companion notes

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See Augustus Barnard in Chapter I

See Augustus Barnard in The Narrative of Arthur Gordon Pym of Nantucket