# James Wait — The Nigger of the Narcissus character guide

> James Wait in The Nigger of the Narcissus by Joseph Conrad.

**Role:** major

**Also known as:** Wait, Jimmy, Jim, Decidedly James Wait

**First appearance:** 0004-i

## Who they are

A black sailor who joins the Narcissus late and takes to his bunk, turning his failing body into a stage for the crew's pity, guilt, and dread.

## Relationships

### [Donkin](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_nigger_of_the_narcissus_se/characters/donkin)

_psychological_

Donkin manipulates and exploits Wait's illness to stir up mutiny and gain power among the crew.

### [Belfast](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_nigger_of_the_narcissus_se/characters/belfast)

_psychological_

Belfast is obsessively devoted to nursing and protecting the dying Wait, driven by pity and a need for purpose.

### [Old Singleton](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_nigger_of_the_narcissus_se/characters/old_singleton)

_social_

Wait and Singleton have a distant, symbolic connection as representatives of life's fragility and stoic endurance.

### [Mr. Baker](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_nigger_of_the_narcissus_se/characters/mr_baker)

_professional_

Mr. Baker treats Wait with professional duty but growing suspicion about the genuineness of his illness.

### [Young Charley](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_nigger_of_the_narcissus_se/characters/young_charley)

_social_

Young Charley is fascinated by Wait's illness and treats him with naive curiosity and pity.

### [Archie](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_nigger_of_the_narcissus_se/characters/archie)

_social_

Archie maintains a neutral, distant attitude toward Wait, neither indulging nor condemning him.

### [Wamibo](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_nigger_of_the_narcissus_se/characters/wamibo)

_social_

Wamibo, the Finnish sailor, is drawn to Wait with a superstitious, silent awe, treating him as an omen.

### [Donkin](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_nigger_of_the_narcissus_se/characters/donkin)

_psychological_

Donkin manipulates and exploits Wait's illness to stir up mutiny and gain power among the crew.

### [Belfast](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_nigger_of_the_narcissus_se/characters/belfast)

_psychological_

Belfast is obsessively devoted to nursing and protecting the dying Wait, driven by pity and a need for purpose.

### [Mr. Baker](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_nigger_of_the_narcissus_se/characters/mr_baker)

_professional_

Mr. Baker treats Wait with professional duty but growing suspicion about the genuineness of his illness.

### [Donkin](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_nigger_of_the_narcissus_se/characters/donkin)

_psychological_

Donkin manipulates and exploits Wait's illness to stir up mutiny and gain power among the crew.

### [Archie](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_nigger_of_the_narcissus_se/characters/archie)

_social_

Archie maintains a neutral, distant attitude toward Wait, neither indulging nor condemning him.

## In the story

### [To My Readers in America](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_nigger_of_the_narcissus_se/chapters/to-my-readers-in-america)

Described as the center of the ship's collective psychology and the pivot of the action, an impostor mastering compassion and triumphing over suspicions.

### [The Nigger of the Narcissus](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_nigger_of_the_narcissus_se/chapters/the-nigger-of-the-narcissus)

Introduced as a mysterious and charismatic Black sailor who claims to be dying, immediately unsettling the crew.

### [I](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_nigger_of_the_narcissus_se/chapters/i)

Tall Black man who joins the ship, announcing himself with authority and coughing ominously.

### [II](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_nigger_of_the_narcissus_se/chapters/ii)

Moved to a sickbay in the deck-house; his manipulative behavior and constant references to his death dominate the crew's emotions and disrupt shipboard life.

### [III](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_nigger_of_the_narcissus_se/chapters/iii)

Remains dry and comfortable in his cabin while the crew suffers, provoking Donkin's envy.

### [IV](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_nigger_of_the_narcissus_se/chapters/iv)

Forgotten by the crew during the confrontation, he remains alone forward in his cabin, clinging to lies and chuckling over his deceptions.

### [V](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_nigger_of_the_narcissus_se/chapters/v)

Jimmy lies ill and immobile, his denial of death fascinating and demoralizing the crew; his contempt grows as his body shrinks.

## Links

- HTML: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_nigger_of_the_narcissus_se/characters/james_wait
- Book: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_nigger_of_the_narcissus_se
- All characters: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_nigger_of_the_narcissus_se/characters