# Old Singleton — The Nigger of the Narcissus character guide

> Old Singleton in The Nigger of the Narcissus by Joseph Conrad.

**Role:** supporting

**Also known as:** Singleton, Venerable Singleton, old Singleton

**First appearance:** 0004-i

## Who they are

The Narcissus's ancient, unbreakable able seaman, who has outlasted crews and captains and keeps the old sea's silence like a creed.

## Relationships

### [James Wait](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_nigger_of_the_narcissus_se/characters/james_wait)

_social_

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

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

_friendship_

Belfast respects Singleton's wisdom and experience, often seeking his counsel or comfort.

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

_rivalry_

Donkin resents Singleton's authority and moral superiority, while Singleton dismisses Donkin as worthless.

### [Captain Allistoun](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_nigger_of_the_narcissus_se/characters/captain_allistoun)

_professional_

Captain Allistoun holds Singleton in high regard as the embodiment of the old sailor's discipline and skill.

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

_friendship_

Belfast respects Singleton's wisdom and experience, often seeking his counsel or comfort.

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

_rivalry_

Donkin resents Singleton's authority and moral superiority, while Singleton dismisses Donkin as worthless.

## In the story

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

The venerable and stoic sailor, embodying endurance and silent authority in the forecastle.

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

Venerable seaman reading 'Pelham' in the forecastle, absorbed and unmoved by the chaos.

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

Breaks his silence to comment on the captain's temper with the weather; hangs on the wheel with lifeless eyes.

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

Steers the ship with hoarse tenderness, unheeding of the captain, and is later described as possessing 'sinister truth' after the storm.

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

Singleton is implicitly part of the crew's collective experience, though not directly featured in this chapter.

## Links

- HTML: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_nigger_of_the_narcissus_se/characters/old_singleton
- 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