# Johansen — The Sea-Wolf character guide

> Johansen in The Sea-Wolf by Jack London.

**Role:** supporting

**Also known as:** poor Johansen

**First appearance:** 0002-iii

## Snapshot

The new mate who bellows orders even in his sleep, Johansen enforces Wolf Larsen's will with his fists until the captain can no longer stand him.

## Who they are

Routed from the cabin after one night of shouting battle orders in his sleep, Johansen is foisted on the hunters' steerage, where his nightly bellowing becomes a running grievance. He embodies the brute-force discipline of the Ghost: a man whose authority rests on violence because nothing else is recognized aboard. His demotion quietly reveals how expendable even the ship's officers are under Wolf Larsen's caprice.

## Relationships

### [Wolf Larsen](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_sea_wolf_se/characters/wolf_larsen)

_professional_

Johansen is the brutal mate who enforces Wolf Larsen's orders with violence, acting as his loyal enforcer.

### [Johnson](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_sea_wolf_se/characters/johnson)

_rivalry_

Johansen, as the brutal mate, frequently clashes with the defiant Johnson, leading to violent confrontations.

### [Wolf Larsen](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_sea_wolf_se/characters/wolf_larsen)

_professional_

Johansen is the brutal mate who enforces Wolf Larsen's orders with violence, acting as his loyal enforcer.

## In the story

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

A sailor ordered to sew the dead man into canvas and later to call all hands.

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

Routed from the cabin by Wolf Larsen and sent to the steerage; later sends sailors to clean up ashes.

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

Lends a whetstone to Humphrey.

### [XII](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_sea_wolf_se/chapters/xii)

Assists Wolf Larsen in beating Johnson, showing a beast-like rage.

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

Missing after the mutiny; Humphrey recalls a conversation with him about his mother in Sweden, which proves to be his last words.

## Links

- HTML: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_sea_wolf_se/characters/johansen
- Book: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_sea_wolf_se
- All characters: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_sea_wolf_se/characters