# Dowlas — The Survivors of the Chancellor character guide > Dowlas in The Survivors of the Chancellor by Jules Verne. **Role:** supporting **First appearance:** 0003-iv ## Snapshot The ship's carpenter, hatchet in hand, whose grim practicality turns horrifying when the survivors must decide who among them will be sacrificed. ## Who they are Dowlas is a rough, capable tradesman whose skills keep the raft afloat but whose willingness to complete the barbarous work of the lottery reveals how thin civilization wears at sea. He stands ready with his hatchet until Miss Herbey's plea buys one more day, and his blunt verdict on Wilson's death — 'he'll do for—' — chills more than any storm. In the novel's darkest passages, Dowlas represents the survival instinct stripped of sentiment. ## Relationships ### [Robert Curtis](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_survivors_of_the_chancellor_se/characters/robert_curtis) _rivalry_ Dowlas, the carpenter and a mutineer, frequently challenges Curtis's leadership and stirs dissent. ### [André Letourneur](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_survivors_of_the_chancellor_se/characters/andre_letourneur) _social_ André and Dowlas interact as fellow survivors, though Dowlas's brutish nature contrasts with André's gentleness. ### [Robert Curtis](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_survivors_of_the_chancellor_se/characters/robert_curtis) _rivalry_ Dowlas, the carpenter and a mutineer, frequently challenges Curtis's leadership and stirs dissent. ## In the story ### [XV](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_survivors_of_the_chancellor_se/chapters/xv) Dowlas is the boatswain who helps cast the anchors and later joins the consultation on the poop. ### [XIX](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_survivors_of_the_chancellor_se/chapters/xix) Repairs the mizzenmast with skill, helps stop the leak by nailing copper sheet. ### [XX](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_survivors_of_the_chancellor_se/chapters/xx) Assists Curtis in inspecting the damage and leads the repair work on the ship's ribs and caulking. ### [XXI](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_survivors_of_the_chancellor_se/chapters/xxi) Assists in examining the ridge and works on hollowing out the mine. ### [XXIX](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_survivors_of_the_chancellor_se/chapters/xxix) Leads the effort to bring the raft back alongside the ship after it drifts away. ### [XXXI](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_survivors_of_the_chancellor_se/chapters/xxxi) Occupied with fixing the mast into the socket and constructing a rudder for the raft. ### [XXXV](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_survivors_of_the_chancellor_se/chapters/xxxv) Works with Curtis and the boatswain to strengthen the raft. ### [XXXVII](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_survivors_of_the_chancellor_se/chapters/xxxvii) The carpenter; repairs the raft's mast and rudder, and attempts to fish with improvised hooks. ### [XXXVIII](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_survivors_of_the_chancellor_se/chapters/xxxviii) Suffers from hunger, fights mutineers, and helps subdue Owen. ### [XLIV](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_survivors_of_the_chancellor_se/chapters/xliv) Dowlas the carpenter provides his hatchet-hammer tool for the shark whirl and later attempts to despatch the shark. ### [XLV](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_survivors_of_the_chancellor_se/chapters/xlv) Shouts with delight at the coming rain. ### [XLVII](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_survivors_of_the_chancellor_se/chapters/xlvii) Carpenter; suggests salting the remaining flesh after evaporating seawater; participates in the cannibalism. ### [XLVIII](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_survivors_of_the_chancellor_se/chapters/xlviii) Leads the angry search for the missing corpse, storms at the sailors. ### [XLIX](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_survivors_of_the_chancellor_se/chapters/xlix) Attempts to secure Jynxstrop's body after he jumps. ### [L](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_survivors_of_the_chancellor_se/chapters/l) The boatswain has shrunk into a shadow of his former self, apathetic and motionless. ### [LI](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_survivors_of_the_chancellor_se/chapters/li) Follows Flaypole to prevent him from leaping into the sea. ### [LII](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_survivors_of_the_chancellor_se/chapters/lii) Dowlas breaks the tension by proposing that the survivors draw lots, an act that interrupts Kazallon's suicide attempt. ### [LIII](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_survivors_of_the_chancellor_se/chapters/liii) The carpenter whose name is drawn as the victim. ### [LIV](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_survivors_of_the_chancellor_se/chapters/liv) Stands ready with hatchet to perform the sacrifice, but stops when the delay is granted. ### [LV](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_survivors_of_the_chancellor_se/chapters/lv) The carpenter who seizes the hatchet and leads the execution, agreeing to M. Letourneur's proposal. ## Links - HTML: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_survivors_of_the_chancellor_se/characters/dowlas - Book: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_survivors_of_the_chancellor_se - All characters: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_survivors_of_the_chancellor_se/characters