# Tangrouille — Toilers of the Sea character guide > Tangrouille in Toilers of the Sea by Victor Hugo. **Role:** supporting **Also known as:** the unlucky Tangrouille, the steersman Tangrouille **First appearance:** 0052-i-the-douvres ## Snapshot The Durande's secretly tippling steersman, whose hidden store of brandy and unsteady hand at the helm set catastrophe quietly in motion. ## Who they are Tangrouille keeps his rum and gin in a hiding-place in the hold, convinced no one knows of it, and steals down nearly every night for furtive draughts under Captain Clubin's strict, sober eye. On the eve of departure he finds an unexpected bottle of brandy, drinks it all to destroy the evidence, and takes the helm the next morning with a slight oscillation of the body. His frailty is the human crack through which the story's disaster enters. ## Relationships ### [The Man Rock](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/toilers_of_the_sea_se/characters/the_man_rock) _social_ Tangrouille, a local sailor, is familiar with the Man Rock and its dangers, often discussing it. ### [Gilliatt](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/toilers_of_the_sea_se/characters/gilliatt) _friendship_ Tangrouille is a friendly acquaintance who helps Gilliatt with local knowledge and minor assistance. ### [Captain Clubin](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/toilers_of_the_sea_se/characters/captain_clubin) _professional_ Clubin interacts with Tangrouille as a fellow seaman, using him for information without revealing his true plans. ### [Gilliatt](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/toilers_of_the_sea_se/characters/gilliatt) _friendship_ Tangrouille is a friendly acquaintance who helps Gilliatt with local knowledge and minor assistance. ### [Gilliatt](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/toilers_of_the_sea_se/characters/gilliatt) _friendship_ Tangrouille is a friendly acquaintance who helps Gilliatt with local knowledge and minor assistance. ### [The Man Rock](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/toilers_of_the_sea_se/characters/the_man_rock) _social_ Tangrouille, a local sailor, is familiar with the Man Rock and its dangers, often discussing it. ### [Captain Clubin](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/toilers_of_the_sea_se/characters/captain_clubin) _professional_ Clubin interacts with Tangrouille as a fellow seaman, using him for information without revealing his true plans. ### [The Man Rock](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/toilers_of_the_sea_se/characters/the_man_rock) _social_ Tangrouille, a local sailor, is familiar with the Man Rock and its dangers, often discussing it. ### [Captain Clubin](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/toilers_of_the_sea_se/characters/captain_clubin) _professional_ Clubin interacts with Tangrouille as a fellow seaman, using him for information without revealing his true plans. ## In the story ### [Part I: Sieur Clubin](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/toilers_of_the_sea_se/chapters/part-i-sieur-clubin) The steersman of the Durande, who observes Clubin's actions with growing unease. ### [Book II: Mess Lethierry](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/toilers_of_the_sea_se/chapters/book-ii-mess-lethierry) The steersman of the Durande who survives the wreck and reports on the events. ### [Book VI: The Drunken Steersman and the Sober Captain](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/toilers_of_the_sea_se/chapters/book-vi-the-drunken-steersman-and-the-sober-captain) The drunken steersman of the Durande, whose habits contrast with Clubin's sobriety. ### [An Unexpected Flask of Brandy](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/toilers_of_the_sea_se/chapters/ii-an-unexpected-flask-of-brandy) The helmsman of the Durande, a fallen nobleman (probable Tancarville/Montmorency) who gets drunk occasionally. He has a secret store in the hold where he finds an unexpected bottle of brandy, drinks it all, and throws the bottle overboard, resulting in slight unsteadiness at the helm. ### [Conversations Interrupted](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/toilers_of_the_sea_se/chapters/iii-conversations-interrupted) The helmsman is drunk, causing the ship to lurch and deviate from its course. ### [Captain Clubin Displays All His Great Qualities](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/toilers_of_the_sea_se/chapters/iv-captain-clubin-displays-all-his-great-qualities) The unlucky helmsman who is publicly berated by Clubin for drunkenness and removed from his post. ### [V: Clubin Reaches the Crowning-Point of Glory](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/toilers_of_the_sea_se/chapters/v-clubin-reaches-the-crowning-point-of-glory) Sobered by the disaster, reports water rising, and later weeps as he leaves Clubin behind. ### [III: A Quotation from the Bible](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/toilers_of_the_sea_se/chapters/iii-a-quotation-from-the-bible) Set at liberty by Lethierry after the wreck. ### [The Rock, and How Gilliatt Used It](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/toilers_of_the_sea_se/chapters/ix-the-rock-and-how-gilliatt-used-it) Mentioned as the former occupant of a cabin where Gilliatt finds a piece of chalk. ### [The Harbour Bell](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/toilers_of_the_sea_se/chapters/i-the-harbour-bell) Mentioned as the drunken helmsman during the wreck of the Durande, part of the evidence of Clubin's negligence. ## Links - HTML: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/toilers_of_the_sea_se/characters/tangrouille - Book: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/toilers_of_the_sea_se - All characters: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/toilers_of_the_sea_se/characters