Two Years Before the Mast · Character
Sam
An old, experienced sailor on the Pilgrim whose flogging at the captain's hands becomes the narrator's brutal education in a sailor's legal helplessness.
supporting
Also known as Uncle Sam
First appearance: ii
As a supporting figure in Two Years Before the Mast, Sam is not background color—the story leans on what they do once the chapter opens.
Flogged first, bears the punishment in silence until he mutters something unintelligible.
Free preview opens at this moment — character cards, Character Web, and themes sit beside the text as you read.
Sam is a veteran hand whose years at sea earn him the crew's quiet respect, but neither experience nor standing protects him when the captain orders him seized up against the shrouds. The narrator, who has eaten and…
Continue beside the text
The fuller portrait of Sam sits in Reading Lens — open the free preview to keep reading with notes on the page.
See Sam in iiCharacter Web
4 connectionsA slice of how Sam sits in the book — open the reader for the full interactive map.
Relationship types
- Friendship
- Other
Character groups
- Minor crew members
- Protagonist
- Major crew and contacts
Explore ties, sentiment, and clusters while you read
Open in readerNarrative arc
Story tension across the book — this chapter sits in Exposition.
- Setup
- Escalation
- Breaking point
- Aftermath
- Closing
In this chapter, the narrator experiences an emotional peak by reuniting with the *Pilgrim*, his first home at…
Full beat labels and climax notes unlock in the reader.
Follow the arc while readingRelationships
- John (French John)
friendship · positive
French John and Sam are fellow crew members who share a friendly bond and work together… How this plays out →
Relationship notes
How these ties play out is in the reading companion — open the free preview.
See Sam in iiIn the story
Sam appears across 1 companion beat. Open any chapter in the free preview to see the notes beside the text.
