# Toby — Typee character guide

> Toby in Typee by Herman Melville.

**Role:** major

**Also known as:** Poor Toby, Toby mukee moee, Toby owlee pemi

**First appearance:** 0003-i

## Snapshot

The narrator's shipmate, a steady and game companion who joins the desperate escape over the mountains and pays for it in ways the narrator cannot undo.

## Who they are

Toby is the one man aboard the Dolly the narrator would choose to share danger with, and the two seal their pact with a wedding of palms before slipping ashore. Where the narrator is feverish and speculative, Toby is practical, loyal, and quick to act — qualities that make his suffering in the valley feel like a debt the narrator can never quite repay. His presence turns the escape from a private folly into a shared ordeal, and his fate haunts the middle of the book.

## Relationships

### [Narrator](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/typee_se/characters/narrator)

_friendship_

The narrator and Toby are close companions and fellow adventurers who rely on each other for survival in the Typee valley.

### [Kory-Kory](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/typee_se/characters/kory_kory)

_friendship_

Kory-Kory interacts with Toby as a fellow member of the Typee community and helper to the narrator.

### [Narrator](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/typee_se/characters/narrator)

_friendship_

The narrator and Toby are close companions and fellow adventurers who rely on each other for survival in the Typee valley.

### [Narrator](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/typee_se/characters/narrator)

_friendship_

The narrator and Toby are close companions and fellow adventurers who rely on each other for survival in the Typee valley.

### [Kory-Kory](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/typee_se/characters/kory_kory)

_friendship_

Kory-Kory interacts with Toby as a fellow member of the Typee community and helper to the narrator.

### [Kory-Kory](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/typee_se/characters/kory_kory)

_friendship_

Kory-Kory interacts with Toby as a fellow member of the Typee community and helper to the narrator.

## In the story

### [Introduction to the Edition of 1892](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/typee_se/chapters/introduction-to-the-edition-of-1892)

Authenticated as Richard T. Greene; his existence is confirmed, and he renewed his acquaintance with Melville after Typee's publication.

### [Typee](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/typee_se/chapters/typee)

Tommo's companion who deserts with him and later departs to seek help, leaving Tommo alone with the Typees.

### [State of Affairs Aboard the Ship](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/typee_se/chapters/iv)

Mentioned as a companion in the decision to desert.

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

Agrees to join the escape; described as moody, brave, and a close companion.

### [VI](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/typee_se/chapters/vi)

Toby collaborates with the narrator in the escape, using his odd humor to deflect suspicion from their shipmates.

### [VII](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/typee_se/chapters/vii)

Shares in the disappointment, produces a soaked mass of bread and tobacco from his frock, and suffers through the cold, rainy night.

### [VIII](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/typee_se/chapters/viii)

Eager to descend into the valley for food and rest; remains optimistic and persuasive; suggests following streams to reach the valley.

### [Perilous Passage of the Ravine—Descent into the Valley](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/typee_se/chapters/ix)

Shows fearless confidence, acts as pioneer, and encourages the narrator through dangerous obstacles.

### [X](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/typee_se/chapters/x)

Accompanies the narrator, initially proposes staying in the unfrequented part of the valley, but eventually agrees to proceed.

### [XI](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/typee_se/chapters/xi)

Sleeps heavily beside the narrator, exhausted from the previous day.

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

Accompanies the narrator, jokes about being cooked by cannibals, and expresses gruff skepticism.

### [XIII](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/typee_se/chapters/xiii)

Reluctantly agrees to go to Nukuheva; suffers a near-fatal fall in the Happar mountains.

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

Recovered from his wound, he leaves with the boats promising to return in three days, but does not come back.

### [XVI](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/typee_se/chapters/xvi)

Mentioned bitterly by the narrator, who curses Toby for abandoning him to destruction.

### [XXV](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/typee_se/chapters/xxv)

Referenced as having given cotton cloth to young guides, now seen at the festival.

### [The Story of Toby](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/typee_se/chapters/the-story-of-toby)

Toby struggles to rescue Tommo, is deceived by Jimmy, and is forced to leave the island alone, suffering sleepless nights and guilt.

## Links

- HTML: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/typee_se/characters/toby
- Book: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/typee_se
- All characters: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/typee_se/characters