In the novel The Secret Sharer, by Joseph Conrad, a man at sea struggles with loneliness and moral dilemma. However, the narrator has saved himself on multiple levels by the end of the novel. His confidence grows as he learns about himself, as well as when he learns of Leggatt, a man much like him. Throughout the novel, Conrad uses symbolism and the thoughts of the protagonist in order to suggest that one must know …showed first 75 words of 534 total…

…showed last 75 words of 534 total…narrator stating that "nothing could now stand between...a seaman [and] his first command." At the end of the novel, the narrator gains confidence in his boat and crew, and the boat finds itself on course for deep, safe waters. The contemplations of the narrator and the author's use of symbolism are instrumental in gaining a full understanding that one must know himself if he desires a life infused with motivation and confidence in himself.