The main characters are Captain MacWhirr, whose limited and literal-minded approach to his work provides the central focus of interest in the novel. Even MacWhirr's wife seems to resent MacWhirr and prefer his absence on long voyages.

Jukes constantly finds MacWhirr tiresome and aggravating, but fortunately, MacWhirr is too much absorbed in his duties even to understand the degree of exasperation and contempt felt by Jukes and some of the others. MacWhirr is a courageous and heroic man in his own way, since he does acknowledge the possibility of Nan-Shan being lost in the storm, but perseveres anyhow; yet Conrad's narrative implies that much of his courage and the efficacy of his actions are due to MacWhirr's inability to understand the perils he faces. MacWhirr's capabilities are shown by the fact that he is not imaginative enough to change course and avoid the typhoon; but he is tenacious...