The Ships in the Convoy

Throughout the book, the various ships embody and represent the responsibilities Krause experiences. They are, in many ways, the sheep that Krause - the "good shepherd" of the book's title - has to keep track of, and take care of.

Bible Quotes

Throughout the book, the narrative includes several quotes from the Bible, which represent Krause's thematically significant Christian faith. The quotes represent the way in which virtually every thought and/or decision is influenced, to some degree, by his faith and the rules for behavior contained in, and communicated by, the Bible.

Krause’s Warm Clothes

Early in the narrative, when Krause finally manages to get into some warm clothes after spending time in the pilothouse in unsuitable clothing, it represents the beginning of his process of honoring the needs of his body so he can do his job well. His...