Part of what enables the captain and Leggatt to get away with the latter's escape is the captain's play upon the notion of societal norms of behavior and eccentric deviation. Compose an analytical essay on this theme of eccentricity. What does it mean to be eccentric? What is required for something to be considered eccentric? How does the captain superficially display eccentricities according to his position on the ship? How does the rest of the crew react to these bizarre patterns of behavior? How does this aid the cause of Leggatt's escape?

Essay Topic 2

Examining the whole of the text, write an essay analyzing the concepts of self and the second self that permeate the thinking and narration of the captain. What is the self? What does it mean to have a self? In what does the "self" consist? What would it mean to have a "second self"? Why is this concept strange? Does the average person have similar experiences to that of a second self? How do such experiences contrast with those of the captain and Leggatt in The Secret Sharer? How are they similar? In what ways do the two men share in an identity?

Essay Topic 3

It is Legatt who suggests that he escape the captain's ship. The captain is not eager to agree at first. Explain why the captain feels that way, and ultimately why he changes his mind.

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