Captain Horatio Hornblower

Horatio Hornblower is the protagonist and primary character in the novel and is present in every scene. He is above average in height and perhaps a little below average in weight, being described by the narrator as skinny. Nevertheless, he is physically strong and has an excellent constitution. He is prone to seasickness, a weakness of some irony given that he spends his life upon the sea. Hornblower, the son of a doctor, joined the Royal Navy at the fairly-advanced age of seventeen, entering as a midshipman. He thereafter climbed through the ranks rapidly, as a lieutenant, commander and captain. Devoid of patronage or political connections, Hornblower's promotions are all due to superior performance. He is without question a heroic figure. His navigational skills and seamanship are superior, as conclusively demonstrated by the escape from Marmorice Bay, and his tactical judgment is almost infallible. He possesses...