Honor

Aubrey's dominating concern throughout the narrative is his discharge from the Royal Navy. Although the discharge is accompanied by financial ruin, that situation is of secondary concern to Aubrey. All his attention and energy is devoted to regaining his appointment as post captain in the Royal Navy because Aubrey finds this the only honorable paradigm. Throughout the early portions of the novel Aubrey gains the respect and trust of his crew, develops relationships with several political figures, and prosecutes an enormously lucrative and successful action against an American privateer. Later, he engages a French man-of-war and captures it along with two gunboats and two merchant ships. All these successes garner public acclaim, huge financial rewards, and substantive political clout. And yet Aubrey is not satisfied with them because he has not been offered reinstatement. Then comes the telling moment—he is offered a pardon if he but...