The caine mutiny sparknotes literature guide by herman wouk making the reading experience fun. Read a plot overview of the entire book or a chapter by chapter summary and analysis. A fictional navy drama set in the pacific during world war ii, it was directed by edward dmytryk and produced by stanley kramer, and stars humphrey bogart, jose ferrer, van johnson, and fred macmurray. Download it once and read it on your kindle device, pc, phones or tablets. One clear theme in the caine mutiny is the division between the navy regulars and the reservists.
During world war ii, a dilapidated vessel, the caine, gets a new ensign, willis keith robert francis, and a new captain, commander queeg humphrey bogart. Navy destroyerminesweeper on which willis keith serves and grows from a spoiled and dependent youth to a battletested man. The navy must decide if the caine mutiny was a criminal act, or an act of courage to save a ship from destruction at the hands of her captain. Of course, the work environment described in the caine mutiny is no ordinary one. Instead, its the story of some of the men who fight for their country. With only an abbreviated understanding of how the navy and ships like the caine run, he emphasizes performance, not appearance. A summary of chapters 67 in herman wouks the caine mutiny. Published in 1951 the pulitzer prizewinning novel the caine mutiny is about an average young man during world war ii. The caine mutiny sparknotes literature guide ebook por. When the ship patrols enemy waters, queeg always stands on the side of the ship farthest from the shore, which adds to the crews suspicions of cowardice in their captain. The caine mutiny is a classic film and one that holds up fairly well in the year 2011, with a intimate look into navy life. During the world war ii, the crew of a small insignificant ship in the u. Originally published in 1951, the caine mutiny is a brilliant and dramatic story of life.
The novel was awarded the 1952 pulitzer prize for fiction. Created by harvard students for students everywhere, sparknotes is a new breed of study guide. Start your 48hour free trial to unlock this the caine mutiny study guide and get instant access to the. The caine mutiny chapter 28, a visit to halsey summary. Analysis and discussion of characters in herman wouks the caine mutiny. A bestseller upon its original publicationremaining on the new york times bestseller list for more than two yearsthe novel has remained continuously in print and has sold many millions of copies throughout the world. In the beginning of the novel, willie is a spoiled rich boy. Published in 1951, the novel qualified as contemporary fiction. The caine mutiny tells the story of a clash between the commander and the crews members of the uss caine and the theme of how perceptions can be distorted is still relevant today. The caine mutiny by wouk, herman and a great selection of related books, art and collectibles available now at. Based on a pulitzer prizewinning novel by herman wouk, this thoughtprovoking madefortelevision drama chronicles the court martial of the lieutenant who commandeered the u. Geared to what todays students need to know, sparknotes provides.
The novel focuses on the gradual maturation of willie keith, a rich. The story of the caine has probably been drawn from many dramas of the pacific, dramas in which the captain, a martinet, is the villain and the victim of his frustrations and his sadism. Use features like bookmarks, note taking and highlighting while reading the caine mutiny sparknotes literature guide sparknotes literature guide series. From a general summary to chapter summaries to explanations of famous quotes, the sparknotes the caine mutiny study guide has everything you need to ace quizzes, tests, and essays. Queeg influenced the 25th amendments drafters, making it harder to sideline a president. The caine mutiny sparknotes literature guide sparknotes. The caine mutiny earned seven academy award nominations. The caine is an almost derelict minesweeper, and as the story develops, you know her full complement of officers and men. The regulars are career navy men, who have typically worked themselves up through the ranks, whereas the reservists are collegeeducated men who have. The caine mutiny is a pulitzer prizewinning novel by herman wouk that was first published in 1951.
Lieutenant stephen maryk, an executive officer of the uss caine during the mutiny. Queeg doesnt seem dismayed by the slovenly state of he ship and its crew, and. The caine mutiny summary supersummary, a modern alternative to sparknotes and cliffsnotes, offers highquality study guides that feature detailed chapter summaries and analysis of major themes, characters, quotes, and essay topics. Educational analysis of the caine mutiny lt keefer constantly tried to convince lt maryk that queeg was insane. The job of compacting and containing herman wouks the caine mutiny into two hours of color motion picture, with all the character and drama preserved, was one that compared in major aspects. As the book reaches its climax, there are many happenings under captain queeg which surely shows his instability. Whenever queeg becomes frustrated or unsure of himself, he reaches for the balls, which he rolls incessantly in his hand. The bucket list caine mutiny courtmartial is a twoact play, of the courtroom drama type, that was dramatized for the stage by herman wouk, which he adapted from his own novel, the caine mutiny. This onepage guide includes a plot summary and brief analysis of the caine mutiny by herman wouk. Maryk shows willie the red cross letter that states stilwells mother is not dying. Parents need to know that the caine mutiny is a fictional story set during world war ii with very little action. In the first of the caine mutiny s six parts, keith passes into the bizarre world of the navy, war, and authority. Sixtysix years later its a classic comingofage story that reads like historical fiction.
Many people will feel that wouk betrays his mutineers in the end by having barney greenwald level. The caine mutiny was herman wouks first post world war ii novel. Read the full synopsis of the caine mutiny, 1954, directed by edward dmytryk, with humphrey bogart, jose ferrer, van johnson, at turner classic movies. The caine mutiny, novel by herman wouk, published in 1951. Queeg humphrey bogart tries to prove beyond a doubt that strawberries were stolen from the freezer.
Queeg is a modern captain bligh without his abilities, his seamanship, his ideals. A summary of chapters 35 in herman wouks the caine mutiny. As willies history is developed, we watch him waste his time at princeton playing ditties at parties, then throw away his education by forsaking graduate school in order to become a lounge pianist, a job that would not even support him financially. Supersummary, a modern alternative to sparknotes and cliffsnotes, offers highquality study guides that feature detailed chapter summaries and analysis of major themes, characters, quotes, and essay topics. Keiths letter willie arrives in san francisco, awaiting transport to the uss caine. As the trial of the mutineers unfold, it is learned that the captain of the ship was mentally unstable, perhaps even insane. One hesitates to say this of a jewish novelistand i think it is fair to say that wouk trades upon his religious background for his novelsbut the caine mutiny has always struck me as somehow fascistic. The caine mutiny by herman wouk, first edition abebooks. A ships captain is removed from command by his executive officer in an apparent outright act of mutiny.
Humphrey bogart plays a tough and by the book captain who takes over. The caine reaches funafuti atoll and is secured alongside a destroyer tender, the pluto. But the best known mutiny in the american navy is that on the u. On top of this, the captain piles ridiculous punishments on the crew in response to menial offenses, ordering water famines, denial of liberties. In addition to the storyform, youll also find any additional analysis or media related to the story in question. Get answers to your the caine mutiny questions from professional tutors at. Willie boards the ship and discovers that the communications officer acres, is one of the ensigns from midshipmens school.
Willie is helped along the way to manhood by several factors. From a general summary to chapter summaries to explanations of famous quotes, the sparknotes the caine mutiny study guide has everything you need to. When willie keith is initially introduced in the caine mutiny, wouk portrays him as a boy who floats through life, an upperclass stereotype. Herman wouks bestselling novel the caine mutiny, subtitled a novel of world war ii, remains one of the greatest american novels to come out of world war ii. On top of this, the captain piles ridiculous punishments on the crew in response to menial. The steel balls captain queegs steel balls are the most prominent symbol in the novel. The caine mutiny courtmartial is a twoact play, of the courtroom drama type, that was dramatized for the stage by herman wouk, which he adapted from his own novel, the caine mutiny. As willies history is developed, we watch him waste his time at princeton playing ditties at parties, then throw away his education by forsaking graduate school in order to. The caine mutiny 1954 frozen strawberries scene 49. That this is a fictional mutiny does not seem to attract any attention. The caine mutiny sparknotes literature guide by sparknotes. This study guide consists of approximately 126 pages of chapter summaries, quotes, character analysis, themes, and more everything you need to sharpen your knowledge of the caine mutiny.
The caine mutiny grew out of wouks experiences aboard a destroyerminesweeper in the pacific in world war ii. The caine mutiny novelguide free study guide answers. I fear all we have done is to awaken a sleeping giant and fill him with a terrible resolve. The caine mutiny is a fictional film about mutiny on board of a minesweeper in the world war ii with magnificent performances. The novel grew out of wouks personal experiences aboard a destroyerminesweeper in the pacific in world war ii and deals with, among other things, the moral and ethical decisions made at sea by the captains of ships.
In his hotel room he contemplates a phonograph record and a letter. He adapted the novel into a play called the caine mutiny courtmartial, which opened shortly before a film version of the novel, also titled the caine mutiny, was released in 1954. The novel takes its title from an event during which the caine s captain is relieved of his duty by the executive officer, a potentially mutinous act. The plot is engaging, with life on board of a ship during wwii and also a courtmartial in a military court in time of war. A naval reservist, he is an officer of excellent potential, typical of the young men brought into service early. The men of the caine arent prepared for queegs arrival, so naturally the ship is a mess. The novel that inspired the nowclassic film the caine mutiny and the hit broadway play the caine mutiny courtmartial, herman wouks boldly dramatic, brilliantly entertaining novel of lifeand mutiny on a navy warship in the pacific theater was immediately embraced, upon its original publication in 1951, as one of the first serious works of american fiction to grapple. Caine, during the hurricane that preceded the battle of okinawa. The caine mutiny is the 1951 pulitzer prizewinning novel by herman wouk. Acres shows willie around, and willie is astounded by the soft life aboard the supply ship. At the center of all interpretations of the caine mutiny lies a debate over captain queegs sanity.
Straying from his social reservation, he also begins an infatuation with may wynn born marie minotti, a hardworking nightclub singer and the daughter of immigrants. The caine mutiny sparknotes literature guide ebook by. Oct 07, 2011 it lacks the quick gag play, but the situations, even when tragic, are brightened by humor. A summary of chapters 12 in herman wouks the caine mutiny. Jun 15, 2014 the strawberry scene from the caine mutiny. The 1951 pulitzer prize winner for literature, the caine mutiny was written by herman wouk. The caine mutiny is a 1952 pulitzer prize winning novel by herman wouk.
See a complete list of the characters in the caine mutiny and indepth analyses of willie keith, captain queeg, and may wynn. Being awakened from sleep following the bombing of pearl harbor, japanese admiral isoroku yamamoto commented. The caine mutiny is primarily the story of willie keiths maturation, which is catalyzed by his military career. Explanation of the famous quotes in the caine mutiny, including all important speeches, comments, quotations, and monologues. The caine mutiny sparknotes literature guide sparknotes literature guide series kindle edition by sparknotes. Pacific fleet experience an event unlike any event ever experienced by the united states navy. The novel grew out of wouks personal experiences aboard a destroyerminesweeper in the pacific theater in world war ii. The movie the caine mutiny follows an ensign in the united states navy named willie keith.
Wouks novel covered a long stretch of time aboard united states navy destroyer minesweeper uss caine. This detailed literature summary also contains bibliography and a free quiz on the caine mutiny by herman wouk. Among its themes, it deals with the moral and ethical decisions made at sea by ship captains. The caine mutiny project gutenberg selfpublishing ebooks. Much of the action takes place aboard the uss caine, a destroyer minesweeper operating in the pacific during world war ii. A marine executive officer who seized command of the destroyer caine during a typhoon is put on trial in herman wouks adaptation of his novel the caine mutiny. In a chapter appropriately titled through the looking glass, the novel starts by introducing the reader to the. The caine mutiny certainly reflects elements of joseph conrads the nigger of the narcissus 1897 and of herman melvilles billy budd, foretopman 1924 in the sense that both of these major.
Wouks novel covered a long stretch of time aboard united states navy destroyer minesweeper uss caine in the pacific. Youve reached the hub for any and all dramatica analysis of the caine mutiny. He joins the navy as an officer to avoid the draft and ends up on a destroyer and minesweeper in the pacific. In addition to the storyform, youll also find any additional analysis or media related to the story in question more analysis the color of money. A summary of chapters 1921 in herman wouks the caine mutiny. Since then, wouks story has been retold countless times on stage, in film, and on television. It is particularly difficult to assess queegs sanity because we see his actions through the eyes of an unreliable man. The caine mutiny by herman wouk, first edition abebooks passion for books. The caine mutiny courtmartial 1988 rotten tomatoes. The caine mutiny can spark lively group discussion, largely because of its controversial plot. The distinction might be likened to the difference between bluecollar and whitecollar workers. Apr 21, 2017 if so, youll feel immediately at home aboard the uss caine. Sparknotes is here for you weve got everything you need to ace or teach.