Conrad creates suspense through the secrecy of the situation. The captain's encounter with the fugitive and his decision to hide him keeps the reader on edge. We don't know if they will be caught or what will happen next.
One of the main themes is the duality of human nature. The protagonist seems to find a version of himself in the 'secret sharer'. Another theme is isolation, as the captain is in a somewhat isolated position on the ship, and his encounter with the fugitive intensifies this sense of being alone yet connected to another in a strange way.
Joseph Conrad's short fiction typically has a rich and dense narrative style. He was a master of creating atmosphere. In his stories, you can feel the oppressive heat of the tropics or the cold isolation of the sea. His use of language is very precise, making every word count. Many of his short fictions are also critiques of colonialism, showing how it corrupts both the colonizers and the colonized.
One of the main themes is identity. The narrator's encounter with Leggatt makes him question his own identity. Another theme is loyalty. The narrator shows loyalty to Leggatt by hiding him and helping him escape.
The two main characters are the narrator, who is the captain of the ship, and Leggatt. Leggatt is the secret sharer who has escaped from another ship and is being hidden by the narrator on his ship.
The themes include self - discovery. Through his relationship with the secret sharer, the main character discovers new aspects of himself. Morality is also a theme. He has to grapple with the right and wrong of hiding a fugitive. And there is the theme of the unknown. The presence of the secret sharer is like an unknown element in his otherwise ordered world.
Sadly, there are very few known details about the 'secret Joseph Conrad novel'. It could be that during his lifetime, Conrad simply chose not to publish it. Maybe it was a work that was in a very rough state, or it explored ideas that were too radical for the time. However, some literary detectives might be on the lookout for any clues in Conrad's notebooks, drafts, or correspondence that could give us a hint about what this mysterious novel was all about.
Well, it could potentially be significant as Conrad is a well - known author. His 'secret' novel might have some unique themes or narrative styles that were ahead of their time. It could also offer new insights into the social and cultural context of the period he was writing in.
One main theme is the exploration of human nature. Conrad often shows how people can be corrupted by power and greed. For example, in some of his stories, characters are driven to immoral actions in pursuit of wealth or status. Another theme is the sea and its power. The sea is not just a setting but a force that tests and shapes the characters. It represents the unpredictability of life. Also, isolation is a theme. Characters are often alone, either physically on a ship in the middle of the ocean or emotionally, and this isolation brings out their true selves.