An office wrote that the position of captain required “command of temper, integrity of purpose, vigour of mind, and abnegation of self…He – and he alone – is expected…to bring a set of unruly and discordant beings into a state of perfect discipline and obedience so that…the safety of the ship may be staked upon.” What did you think of this level of responsibility? Is it achievable? Do you think Cheap lived up to the demands of his profession, either before or after the wreck? Do you know of other professions that require so much accountability?
I think in this case, under these conditions, it would have been very difficult to control the men - especially those who were the most desperate. Having said that, Cheap was insecure and volatile - as evidenced by is shooting of Cozens and that certainly made everything worse.
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I think this description of a captain is pretty accurate. The question is how the captain goes about achieving the characteristics. The captain of the ship is the one in charge to make sure all goes well. A captain that is trustworthy and knowledgeable - treats people with respect, honoring opinions - the there is a good chance people will follow the orders like a fine-tuned machine. If the opposite is true, like in Cheap’s case he didn’t live up to the demands of his profession. He was a bully and reacted negatively in many situations.
I think all professions should require accountability. A plumber needs to know how to fix pipes, etc. with integrity. A teacher needs to be responsible for developing young minds. An Administrator of any organization should be responsible for his or her actions. The President should be accountable for his actions and should do so with dedication and concern for the people.
I think it is a tough job, but one that you know what you are getting into when you take it. These men are under your control and guidance…there can’t be any room for less than your very best. I think doctors and nurses face this every day. Life and death decision made under great stress.
Being captain is an extremely responsible position. If you are a boss in a company, but don’t own it, you are held accountable for your and your underlings mistakes. But as captain of a ship, you may be responsible for the death/s of your underlings. How frightening that much be. Especially if you are not fully trained. Cheap was not at all prepared for the responsibilities he was charged with. He had no sense of relationship with his men and would never have made a great sea captain.