Discovering lesser-known novels is like finding a hidden treasure. Such books, despite looking old and less exciting, can turn out to be a real treat for a book lover. They can influence readers by offering life lessons that no one around them can. Recently, I had the opportunity to page through three such books. They have definitely added new meanings to my life and have transformed me into a much better person than before. These books enabled me to think beyond this ephemeral world, inundated with toxic information and details. I suddenly felt far more human than before, as I realized these books resonated with my emotions. These feelings ranged from sadness and despondency to guilt and joy, and included innumerable indescribable emotions. I started floating in a world much safer and saner than the one around me right now. In addition, the voices and emotions surrounding me were the ones I yearned to hear and feel in every inch of my soul. I wanted to leave everything in this world, become part of that world, and converse with those characters. I would have preferred to just stand in a discreet corner of the pages and watch the characters in flesh and blood. I would have watched them cry, yearn, pray, fight, and emerge victorious.
The autobiographical novel “A Voice from the Main Deck,” penned by a former seaman, was an enlightening book. Written in the 19th Century, it leaves readers with a mix of joy and sorrow. One might feel blessed to live in the 21st Century, when the definition of rights has broadened with increased awareness of fundamental rights. It can also make readers reflect on and compare their current situation with the conditions of people in the 18th Century, especially those at the lower rungs. The detailed and exact description of the condition of seamen on ships destined for war can leave one vulnerable from within. The fact that inhuman and atrocious punishments like flogging were a legalized and regular method of reformation on ships for anyone committing a crime as small as drunkenness to as big as fleeing can leave anybody’s blood run cold.
The point to note is that “flogging” was not for everyone, but only for those who did menial jobs on ships. The living conditions in which these seamen lived will also make us reconsider any sea rides. On second thought, one might also feel that the world has not really reformed, as inhuman and discriminatory practices based on one’s socioeconomic positioning continue in many parts. However, we fortunately have bodies and legislation to check and restrain such practices. The novel gives a firsthand account of the life of seamen; their tedious life schedule and work, unimaginable restrictions, atrocious hierarchical system of working, inhuman living conditions (such as availability of hammocks instead of beds, limited pantry, no correspondence with kith and kin, destined for suffering for the lifelong, etc.). The protagonist, Samuel Leech, succeeds in conveying his fears and dreams throughout the book.
The wrongs committed on warships were so many and so unforgettable that, like others, Samuel too escaped from his ship after a long wait and relocated to American soil under a fictitious name and past. One needs to read the entire novel to understand the travails a seaman had to undergo, as they did not enjoy the freedom to leave the job. They were also not in a position to run away easily due to the strict rules and vigilance on ships. The mortifying fear of being lashed like a street dog in front of hundreds of seamen restrained many from fleeing the ship. The absence of civilized rules on the ships made life extremely harsh and cold from the inside. Along with the daily dose of inhuman discriminatory practices and intimidations of ship captains and so on, the travails of war and unpredictability of the sea and weather further worsened the inner self-esteem of these seamen. One’s life depended on the kind of captains and officers on the ships; the captains who were much kinder gave more freedom and respect to their boys than others did. Unfortunately, there were hardly any who were kinder and more cheerful by disposition.
The detailed description of the death and flogging can make all of us think. The sudden death of a seaman can lead to the body being thrown overboard. It gives me chills to even imagine that a seaman who, a while ago, was climbing and stretching the canvas of the ship might accidentally fall and kill himself. The unimaginable diseases and injuries witnessed by those on ships, especially seamen, due to the nature of their menial jobs, can leave all of us coiling in fear. Like many undocumented seamen, Samuel witnessed a head injury that further worsened for life due to the negligent and inconsiderate behavior of a fellow seaman. Apparently, when Samuel was recuperating from a head injury, someone threw a bucket of seawater over his head just for fun; the salt in the water worsened his injuries.
The detailed description of the rough life on ships can prove really eye-opening on many fronts. Sometimes one should go back and read such less-read books to understand at what cost people achieved their freedom. It came at the cost of death, lifelong exile, separation from loved ones, unimaginable disabilities, and fugitive life, among others. This novel will make everyone think and reflect on their life and stop complaining about the lesser comforts and problems.
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