Summary Chapter 55




David, as the narrator looking back on his past, speaks of an indelible episode of his life, an episode so terrifying that he repeatedly dreams of it.

At the time, David has been spending much of his time in the company of his old nurse Peggotty, her brother Mr. Peggotty, and the Micawbers what with the day of Mr. Peggotty’s, Emily’s, and the Micawbers’ emigration to Australia drawing near. One evening, while speaking with Peggotty and Mr. Peggotty, David is reminded of his promise to speak to Emily on behalf of Ham. Subsequently, as Emily is too ashamed to meet anyone face-to-face, David writes Emily a letter, a letter Mr. Peggotty delivers, and a letter the contents of which describe Ham’s most cherished feelings for her.

Upon a receiving a grateful reply from Emily, David decides to travel to Yarmouth to deliver the letter to Ham. There is plenty of time for David to go to Yarmouth and then return to see off the emigrants bound for Australia.

During the trip, David notices and remarks to the coachman of the eeriness of the sky. A storm system is approaching. Alas, as it arrives, the wind is so fierce that it impedes travel. At Ipswich, there’s news of the wind’s destructive force: A church tower has been knocked down and trees all along the area have been uprooted.

When David arrives at Yarmouth, the storm is stronger than ever. From a distance, the waves look to be as high as towers and buildings, as if they would engulf Yarmouth, and the streets of Yarmouth are strewn with sand, seaweed, and “flying botches of sea-foam.” David mingles with townsfolk who express concern for family, relatives, and/or friends who are out at sea in herring or oyster boats.

Presently, having obtained rooms at a local inn, David goes to Ham’s house only to find it locked and vacant. David goes to the yard where Ham works, and there David learns that Ham had gone to Lowesoft to help with some ship repairs, and that he would return come morning when the storm would presumably abate.

David returns to the Inn and tries to relax when a waiter informs him of two coal ships that had been lost with all hands on aboard, only a few miles away. Worried about Ham, David returns to the Yard to ask a boat-builder if there was the slightest chance of Ham returning from Lowesoft by sea, that very night, despite the storm. Assured, that no sailor in his right mind would defy the storm, David returns to the Inn where he tries to relax—to no avail.

Unable to eat, drink, or stay still, David manages to tire himself out with his endless worrying. In fact, David falls asleep for a few hours and awakes fully refreshed. He is still restless, however. Subsequently, David goes downstairs to the inn’s kitchen where he stays for about 2 hours in the company of locals who had pledged to stay up all night and keep guard. When he returns to his room, David is so tired he falls into a slumber. He dreams about a town under siege by cannon fire when he is awakened by a waiter. A boat, carrying fruit and wine, from Spain or Portugal, has wrecked just off the shore and is on the verge of being lost with all its crew. It is morning, and the storm still rages

When David arrives at the shore, he sees the boat in perilous circumstances. Its crew is hard at work, trying to rid the boat of a mast that would otherwise drag the boat completely under. David eyes are drawn to one of the crewman who has long curly hair. Suddenly a massive wave engulfs the wrecked boat, washing away the crew but for four who manage to resurface atop the boat. The wave is relentless however, and it isn’t long before the crew is reduced to one, the one with the long curly hair. Unable to help himself, David, along with a number of Yarmouth locals, clamor for help on behalf of the lone crewman only to be told that an effort had already been made: A rescue boat had been launched to no avail; the storm is too strong.

Suddenly, a lone man, who is none other than Ham, comes to the fore and proposes to swim out to the wreck, moored to a rope. David and others try to dissuade Ham to no avail. Ham will go with or without help. Thus, Ham swims out only to be hauled back by the rope he is moored to when he is overwhelmed by one, particularly ferocious wave. Ham tries again, however, and this time the waves prove beyond overwhelming. When Ham is hauled back, he is dead. Then David is told of a corpse that has washed ashore. It is that of the crewman with the long curly hair.



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