The Children of the Sea

Set aboard the Narcissus, a merchant ship journeying from Bombay to London, the novella explores the tensions among the crew as they grapple with the illness of a West Indian sailor suffering from tuberculosis. While some crew members exhibit compassion and take on additional duties to care for him, others question the severity of his condition, leading to a conflict that reveals deeper themes of humanity, duty, and the fragility of life at sea. Joseph Conrad delves into the complexities of human relationships in this poignant narrative.