In the Heart of the Sea

The main character of In the Heart of the Sea is Thomas Nickerson. Thomas Nickerson is a Nactucketuer, who is a fresh recruit for whaling ship the Essex. At the beggining of the book Nickerson is a teenager who is not aware of what life is like on a whaling ship. He initially has an easy life as a farmer on the island but Once Nickerson is out at sea, his view of life changes. The first mate, Owen Chase, is very harsh on the sailors making sure they are doing their jobs. Owen curses at them and punishes them if they aren't doing what they're supposed to do. Nickerson is surprised by Owen's behavior, for he was a gentlemen on the island and so we're all other sailors, but once they came out to sea, everything changed and life was more harsh. Thus, Owen and the sea, are the key catalyst, for the cruelty of both, changed the view of what life was like to Nickerson. Nickerson now realized that he no longer had a laid back life, like he did on Natucket. Nickerson now has to prepare for the harshness of the sea and whaling.