The Nigger of the "Narcissus" is a novella, often regarded as the best of Conrad's early periods as a writer. It is narrated
by an
anonymous seaman. The action concentrates on the human community and their
relationships aboard the merchant ship, the
Narcissus, on it way from Bombay to London. The tensions within that small number are as perilous as the weather itself especially with the raging storm and are produced partly by two different generations of seamen.
The character, James Wait, is a West Indian black sailor on board the merchant ship
Narcissus sailing from Bombay to London. During the voyage, Wait falls ill with tuberculosis. His illness and confinement arouses human sympathies from many of the crew, five of whom rescue him from his deck cabin during the height of the storm, risking their own lives as well as the ship.
On the other hand, Captain Alistoun and the old sailor Singleton remain concerned primarily with their duties as sailors, indifferent to Wait's condition.
The younger Donkin who supports Wait's demands to go back on duty comes to a head with Captain Alistoun. In the end, the captain calmly reasserts a seaman-like authority, with the remaining crew looking on. Singleton's superstition that Wait will die at the first sight of land indeed comes true.
Conrad appears to suggest that humanitarian sympathies are, at their core, feelings of self-interest, and also, high sensitivity to suffering can be detrimental to managing a society. This novella is seen as an allegory of human solidarity as well as isolation amid society or community.