The Crew’s Retreat into Violence

The North Water

As ships, food, and leadership disappear, the survivors’ fear turns into mutiny, executions, and abandonment.

increasing

Bearing strength in each event

decreasing

A Crew Divided A Crew Divided from "The North Water". Trust Breaks Aboard Ship A murder among shipmates Joseph Hannah’s death reveals that the danger is inside the crew.

A Crew Divided from "The North Water". Trust Breaks Aboard Ship A murder among shipmates Joseph Hannah’s death reveals that the danger is inside the crew.

Trust Breaks Aboard Ship A murder among shipmates Joseph Hannah’s death reveals that the danger is inside the crew. Men begin to regard one another as possible killers. A scapegoat stabilizes appearances McKendrick’s imprisonment gives the crew a temporary answer, but it does not restore trust. The certainty depends on a lie told by Drax.

The Captain Falls The Captain Falls from "The North Water". Leadership Fractures Drax attacks Brownlee When Sumner produces Joseph Hannah’s tooth, Drax strikes Brownlee and tries to escape with the evidence.

The Captain Falls from "The North Water". Leadership Fractures Drax attacks Brownlee When Sumner produces Joseph Hannah’s tooth, Drax strikes Brownlee and tries to escape with the evidence.

Leadership Fractures Drax attacks Brownlee When Sumner produces Joseph Hannah’s tooth, Drax strikes Brownlee and tries to escape with the evidence. The crew loses its center Brownlee dies, leaving Cavendish in command. The murder investigation has become a leadership crisis as well as a criminal one.

The Hastings Vanishes The Hastings Vanishes from "The North Water". Rescue Disappears A ship gone from sight The survivors emerge from the storm and find the Hastings missing.

The Hastings Vanishes from "The North Water". Rescue Disappears A ship gone from sight The survivors emerge from the storm and find the Hastings missing.

Rescue Disappears A ship gone from sight The survivors emerge from the storm and find the Hastings missing. They do not know whether she escaped the bergs or sank. Hope becomes accusation The men row to search but find only debris. Their need for rescue turns toward anger at Cavendish and fear that no help remains.

Bannon’s Death Bannon’s Death from "The North Water". A Mutiny Is Suppressed The camp erupts After a day of failed searching, alcohol and despair trigger a fight.

Bannon’s Death from "The North Water". A Mutiny Is Suppressed The camp erupts After a day of failed searching, alcohol and despair trigger a fight.

A Mutiny Is Suppressed The camp erupts After a day of failed searching, alcohol and despair trigger a fight. Several men are injured, and the survivors challenge Cavendish’s authority. A warning shot becomes murder Cavendish shoots Bannon and threatens the rest with rifles. The camp is subdued, but fear replaces any remaining loyalty.

A Fatal Departure A Fatal Departure from "The North Water". The Camp Splinters Men refuse to wait Webster, McKendrick, the cook, and a Shetlander leave to search for the Yaks’ camp, despite Sumner’s warning that the…

A Fatal Departure from "The North Water". The Camp Splinters Men refuse to wait Webster, McKendrick, the cook, and a Shetlander leave to search for the Yaks’ camp, despite Sumner’s warning that the…

The Camp Splinters Men refuse to wait Webster, McKendrick, the cook, and a Shetlander leave to search for the Yaks’ camp, despite Sumner’s warning that the journey is likely fatal. Isolation deepens They do not return. The remaining men have no leader they trust, no adequate food, and no certainty that anyone else is alive.

After Joseph Hannah’s murder

After Drax is exposed

During the storm on the ice floe

The night after the failed search

After Cavendish’s body is found