Question

What is the captain's mental state while riding in the bow of the dinghy?

1) The captain is thankful he has survived the shipwreck and has been able to save some of the crew.
2) The captain is angry that most of his crew mutinied against him and a few loyal followers.
3) The captain is dejected because he has lost his boat and did not "go down with the ship."
4) The captain is surprised that the ship foundered on some unmarked shoals off the coast of Georgia.

Answer 1

The captain initially feels profound dejection and indifference, lying injured in the dinghy after the shipwreck, but later shifts focus to survival and potential rescue.

Step-by-step explanation:

The captain's mental state during the journey in the dinghy is predominantly characterized by profound dejection and indifference due to their dire situation. Initially, the captain is deeply dejected, adopting an attitude of indifference that can overcome even the most enduring spirits when faced with overwhelming failure, such as the loss of his ship. However, as events unfold and the captain takes action, like urging the correspondent to come to the boat and maintaining the dinghy's course, there is a slight shift to focus on survival and the possibility of rescue, despite the hardships and lingering sentiments of anger and frustration at their predicament.