The Stranger in the Lifeboat

The principal character in the novel, Benji is at the center of the “A” storyline that tracks the timeline at sea (in contrast to LeFleur, who provides the center of gravity for the “B” storyline on land). As the standout protagonist, Benji is introduced as the “straight man” of the group that assembles around him, each of whom seems to be far more colorful than himself. In addition, Benji is meant to serve as an audience surrogate: Benji’s relatively indistinct manner is a means by which the author allows the reader to observe and relate to the characters and events that occur over the course of the novel.

An Irish transplant to New England, Benji is clearly mourning the loss of someone he calls Annabelle, to whom the diary is addressed; this affects his mood, his ability to hold on to hope, and the manner he treats the other passengers on the boat. As the novel progresses, however, Benji’s encounters with the Lord—through the stranger and Alice, respectively—begin to transform his heart and his attitude toward death, eventually coming to see the justice and beauty in life.