The Caine Mutiny facts for kids
The Caine Mutiny is a famous war novel written by American author Herman Wouk. It won the Pulitzer Prize in 1951.
In 1953, Herman Wouk also wrote a play based on the book. It was called The Caine Mutiny Court Martial. This play focused on the trial part of the story. Later, in 1954, a movie was made from the book.
Contents
The Story of the Caine Mutiny
The story begins with a young man named Willis Seward Keith, often called Willie. He has just finished his studies at Princeton University. Willie loves to play the piano and dreams of working in show business. He starts dating a talented singer named May Wynn.
Suddenly, the Japanese attack Pearl Harbor, and the United States enters World War II. Willie is worried about being sent to the army. To avoid this, he decides to join the Navy instead. He is assigned to a ship called the USS Caine.
Willie first serves under a captain who is very relaxed and doesn't seem to care much about how things look. Willie doesn't like this captain.
Captain Queeg Takes Command
Soon, a new captain takes over the USS Caine. His name is Captain Queeg. Queeg is very different. He is strict and often gets very upset. He seems to think everyone is against him and wants everything done exactly his way. This makes life on the Caine very difficult for the crew.
The Typhoon and the Change of Command
One of the officers, Tom Keefer, is trying to write a novel. He believes Captain Queeg is not fit to command the ship, especially during wartime. Keefer tries to convince Steve Maryk, who is Queeg's second-in-command, that Queeg is having serious mental problems. Maryk doesn't want to believe him at first.
Then, the ship sails into a terrible typhoon. Captain Queeg tries to steer the ship using a rule meant for avoiding typhoons, not for getting out of one. It doesn't work, and the ship is in great danger. Maryk sees that Queeg is struggling to make good decisions.
Because the ship and crew are in danger, Maryk decides he must take over command from Queeg. Willie helps him do this.
The Court Martial Trial
When they return to the United States, Captain Queeg accuses Maryk and Willie of mutiny. This means they are accused of taking control of the ship without permission. They face a trial called a court martial.
A lawyer named Lieutenant Barney Greenwald agrees to defend them. During the trial, Willie realizes that he helped Maryk not just because he thought Queeg was unwell, but also because he strongly disliked Queeg. Willie tells the truth about what he did.
However, Keefer, who first suggested Queeg was unfit, lies to the jury. He says he knew nothing about the plan to take over the ship until after it happened.
Greenwald still manages to win the trial. He does this by showing the court how Captain Queeg acts when he is under pressure, making Queeg seem very unstable.
After the Trial
After the trial, Greenwald meets with Maryk, Keefer, and Willie. He tells them that he believes they were wrong. He explains that Captain Queeg, despite his problems, was a brave officer who protected the country. Greenwald says that while others were safe at home, Queeg was risking his life for their safety. He even throws wine at Keefer, calling him a coward for convincing Maryk to act and then lying during the trial.
Maryk is removed from the Navy. Keefer becomes the new captain of the Caine. However, during a battle, a Japanese kamikaze plane crashes into the ship. Keefer jumps ship, leaving his crew behind to save himself. Willie, however, stays on board. He bravely risks his own life to save the crew and manages to do so.
Willie's Future
After these events, Willie starts to think about what is truly important in life. He decides he wants to marry May Wynn and start a family with her. When he returns to America, he finds May Wynn using her real name and working for a man who is about to get a divorce. This man wants to be with May. Willie meets him and realizes the man reminds him of Keefer. Willie then knows he can and will win May Wynn back.
