Despite a sailor’s disposition on land, there’s been proof that they dismantle most stereotypes that surround them. Intelligent, worldly, and culturally inclined aren’t words normally used to describe seamen in the nineteenth century. The Prospect of Oceanic Studies by Hester Blum states that “estimates of early-nineteenth-century sailor literacy range conservatively from seventy-five to over ninety percent” (pg 4). This is due to the long periods of time that sailors were at sea with little to do. Given that sailors had abundant time and were relatively well-educated they were inherently amazing story-tellers which may be another reason that so much maritime literature depicts them as hyper-masculine and thus, unintentionally, less intellectual.
Another aspect of seamen was their ability to navigate. Knowledge of astronomy was paramount to navigation from the time of the Odyssey into the late nineteenth and twentieth century.
http://www.southernfriedscience.com/?p=7827
I discovered this blog which addresses how the stars were used in navigation. It also demonstrates how sailors not only needed knowledge of the stars but also needed basic math skills to know how to use them. These basic math skills were also vital if a sailor wanted to advance in the ranks. In the article, Blum discuses many aspects of the ocean in regards to its culture, boundaries, and customs. Her main focus in the article is this separation of national pride or connection that sailors experience. However, what I was most surprised and intrigued by was the level of intelligence among this population that was essentially deprived of and disinterested in nationality.
When we think of a stereotypical sailor they are usually under the influence. Although this doesn’t stray far from the truth, their land temperament versus their personality at sea seems to be quite contradictory. A great deal of maritime literature focuses on the times at sea when the vessel was in distress or danger. This produces a fearful environment which would change a man in any situation (not only at sea). I believe the narrow picture that is painted of sailors is the reason stereotyping has and continues to occur. Any stressful situation can change a man not only a sailor into an angry, boisterous, and often unsophisticated brute. Although many tales depict sailor like this, the sea isn’t always treacherous. The ocean can be calm and almost boring and in these times sailors would have plenty of down time, to read, learn, and of course eat, drink, and sleep (they are still sailors of course). I believe the reason sailors are often depicted as loud and uneducated is due to how they behaved on land. Since sailors have few responsibilities while on land so they would let off steam. It seems all they knew how to do if they weren’t working was to drink, copious amounts. This stereotype, of course, became paramount in forming a seaman as a character, but in reality they were some of the most educated laborers of the nineteenth century.
